If anyone still had doubts, the last race of the year in the MotoGP World Championship’s return to Valencia after the damage made it clear that Aprilia is ready to fight for the title next year. Especially from the hand of Marco Bezzecchi. The Italian racer, Imperial for the second day in a row, won the Valencian Community Grand Prix ahead of his brand-mate Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse) and Fabio DiGianantonio (VR46), who saved the furniture for a Ducati that was in a state of disrepair without the presence of the reigning champion Marquez on the track.
“I had a great time. I couldn’t imagine a better way to end this season. Without a doubt it’s time to celebrate, because we deserve it,” declared today’s winner, who knelt in front of the RS-GP and showed him his engagement ring. The relationship between Bez and his new brand is now solidified, and his horse is a serious alternative to the Desmosedici GP, which has swept the constructors’ competition in the past six seasons: “We hope to be at the top, even though every year is a story in the world of sport. For me, Mark and Alex will start as favourites, but we will continue to work hard to try to get past them.”
Aprilia has not won the double since 2023, and this is the first time it has won two in a row in the MotoGP World Championship. For the Noale factory, 2025 ends in style, and the final feast highlights the most successful season in the premier class for the Italians: four victories, 11 podiums, third place in the drivers’ championship and runner-up in the manufacturers’ championship. And all this despite not being able to rely on the invaluable talent of Madrid’s Jorge Martin, the team’s star player and 2024 world champion.
The Spaniard, who was coming back from his fourth injury on a dark track at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, retired midway through the race in a deliberate decision not to risk his fragile fitness too much. All their efforts will now be focused on 100% recovery for next year, which sounds golden for the brand. Marc Marquez was on track to celebrate the family’s historic season at the Gala of Champions, and has no doubts about the potential of the driver he has challenged head-on all season. “Bizzicchi and Aprilia will compete for the title,” the nine-time world champion said.
At dusk in Valencia, the Marquez brothers took the photo that will be placed in their living room, immaculate in their ceremonial dresses and posing with champion and runner-up trophies, something unprecedented in elite motorcycling. “I can no longer refer to him just as a brother, because he finished second and will be one of the main contenders next year,” 93 warned. Although the last gig on the track was for Bez and Aprilias, they were the ones smiling big outside as family and friends looked on.
The day in Cheste, which celebrated the return of motorcycling with fireworks, fireworks and a DJ with 93,000 fans in the stands, was also the work of the Fernandez brothers. Raul, who had never won a MotoGP race until this year, and who made his debut a few weeks ago in Australia, celebrated the second podium of his career and rounded off the family celebration on the day his little brother Adrian claimed his first Moto3 World Cup win. “With this bike, I think we can fight for more wins next year, and Aprilia has clearly taken a step forward,” the Madrid native chimed in.
In a race with little history, where Pez led from start to finish and set the fastest lap after starting from pole, Alex Marquez had to rue the traction problems with the front tire that hampered his bid for victory. The runner-up dropped from second to sixth place once the drivers had passed the first third of the race. Pedro Acosta also saw a drop in performance, as he managed to climb to podium positions in the middle stage of the race with KTM, but ended up giving up due to the power of DiGianantonio and his Ducati bike.
Three-time champion Pico Bagnaia, another who had a nightmare this year, was involved in an accident after colliding with Johann Zarco’s Honda on the first lap. The fellow world champion, fifth in the standings, finished the worst season in living memory, a particularly harsh comparison when he still supposedly has the best bike on the grid. “I never give up,” said the Turin native, wanting to forget the year 2025 in which Aprilia has only demonstrated, consistently, its ability to recognize the leaders of the World Championship that is characterized, on a technical level, by a distinct Italian and European accent.
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