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Aldeguer takes stunning maiden win in Mandalika as Marquez and Bezzecchi clash

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The rookie becomes the second-youngest MotoGP winner as the #72 and #93 collide on Lap 1

How about that for a way to win your first MotoGP Grand Prix? Take a bow, Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). The rookie becomes the second-youngest MotoGP winner after clinching an utterly dominant victory in a dramatic Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia that saw Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) and Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) collide and crash on Lap 1. In a fascinating fight for second and third, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) collected P2 ahead of Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) in an unmissable MotoGP encounter in Mandalika. 

Immediate drama as Bezzecchi and Marc Marquez crash
Just like he did in the Sprint, and once again, it wasn’t a good start from Bezzecchi from pole as Acosta earned the holeshot. Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) made a cracking start from P6 and was an early second as huge drama unfolded at Turn 6.

Bezzecchi was behind Marc Marquez and went for a gap that didn’t really exist at the furiously fast right-hander. Contact was made, Bezzecchi hitting Marc Marquez’s Ducati, and both went down in a big way. The pre-race favourite and the World Champion were out of the Grand Prix after six corners, with both thankfully able to walk away.

However, Marc Marquez did suffer an injury to his right collarbone in the crash, meaning the #93 will fly back to Europe for further checks to see if surgery will be needed. In addition, post-race, Aprilia Racing confirmed that Bezzecchi was taken to the local hospital for further examinations. 

Acosta leads before Aldeguer pulls the pin
Back on track, another podium contender then crashed on Lap 2, as Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) went down at Turn 16 to end his positive weekend prematurely. So, where did that leave us? Acosta led from Aldeguer and Marini, with Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) a close P4. Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was in P5 ahead of his teammate Fabio Quartararo.

On Lap 7, Aldeguer hit the front for the first time. Turn 10 was the passing place; a classic up the inside move was done, but Acosta retaliated at Turn 1 on the next lap. But the #37 was wide, allowing Aldeguer back through, and a fastest lap of the Grand Prix was landed by the rookie to stretch his lead to 0.509s over the line.

While lapping in P16, Francesco Bagnaia’s (Ducati Lenovo Team) disappointing weekend ended with a Turn 17 crash, in what quickly turned into a Grand Prix to forget for the newly crowned Teams’ World Champions.

At the front, Aldeguer had checked out. On Lap 11, the rookie’s lead was 2.5s, as Marini began to climb all over the tailpipes of Acosta. Fernandez was right there too, and if anyone had hopes of winning this contest, getting past Acosta as soon as possible was key.

An incredible podium fight unfolds
But we were witnessing superiority from Aldeguer here. The #54 was lapping a good half a second and the rest faster than anyone else on track, and with Marini and Acosta engaging in battle, that lead grew to 4.3s at the start of Lap 13. And all this was bringing Rins, Alex Marquez, Quartararo, and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) into the podium picture.

Lap 14 saw Fernandez and Marini scrap it out through Turn 16 and Turn 17, and as contact was made going into the final corner, Rins said, 'Thank you very much', and moved into P3. Alex Marquez cruised through as well and suddenly, Fernandez and Marini were P5 and P8.

At this stage, Aldeguer was 6.5s up the road. The win, if no mistakes were made and his tyres didn’t fall off a cliff, was his. But this fight for the final two rostrum spots was superb. P2 down to Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) in P12 was just over three seconds. 

Acosta was digging deep in P2. His personal best lap of the Grand Prix came on Lap 17, a 1:31.107, and it was enough at this stage to keep Rins and the rest at arm's length. That safety net didn’t last though. Rins was through on Lap 20, and now it was Alex Marquez who began to hound the KTM.

And a move from the #73 arrived on Lap 22 at Turn 10 to shove Acosta out of the podium places for the first time. Then, Marquez powered past Rins into Turn 1 to make it a Gresini 1-2 in Indonesia as Rins began to really struggle on that soft rear tyre. Fernandez and Binder were through, Acosta was back into P3, with Binder – from P15 on the grid – fending off Fernandez to see the South African sit in P4 behind teammate Acosta.

With three laps to go, Acosta was back into P2 at Turn 10 to return the favour on Alex Marquez, as a 0.9s gap opened up behind the battle for P2 and P3 to Binder.

Starting the final lap in a different postcode to the field, Aldeguer just had to cruise home to a dream debut MotoGP victory. 8.6s was the gap, and it looked like Acosta had P2 in the bag too as Alex Marquez dropped to 0.9s back.

And of course, Aldeguer made no mistakes. What a ride. What a win. Aldeguer adds his name to that illustrious MotoGP winners’ list, and he’s also the second youngest to ever do it after the famous #93. Acosta did hold onto a very, very hard-fought P2, with Alex Marquez strengthening his grip on second in the championship with a P3 in Indonesia.

Your Indonesian GP points scorers
Fair play to Binder. That was some effort to bring his RC16 home in a season-best P4, with Marini battling his way back to P5. Fernandez backed up his Sprint podium with a solid P6 in the Grand Prix, with Quartararo the lead Yamaha rider in seventh. Eighth went to Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), P9 was his teammate Di Giannantonio, with Rins’ charge ending with a P10 – but how good was it to see the #42 back in the rostrum scrap?

Miguel Oliveira (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) was 11th across the line ahead of Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR), Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda LCR), and Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) – the Australian crossing the line in P14 after he crashed out of the top 10 group in the closing stages.

Next: Phillip Island
Well, that was breathless. We witnessed the good and the bad in that MotoGP encounter, as we wait to see if Marc Marquez and Bezzecchi will be fit enough to be back on track next time out at Phillip Island. Aldeguer will head to Australia as a MotoGP winner, as we look forward to getting going again at an all-time classic.

See you there!

Find full results here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Destination: Kuala Lumpur! 2026 MotoGP Season Launch confirmed

 

It's official! Kuala Lumpur has been confirmed as the host city for the 2026 MotoGP season launch.

The Malaysian capital will welcome every rider and team on the MotoGP grid on the 6th and 7th of February as the curtain comes up on another stunning season of the most exciting sport on Earth.

 

 

 

Follow the stories from Sunday:

 

Moreira wins, Gonzalez disqualified in shock title twist

 

It was a stellar display from Brazilian star Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) as he took more points out of Manuel Gonzalez’s (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) points lead before post-race drama unravelled. The championship leader crossed the line in P2, but the #18 was handed a DSQ for a technical infringement, resulting in a 0 scored in Indonesia. Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) celebrated a second Moto2 podium, initially in P3 but that turns to P2 now, with Aron Canet's (Fantic Racing) classy comeback to P4 from outside the top 20 now earning him a P3 - and with it, a lifeline in the title chase. 

Snatching the lead on Lap 1, Guevara hit the front ahead of polesitter Moreira but it didn’t last long as the Brazilian was able to take over at the helm on Lap 2. Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team) soon got himself into contention too, moving past Guevara to hit P2, a fast start from the middle of the second row. Having had exceptional pace on Friday, Gonzalez was sitting in fourth ahead of David Alonso (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team) but the Colombian suffered a huge crash at the penultimate corner, thankfully able to walk away.

Lap 6 brought with it the start of the battle between ‘Manugas’ and Guevara with the Championship leader getting the better of the 2022 Moto3™ World Champion but there was drama ahead as the second of the Aspar machines fell; Holgado tucked the front at Turn 17 but was all OK. Meanwhile, Canet had charged through the field and having started from 21st, he had climbed to fourth and was one of the fastest riders on the track, just ahead of 2020 Moto3 Champion Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2).

Into the second half of the race and the gap was stable at around one second between title contenders Moreira and Gonzalez, nothing able to split their lap times. Elsewhere, Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing) had moved into P6 ahead of Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – FRINSA – MSI), Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team), Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) who completed the top ten with six to go. Baltus’ charge continued on Lap 16, getting ahead of Arenas for fifth at Turn 16.

Nobody could land a blow on Moreira though, who cut into Gonzalez’s points advantage for a second consecutive weekend. Taking victory at the same circuit as his maiden Moto3 win, Moreira was flawless throughout the 22 laps. Gonzalez remains the Championship leader but now, the gap is just nine points going to Australia following the DSQ. 

Guevara takes P2, that's his first of the year and second in the class, whilst Canet’s climb to fourth (now third) keeps him in contention. Teammate Baltus rounded out the top four on a positive Sunday for Fantic. 

Arenas was back in the top five for the first time since the Austrian GP in August, ahead of Roberts who was back in the top ten for the first time since his victory at Brno. Rookie Ortola made it P7 whilst Veijer, Dixon and Adrian Huertas (Italtrans Racing Team) rounded out the top 10.

Game on as we head to Australia in the title race: Moreira has the momentum, Gonzalez sees his lead slashed and Canet is now a real threat again... we’ll have a battle on The Island. Check out full results here and see you in Lombok.

 

 

Jose Antonio Rueda: the 2025 Moto3™ World Champion

 

Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) is the 2025 Moto3 World Champion! The #99 has mixed domination with consistency to wrap up the crown with four races still to go this season, with his win in a dramatic Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia sealing the deal.

OFF TO A FLYING START
Rueda’s talent was clear all the way up the Road to MotoGP™. In 2018 he began to make his mark in the European Talent Cup, winning and taking podiums in his two seasons there before moving up to JuniorGP™ for 2020. After a season of adaptation, he took podiums in 2021 to set himself up as a Championship challenger the following year – and he took the JuniorGP™ crown as well as winning the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in the same year, the first rider to do that.

ROOKIE IMPRESSIONS
Rueda made the full-time leap to the Moto3™ World Championship in 2023 with longstanding frontrunners Red Bull KTM Ajo. A podium in Barcelona was a highlight and he finished the year in the top ten overall, but 2024 was a more difficult story. Appendicitis, crashes, and technical problems interrupted his season, but he nevertheless still took his first GP win at MotorLand – becoming the 400th GP winner across all classes.

POTENTIAL: FULFILLED
2025 saw Rueda shoot out the blocks as the rider to beat. He won in Thailand, took a podium in Argentina and then won again in the USA. In Qatar technical issues hit, handing the lead to key rival to Ángel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI), but Rueda bounced back in style with three consecutive victories at Jerez, Le Mans, and Silverstone, making it five wins in the first seven races.

Aragon and Mugello saw the #99 finish off the podium for the first time in 2025, but a win in Assen, podium in Germany and win at Brno underlined his lead as his title bid marched on. Austria and Hungary were two fifth places, before a podium in Barcelona preceded a win in San Marino and a second place in Japan – setting up his first Championship point in Indonesia.

As the first rider to win the Rookies and JuniorGP in the same year, Rueda’s arrival promised much and the #99 has more than delivered in 2025. Another victory in Lombok, added to drama for his fellow contenders, sees the #99 secure the 2025 Moto3 World Championship.

Congratulations, Jose Antonio!

 

 

Rueda seals the deal in dramatic Mandalika Moto3™ showdown

 

Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) sealed the 2025 Moto3 World Championship in style with a win at the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia. A dramatic race ended early in a Red Flag, causing a parc ferme shuffle before the podium was confirmed as Rueda, Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Guido Pini (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) following post-race penalties for Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) and Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team).

Plenty of riders got a brilliant launch but it was Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) who emerged from Turn 1 in the lead, with David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) and Fernandez and early P2 and P3. Rueda dropped to P13 by the end of Lap 1, while title rival Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) had made great progress – the #36 was up to P6. That turned to P4 on Lap 2 as the Spaniard got his elbows out, with Fernandez and Quiles now ahead of Kelso at the front of the freight train.

At the start of Lap 5, Piqueras was forced to run wide after being sandwiched by Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Muñoz, which saw Piqueras drop to P10, one place behind Rueda. Then, one of the frontrunners was on the floor as Kelso tumbled out of contention at Turn 10 to end his podium hopes in Indonesia.

Lap 7 saw Quiles lead for the first time as Rueda climbed to P6. It was a front group of twelve and at this stage, Piqueras was eighth – but with Quiles leading, Rueda wasn’t yet in a title-winning position. However, later around the lap, he was. Rueda was up to P3 at the halfway stage and as things stood, the Moto3 crown would be his.

On Lap 12 of 20, Rueda remained in a title-winning place. He was P2, Quiles was nipping at his heels in P3, while Piqueras was struggling to make progress in P9. Fernandez was leading the way until the #99 slid through into the lead at Turn 10 on Lap 13. Did the chasers have a response, or was Rueda about to clinch his first World Championship title in the perfect way possible?

It was getting better for Rueda too because Quiles dropped to P8, one place behind Piqueras, before three riders crashed at Turn 16 on Lap 14. Carpe, David Almansa (Leopard Racing) and Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) were down and out of contention and then, Quiles and Piqueras were handed Long Lap penalties for short cutting Turn 9 as the drama amped up.

Barring a mistake from Rueda, something he’s barely made all season, the 2025 title was about to be his. Piqueras took his Long Lap on Lap 17 and the #36 was then P8, but Quiles continued on his way in P4.

With three laps to go, Rueda was leading until Turn 10. Muñoz then slipped up the inside to take the lead before huge drama for the #64 as Fernandez attacked him and made contact, with Muñoz left skittled out into the run off and the #31 in the lead.

Rueda then hit the front but just after he’d taken over, the red flag came out. With the countback, not only was Rueda was officially the 2025 Moto3 World Champion – after a double Long Lap penalty was handed to Fernandez, Rueda was also the winner in Indonesia. Quiles completed his Long Lap penalty just before the red flag but it wasn’t soon enough to count, and the #28 was handed a three-second post-race penalty. That promoted Lunetta to P2 and Pini to P3, the latter celebrating his first Moto3 podium.

Quiles dropped to P4 after his penalty, as Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) collected his best result of the season – and his Moto3 career. Fernandez ended the race in P6, with Piqueras seventh as he sees his title chances officially disappear. Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI), Stefano Nepa (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Kelso, despite his crash, completed the top 10 in Indonesia.

Now it's next stop Australia, with the crown secured but plenty still on the line as a spectacular season of Moto3 competition rolls on! See you Down Under and check out the full results from Moto3.