Bezzecchi victorious from Zarco as Quartararo suffers heartbreak in Silverstone epic
Words and images courtesy of MotoGP Press
A relentlessly dramatic British GP plays out as Aprilia return to winning ways right on cue.
As they say, timing is everything in sport and for Aprilia Racing. Marco Bezzecchi’s victory at the Tissot Grand Prix of the United Kingdom couldn’t have come at a better time.
In a drama-filled Sunday at Silverstone that saw; Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team), Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) crash, and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) suffer a heartbreaking technical issue while leading, it was Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) who clinched a fantastic P2 finish behind the Italian.
Meanwhile, Marc Marquez, following a red-flagged stoppage, was able to bounce back and pick up P3 in a podium. The fight then went down to the wire in an unforgettable Silverstone encounter.
DRAMA, DRAMA AND A BIT MORE DRAMA
Straight from lights out, drama unfolded. The middle of the front row, Alex Marquez got a fantastic launch and led. Once the front brake was applied heading into Turn 1, the front end folded without an ounce of warning.
Like a flash, the #73 was down and out of the Grand Prix – or so we thought at the time…
Marc Marquez gained the lead ahead of Quartararo and Bagnaia.
At the end of the first lap, Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Aleix Espargaro (Honda HRC Test Team) crashed together at the Vale chicane. Which would eventually bring out the red flags due to an oil spillage. But before we learned that, Grand Prix leader Marc Marquez was down at Turn 11!
The top two in the World Championship both suffered crashes but because there hadn’t been three laps completed. All riders were eligible for the restart which would be a 19-lap Grand Prix.
Was it a get out of jail free card for the Marquez brothers? Yes. But they’d both be starting on their not-so-preferred number two machines.
THE RESTART
Take two saw Bagnaia grab the holeshot into Turn 1 but at Turn 3, Quartararo struck to pounce into an early lead. Marc Marquez was passed Alex Marquez and then so was Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) at Brooklands.
1.2s was Quartararo’s advantage at the end of Lap 1 and at Turn 3. Miller carved his way past Marc Marquez for P3 and then at Brooklands, we had a Yamaha 1-2. The Australian launched it up the inside of Bagnaia and then Marc Marquez ran wide at Copse. Which dropped him behind Zarco.
2.4s was now Quartararo’s advantage and we then had Zarco pass Pecco for P3. And sniffing an opportunity, Marc Marquez was through too. Then, Copse caught out both factory Ducatis. Marquez and Pecco were wide after separate moments, and that saw them drop to P9 and P10. Work to do.
Things then went bad to worse for Pecco. Going through Luffield, the front end said no more and that was the Italian’s Grand Prix over. Meanwhile, Bezzecchi was now P3 ahead of Zarco, Alex Marquez was P5 while Quartararo held a 3.9s gap over Miller. What a Grand Prix this was.
One thing to note was this…the current front four – Quartararo, Miller, Bezzecchi and Zarco. Were on the soft front Michelin tyre. A compound that hasn’t yet completed a race distance, so would it hold up?
On Lap 6 of 19, Bezzecchi and Zarco got the better of Miller. The latter dropped from P2 to P4 in a couple of seconds. Now, what kind of pace did Bezzecchi have up his sleeve? The gap to Quartararo was 5.3s. That was then five seconds flat as Bez shaved three tenths off the disadvantage in clean air.
Elsewhere, Marc Marquez was now right behind Alex Marquez! The top two were P6 and P7, behind Morbidelli and Miller, and just ahead of Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol). The #93 then sliced his way through on the #73 at Vale. On the next lap, the Championship leader picked off Miller. The same lap, Alex Marquez made a mistake at Vale. That cost him both time and a place – Mir was now ahead.
The fastest lap of the race, a 1:59.770, was slammed home by Bezzecchi as the Italian ate into Quartararo’s lead. On Lap 10 of 19, the gap was down to 4.7s and on the next lap. It was down to 4.4s. Elsewhere, Marc Marquez was now P4 ahead of Morbidelli. Now had three seconds to make up to get onto the rear wheel of Zarco for the podium places.
QUARTARARO’S HEARTBREAK
Suddenly, we saw Quartararo with his arm raised. What had happened? It looked like a technical issue meant the rear ride height device was stuck. Despite the efforts of trying to disengage it for more than half a lap, the YZR-M1 was having none of it. Heartbreak for Quartararo and Yamaha. A potential return to the top step snatched away in such cruel circumstances.
However, Quartararo’s gut-wrenching end to the Grand Prix was Aprilia’s gain. That was the lead handed on a plate to Bezzecchi.
THE RACE TO THE CHEQUERED FLAG
The Italian was 2.9s up the road from Zarco, who in turn was two seconds clear of Marc Marquez. But it wasn’t a comfortable P3 for the title chase leader. Miller, Morbidelli, Marquez and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) were all in with a shout of claiming a Silverstone podium with five laps to go.
In that podium fight, Miller and Alex Marquez were treating us to a brilliant battle. Morbidelli tried to cling onto Marc Marquez who was now eight tenths clear of the chasing pack. At the front, Bezzecchi was four seconds clear as Zarco kept Marquez just over a second adrift.
Last lap time at Silverstone. Bezzecchi was 4.6s clear but plenty of focus was on the podium fight. Turn 3 saw Morbidelli pass Marquez but the latter bit straight back. Could Morbidelli respond? Yes he could. Copse corner was the chosen place, now the question was on Marc Marquez to have a say.
And he did. A great run out of Turn 14 allowed Marquez to get the inside line at Stowe. It wasn’t over yet. Morbidelli slammed his Ducati down the inside at Vale. Running wide, his exit was compromised and Marquez managed to shove his way back through on the cutback to just. We mean just, earn a P3 as Alex Marquez finished right behind his brother and Morbidelli in that fantastic fight.
Up the road though, elation for Bezzecchi and Aprilia. A debut win in Noale colours came for the Italian. After his French GP heroics, Zarco claimed another fantastic result in P2. Chapeaux to the top two.
Acosta delivered some cracking middle to late race pace to finish in P6 ahead of Miller, as Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) clinched an equal-best Honda result in P8. That was wiped away post-race due to a 16-second tyre pressure penalty.
That meant Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Mir rounded out the top 10, with Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team), Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and the penalised Marini the final points scorers in the UK.
NEXT UP: ARAGON
Wow. What a Sunday that turned out to be. Drama aplenty and a first victory for Aprilia in 2025—Silverstone, you delivered. Next, we head to MotorLand Aragon to do it all over again. What lies ahead in Spain? Who knows? That’s the beauty of this sport.
For full results, click HERE!
Agius defeats Moreira and Alonso in stunning Moto2™ showdown
They say the best is often saved until last and the final few laps of the Moto2™ Grand Prix at Silverstone were certainly a blockbuster. A frenetic five-way battle gave us the first double South American podium in Moto2 but it was Australia’s day with Senna Agius (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) snatching victory in the final corners to defeat Brazilian Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) and Colombian David Alonso (CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team).
There was big drama elsewhere too as Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) crashed out on the come back after a bad start – but maintained his points lead, just.
STORY OF THE GP: Gonzalez struggles, fresh faces at the front
A fiery opening lap saw Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) snatch the holeshot whilst Championship leader Gonzalez went backwards after getting a terrible initial launch. Moreira was a brief leader at Turn 3 whilst at the end of the Hangar Straight, Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2™) hit the front for the first time.
On Lap 4, there were two sets of drama as Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – FRINSA – MSI) fell at Turn 3 and Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) dropped back to P13. Then, at Turn 6, Gonzalez collided and crashed with Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) – Baltus originally stayed upright but then a second hit from the Spaniard’s fallen machine was enough to take him out. Riders ok but both out of this race. There was then an established group of five at the front, but no established order. Canet, Moreira, Alonso, Agius and Guevara were swapping paint relentlessly going into the second half of the Grand Prix.
Entering the final third, Alonso went from third to first into Stowe to lead for the first time – the first Colombian rider to lead a Moto2 Grand Prix since Yonny Hernandez at Estoril, 2010. It didn’t last long however, as Canet struck back a few corners later. That didn’t fluster the reigning Moto3 World Champion, who was still right there, battling away with fellow South American Moreira. However, with four laps to go, constant trading paint seemed to give Canet a half a second advantage over the rest of the group, as Moreira, Alonso and Agius couldn’t nominate one rider to chase the #44 down. However, once Alonso had muscled his way ahead and without interference, he bridged the gap and was making for a grandstand finish on the final lap.
LAST LAP BELTER: a scrap to take their first Moto2 wins
The last 5.6km were breathtaking; after Alonso tried at Turn 6, he was forced to wait until his favourite passing opportunity at Stowe. He got the job done and despite the front tyre crying for mercy, the #80 somehow managed to keep an inside line and held the advantage on the run to Vale.
Canet had other ideas though as he let the brakes off into the last chicane, running himself and Alonso wide and allowing the #81 of Agius to burst through around the outside. Then into the last corner, Moreira biffed Alonso out the way, barging through to second whilst wide on the exit of the last corner, and Alonso kept it pinned to pip Canet off the rostrum.
Agius threaded the needle to perfection through it all, going from third to the win in style. With Australia, Brazil and Colombia represented as Canet was forced to settle for fourth, it was a non-European podium for the first time in Moto2.
BEHIND THE BATTLE: home-hero Dixon in the top, Vietti’s fight back
Behind Canet in P4, Guevara rounded out the top five after just losing touch late on, ahead of a hard-charging Celestino Vietti (Beta Tools SpeedRS Team) who took P6 from P19 on the grid, ahead of Filip Salac (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) and home-hero Dixon, who took the chequered flag in ninth but then got dropped to 11th with a late Long Lap-equivalent penalty. Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team) moves up to P9, ahead of Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedRS Team) who completes the top ten ahead of Dixon. For full results, click HERE and come back for more in two weeks from MotorLand as Gonzalez looks to hit back on more home turf…
Rueda fends off Quiles to take stunning victory from the back
Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) made it three wins in a row in some style at the Tissot Grand Prix of the UK. The points leader is even more so after he joined an exclusive club of riders who’ve won from the back: Marc Marquez (Valencia 2012, Moto2™), Brad Binder (Jerez 2016, Moto3™) and David Alonso (Silverstone 2023, Moto3). He’d taken pole but then got penalized for being slow on the line in Q2 after setting his best lap, but that didn’t stop him.
Still, it wasn’t easy as rookie Maximo Quiles (CFMoto Valresa Aspar Team) went toe-to-toe with Rueda to the final lap, forced to settle for second but that second also his first ever podium, taken in style. Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) completed the podium and after a Long Lap penalty he’d seen for contact with David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP).
Off the line Rueda got a good start and picked off a few riders into Turn 1, but as Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) nailed the holeshot there remained a good distance between the #99 starting his comeback and his rookie teammate at the front. As ever though, the Moto3™ freight train was out in full force as a huge lead group streaked around Silverstone.
The lead group was down to 12 riders as the race settled slightly, with Rueda making his way through to the front of the second group by Lap 3. By Lap 4 he was into the front group and starting to make his way through it. With five laps to go, the #99 was into the top five and attacking those who’d led the way from the off, and not long after he was in the lead.
It wasn’t a fairytale pull the pin and go, though. Quiles dug in to make it a last lap duel between the Championship leader and the rookie, with everything coming down to the final corner. Side by side down the Hangar Straight and then again from Stowe down into the chicane, that’s where Quiles was ever-so-slightly deep – and Rueda dived for the inside line round the final corner to just pip the rookie to the line and complete the comeback. From the back to the top, a rare club of winners to join.
Quiles’ second is a stunning first podium for the rookie, however, and Lunetta came back from his own drama. The Italian was given a Long Lap early on for irresponsible riding in an incident with Muñoz, but came back from that to take P3.
Carpe, Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM tech3), David Almansa (Leopard Racing), Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP), Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI), Vicente Perez (LEVELUP-MTA) and Nicola Carraro (Rivacold Snipers Team) completed the top ten, with a late change in the group coming from an incident between Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) – the former given a Long Lap/equivalent time penalty and the latter crashing out. Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power) takes P11 on home turf, Furusato is classified P12, and Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Cormac Buchanan (DENSSI Racing – BOE) and Riccardo Rossi (Rivacold Snipers Team) completed the points.
That’s a wrap on an incredible weekend in the UK… and next up it’s home turf for many on the grid at Aragon. Join us for more in two weeks and check out full results here!
