Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) proved his class once again with a spectacular ride to claim his second consecutive Tissot Sprint victory, overcoming early challenges and late pressure to win at Phillip Island.
The Italian powered past Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) with three laps remaining to seal another dominant weekend for Aprilia — marking the first-ever Aprilia 1-2 finish in a MotoGP Sprint.
Rising star Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) delivered yet another mature performance to take third after a breathtaking multi-rider duel that saw positions P3 to P5 separated by just one-tenth of a second at the line.
At lights out, Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) launched perfectly to take the holeshot, but Fernandez quickly surged ahead through Turn 2 to lead the opening lap. Bezzecchi slotted into second, shadowing the Trackhouse rider as the pair began to pull away from the chasing group.
The start, however, wasn’t smooth sailing for polesitter Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), who dropped to sixth behind Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) and Acosta. His troubles were compounded by a chaotic opening lap that saw Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) crash out at Turn 2.
Bezzecchi, who had to contend with extra aerodynamic “add-ons” after striking seagulls during the Warm-Up Lap, remained composed, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Behind the Aprilia duo, an intense fight for third emerged. Alex Marquez came under relentless fire from Miller, Acosta, and Quartararo, with Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Tech3) impressing in seventh.
On Lap 5, Miller and Marquez traded overtakes at Turns 10 and 1, while Bezzecchi narrowly avoided disaster when his rear tire slid violently under braking into Turn 10.
Lap 7 saw Acosta make his move, stunning both Miller and Marquez with a double overtake into Turn 1 to snatch third.
Up front, Bezzecchi regrouped and by Lap 9 had closed right back onto Fernandez’s tail. With superior corner speed, he lunged at Turn 2 on Lap 10, taking the lead decisively. Moments later, Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), fresh off his Indonesian GP triumph, crashed out at Turn 6 — fortunately walking away unharmed.
With two laps to go, the race settled into its final order — Bezzecchi leading Fernandez comfortably, while the fight for third reached fever pitch between Acosta, Miller, and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Prima Pramac Yamaha).
Bezzecchi held firm to take victory, Fernandez crossed second to complete Aprilia’s dream 1-2, and Acosta clung onto third in a photo finish — marking the first Sprint podium without a Ducati in 2025.
Final Classification Highlights
- 🥇 Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing)
- 🥈 Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team)
- 🥉 Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Just behind, Jack Miller and Di Giannantonio rounded out the top five, followed by Alex Marquez (6th) and Fabio Quartararo (7th). Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) and Pol Espargaro completed the points-paying positions.
It was a day to forget for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), who finished a distant 19th, while teammate Michele Pirro also struggled. Bezzecchi’s triumph now cuts the gap to Bagnaia to just eight points in the battle for third overall in the MotoGP World Championship standings.
Credit Photo : MotoGP
