MotoGP rolls on to Catalunya – MotoGP/2/3 Pr...

MotoGP 2025

Spherical 15 – Catalunya

After breaking new floor in Hungary at Balaton Park, MotoGP strikes again onto acquainted floor this weekend with Spherical 15 on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Development of the Circuit de Catalunya started in 1989, a joint venture between the Catalan Autonomous Authorities, Montmeló City Council, and the Royal Car Membership of Catalunya (RACC). The imaginative and prescient was easy: to present Barcelona, already certainly one of Europe’s most vibrant cities, a contemporary racetrack worthy of its repute.

The circuit opened its doorways in September 1991, instantly stepping onto the world stage by internet hosting that yr’s Spanish Method 1 Grand Prix. Two years later, it welcomed the European Bike Grand Prix, and by 1995, it had cemented its place as the house of the Gran Premio de Catalunya.

Praised for its format, the monitor rapidly earned a repute as one of many best-designed fashionable circuits, with a mixture of quick sweepers, technical corners, and loads of overtaking alternatives. With a basic admission capability of 104,000, the venue has since turn out to be a fixture on each the F1 and MotoGP calendars, and stays certainly one of Europe’s hottest motorsport locations.

It’s a house race for half the paddock and one which not often fails to ship fireworks. All eyes, although, are on whether or not Marc Márquez (Ducati Lenovo Staff) can proceed his unstoppable run in entrance of his personal crowd.

It’s been six years since Márquez final took a win at this monitor, however current type makes that statistic really feel irrelevant. He’s strung collectively seven straight Dash and Grand Prix victories, ballooning his championship benefit to 175 factors over his brother, Álex Márquez (BK8 Gresini Racing). One other double-digit swing this weekend may even open the door to wrapping up the crown as quickly as Misano. For Álex, with out a rostrum since Germany, it’s crunch time if he desires to delay the inevitable.

Marc Márquez

“This isn’t certainly one of my greatest tracks, not less than on paper, even when it comes to outcomes. In any case, it’s my residence race and the environment created by the followers is at all times distinctive and particular. From free observe on Friday, we’ll attempt to perceive the true values on the sphere. We’ll keep targeted and convey residence as many factors as attainable, contemplating that this monitor actually values ​​the driving and technical expertise of our rivals”.

The battle behind the brothers is the place issues get spicy.

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Staff) was the star right here final season, profitable each Catalan races, however a podium drought stretching again to Germany has left him susceptible.

Francesco Bagnaia

“About Balaton, if we take a look at the rankings, it was undoubtedly one of the difficult weekends of the yr. After qualifying, we determined to make some very vital modifications on the bike, and I discovered a superb feeling driving once more, particularly throughout Sunday’s race. We’ll proceed on this path, working to verify the identical good emotions on this monitor as effectively”

Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) has been a close to fixed on the field since Assen and is now simply 31 factors adrift with eight rounds to play.

Marco Bezzecchi

“I’m extraordinarily completely happy to be going to Barcelona; it’s a monitor that I actually like so much. What’s extra, the circuit is at all times full of folks and followers, in order that pumps me up much more. Above all, I simply actually wish to get again on the bike. As at all times, we’ll be making an attempt to present our greatest.”

His teammate, reigning champion Jorge Martín, is available in off the again of a cost from P16 to P4 in Hungary and is aware of Barcelona effectively after final yr’s title success.

Jorge Martin

“I can’t wait to get to Barcelona. I’ve many fond recollections from final yr. This can be a monitor that I actually like, the place I’ve at all times accomplished effectively in recent times. I’m starting to really feel extra snug on the bike now, and I feel that this shall be an necessary race for persevering with to construct confidence, acquire familiarity with the bike, and keep it up with our path following the identical method we had in Balaton.”

KTM arrive with momentum too. Pedro Acosta (Crimson Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing) has pieced collectively a string of podiums, most not too long ago climbing to second in Hungary, pushing him to fifth general.

Brad Binder has steadied his season with constant top-eight finishes, and Enea Bastianini (Crimson Bull KTM Tech3) continues to make progress regardless of some powerful luck.

Enea Bastianini

“I’m very eager on Barcelona race weekend as a result of we’ve left Hungary with extra starvation for higher outcomes after our two crashes within the opening lap of each dash and essential race. Balaton was actually optimistic anyway when it comes to efficiency, our tempo was aggressive and we may get our greatest qualifying results of the season. So, we’re trying ahead to reaching Catalunya and seeing what we can do on this monitor with our bike. It’s an attention-grabbing format, with loads of movement, robust hard-braking factors however with additionally many acceleration areas. I’m assured that we will preserve constructing from the final rounds, all very optimistic for us.”

Whether or not teammate Maverick Viñales will line up stays topic to a Thursday medical, however he’s pushing to be match for his residence spherical.

Maverick Viñales

“We’ve had two extra weeks of restoration because the Austrian GP, which has been an actual profit for us. We’ve elevated the extent and depth of the coaching, and day by day we bought stronger and stronger. It is crucial for us to be on the Catalunya GP this week, my residence race, as a result of it’ll assist us consider all of the work accomplished not too long ago with all my crew and see the place we’re at. We received’t be at our 100% this weekend for certain, however the goal is to know our situation on the bike. We should take the weekend session after session, beginning with the sensation on Friday morning, after which we’ll go from there. Both method, I’m tremendous excited to satisfy the crew once more!”

Nicolas Goyon – Crimson Bull KTM Tech3 Staff Supervisor

“We’re approaching the final back-to-back rounds in Europe earlier than the flyaways, and we begin first with the Grand Prix of Catalunya, in Barcelona. It’s a monitor very well-known by all MotoGP riders, so it’s often a really aggressive race weekend. It’s recognized for its very low grip, however Enea Bastianini is excellent relating to managing his tires in these situations, so it may be a bonus for him. He left Hungary annoyed, with zero factors, after reaching his greatest 2025 grid place, however an enormous step ahead was made within the final 3 rounds, and we are actually assured that Enea has the potential to position his bike on the entrance now extra always. However, Catalunya’s monitor is totally different from the previous couple of circuits, so it will likely be attention-grabbing for the Italian to know his stage on one of these format. Maverick Viñales is becoming a member of us this week, and he shall be giving it one other do that week in Catalunya, after he was given further restoration time after his try in Austria. We all know he received’t be at 100% since he’s nonetheless recovering, however the intention is to have the ability to full a full race weekend with the intention to put together for the top of the championship in the easiest way attainable.”

Additional down the order, the competition for sixth place within the championship is getting tighter.

Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46) slipped a spot after Hungary, overtaken by teammate Franco Morbidelli. Each have stable historical past in Barcelona, Diggia completed sixth right here final yr, whereas Franky famously caught his Yamaha on pole in 2020.

Fabio Di Giannantonio

“I actually just like the Barcelona monitor – it’s most likely one of the stunning layouts on the calendar. It’s very totally different from the Hungarian circuit. We’ll doubtless have a lot much less grip, so we’ll must work a bit and work out obtain the identical feeling we had in Balaton. I hope to have a clean weekend the place we will work constantly. I’ve had some podiums in Barcelona, so we’ll attempt to have enjoyable and do effectively.”

Franco Morbidelli

“We head into the Catalan Grand Prix with the official announcement of my contract renewal with the crew for subsequent yr, and I’m very completely happy about that. Barcelona is a totally totally different monitor in comparison with Hungary, the place we raced two weeks in the past. It’s a circuit we all know very effectively, the place we’ve accomplished many laps, each in Grands Prix and in testing. The grip can also be fairly distinctive, so it will likely be difficult. The outcomes we achieved within the final race ought to present us the route to comply with for this weekend.”

Fermín Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing), solely 28 factors again, stays in rivalry regardless of a quieter outing final weekend.

Elsewhere, various riders arrive with factors to show. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Vitality Yamaha) has fond recollections of Catalunya, his first Moto2 win in 2018, his maiden MotoGP podium in 2019, and race wins in 2020 and 2022. A powerful end result right here could be the right tonic for a tough 2025 season, however Quartararo doesn’t sound assured.

Fabio Quartararo

“We’re in Montmeló – that is certainly one of my favorite circuits. However we don’t arrive right here with pretty much as good a momentum as we had hoped for. I’m curious to see if our grip shall be higher this weekend. Both method, we’ll, as at all times, do our greatest for a high 10 on Friday, after which we go from there.”

Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR), freshly re-signed through 2027, additionally has podium type on the venue, whereas Raúl Fernández (Trackhouse) shall be eager to construct on his current consistency after main final yr’s Dash right here.

Raul Fernandez

“Barcelona would be the subsequent Grand Prix in Spain and it at all times feels particular to be again on residence soil. Final yr, we had two rounds there and the second was fairly tough, so we will’t have any clear expectations. We’ve to go there, work exhausting and attempt to discover the boldness once more as a result of in Balaton we misplaced this good feeling a bit. The thought is to be again in Montmeló, do our greatest and attempt to get pleasure from myself once more on the bike. It’s going to be a pleasant weekend for us, it’s a extremely good monitor for our bike and for me, however we shouldn’t assume an excessive amount of about this. Let’s go and attempt to get pleasure from once more.”

For Honda, there are clear indicators of enchancment. Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) has simply delivered his greatest end result for the manufacturing unit and secured a contract extension, whereas teammate Joan Mir returns to the place of his final top-four end in 2022.

Luca Marini

“It’s nice to announce the extension of our collaboration with Honda HRC, I’m actually excited to proceed with this venture. We arrive in a superb second after a powerful weekend in Hungary, however we have to perceive that Barcelona is one other model of circuit, and we have to preserve working exhausting. The grip could be very totally different and that is nonetheless one thing that’s impacting our efficiency quite a bit, it will likely be necessary to adapt because the monitor situation evolves over the course of the weekend. We have to proceed as we’ve and preserve our focus. Let’s finish the yr in a optimistic method.”

Joan Mir

“Montmelo is a circuit I do know effectively and that we’ve had some assessments at, each ourselves and the Take a look at Staff. We’ve been in a position to have some actually good velocity the previous few weekends and good ends in Austria, final time in Hungary we had some misfortune once more, however this may occur in our scenario. To me, I do know that we might be in and round that high six or seven if we put every little thing collectively throughout the weekend and make the step at essential moments. We’re bettering, we simply must carry on working.”

Ai Ogura (Trackhouse), final yr’s Moto2 winner at Barcelona, is one other who may spring a shock if he can raise his qualifying sport.

Ai Ogura

“It’s going to be my second residence Grand Prix and Barcelona is a circuit that I attempted already on a MotoGP bike final winter. I feel the monitor is OK for me, it’s so much wider and quicker than the final two races, so I’m curious to learn the way a lot we levelled up over the last two rounds as a result of we bought some fairly necessary issues. I simply can’t wait to begin on Friday. I simply wish to experience good session by session, focus on myself, work with the crew and convey a superb end result on Sunday. That’s the goal – hopefully, it’s going to be a superb race for us.”

Lastly, Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira (Prima Pramac Yamaha) arrive chasing top-ten finishes after difficult weekends. On the identical time, Álex Rins (Monster Vitality Yamaha) shall be determined for a powerful exhibiting at residence.

Jack Miller

“Montmeló‘s a monitor I actually like, I‘ve had some correct scraps right here and a few good outcomes too. Hungary was a tricky one to swallow, so I‘m fired as much as bounce again massive time this weekend. We all know the Yamaha‘s nonetheless a piece in progress, however the take a look at we did right here in June gave us some stable information. I‘m able to roll up my sleeves, get caught in, and provides the followers one thing to cheer about.”

Miguel Oliveira

“I‘m actually motivated for Barcelona, particularly coming off a powerful race in Balaton. I do know the bike nonetheless has its limits, so I count on one other difficult weekend, however we examined right here two months in the past, which supplies us extra confidence heading into this GP. I‘m prepared to present it every little thing.”

Alex Rins

“We’ve work to do to discover a answer for the issues we’re dealing with. We’ve loads of monitor time over the following two weeks, so we’ll be capable of collect loads of information, beginning in Barcelona, which is a house race. I’m actually trying ahead to driving in Montmeló. It’s a pleasant circuit, and the environment there may be at all times nice because of the followers.”.

Somkiat Chantra’s (Idemitsu Honda LCR) return will depend on a medical clearance, but when handed match, all 22 full-time riders will line up for what guarantees to be one other Catalan basic.

Davide Brivio – Trackhouse Aprilia Staff Principal

“Barcelona is without doubt one of the basic appointments for MotoGP and everyone is trying ahead to get there. It’s a monitor that everyone is aware of effectively and a lot of the MotoGP riders are ready for, subsequently the competitors shall be very excessive between all. After all, we’ve some good recollections from final yr in June after we have been there, particularly from the Dash race. It didn’t go effectively in November within the chilly temperatures however, as for everyone, it’s a fantastic monitor for Raul. Additionally, Ai is aware of it very effectively. We’re going there, effectively conscious of the progress we’re making, even when in Balaton Park Raul couldn’t present his progress that he had within the final Grand Prix. Ai confirmed us some velocity, which didn’t replicate within the outcomes but, however we may clearly see it. So, let’s attempt to capitalize on the momentum of Raul and the progress that Ai is doing after his harm and we’ll in fact strive our greatest.”

MotoGP Championship Standings

Moto2

The Moto2 race at Hungary’s Balaton Park had all of it. David Alonso (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Staff) produced an excellent experience to assert his first Moto2 victory, whereas title rivals Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Staff) and Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) went elbow to elbow for second and third. The end result tightened the battle on the high of the standings, with the hole between the main trio shrinking additional.

Subsequent cease is Barcelona, a circuit each rider is aware of effectively and one the place Alonso received in Moto3 final yr. Whereas the Colombian isn’t within the 2025 title hunt, his breakthrough win suggests he may play a disruptive function because the season heads into its decisive stretch.

On the entrance, Gonzalez nonetheless leads the championship by 25 factors, however his sixth-place end in Hungary allowed rivals to shut in. Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) misplaced floor with that end result and now sits 31 factors again, whereas Moreira’s surge of type has seen him reduce 29 factors from the deficit throughout the final two races, marking him because the rider with probably the most momentum. Gonzalez hasn’t received since Italy, Canet hasn’t tasted victory since Qatar, and out of the blue Moreira seems like the person to beat.

Additional again, Jake Dixon (Elf Marc VDS Racing Staff) delivered a powerful fourth place in Hungary, a well timed return to type. He’ll be aiming to not less than match his podium from the 2024 Catalan GP as he continues his push for fourth general. Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) nonetheless holds that place, however each he and Dixon might but have an outdoor shot at influencing this fascinating title race.

Senna Agius was on the sidelines in Hungary as he recovered from a crash at Crimson Bull Ring. The Australian shall be hoping to be again to one thing approaching his greatest at Catalunya this weekend to progress additional contained in the championship high ten.

Moto2 Championship Standings

Moto3

Moto3 not often fails to ship, and the Hungarian GP was no exception. Rookie sensation Máximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Staff) claimed his second win of the season, beating fellow standout newcomer Valentin Perrone (Crimson Bull KTM Tech3), whereas David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) prolonged his career-best run with a fifth straight podium.

Behind them, Ángel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) completed fourth, trimming just a few factors from José Antonio Rueda’s (Crimson Bull KTM Ajo) championship lead. Rueda’s benefit now stands at 69 factors because the sequence strikes to Barcelona, the place Rueda completed third final yr. With back-to-back non-podiums, the stress is on the chief to regular the ship.

Whereas Rueda nonetheless holds a wholesome buffer, the chasing pack is closing ranks. Quiles now sits third within the standings, 17 factors behind Piqueras, with six podiums from his first 10 begins. Muñoz, simply 9 factors additional again, arrives in Spain buoyed by contemporary contract information and able to preserve his momentum rolling.

Álvaro Carpe (Crimson Bull KTM Ajo) will even be trying to reignite his season in acquainted territory after a quieter run because the summer season break.

Joel Kelso has some clear air over Perrone as he seems to defend his present sixth-place rating within the present championship standings.

Countryman Jacob Roulstone scored a high ten final day trip in Hungary and hopes to bolster his championship tally at a monitor he is aware of effectively.

Eight rounds stay, and whereas Rueda stays favorite, Piqueras, Quiles, and Muñoz are all sniffing alternative. Barcelona may present the following twist in what has turn out to be an interesting title chase, and in Moto3, something can occur, and possibly will…

Moto3 Championship Standings

2025 MotoGP Calendar