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Category: Crew On Two

  • WorldSBK: Bulega keeps championship alive with Estoril Race 2 rebound

    WorldSBK: Bulega keeps championship alive with Estoril Race 2 rebound

    Nicolo Bulega bounced back with a dominant Race 2 victory at the EICMA Estoril Round to take the 2025 WorldSBK title down to the final round in Jerez next weekend, although Toprak Razgatlioglu still holds the upper hand after a victory in the Tissot Superpole Race.

     

    Tissot Superpole Race

    The start of the 10-lap Sunday morning race saw Bulega snatch the lead, with teammate Alvaro Bautista in 2nd and Razgatlioglu down to 3rd.  Xavi Vierge mounted a brief attack for 3rd, but the top 3 settled after the first corner.

    When Razgatlioglu fell down the order in yesterday’s race, it did not stop him coming back through to the front.  This time he had only fallen to 3rd so predictably the BMW rider was still in contention for the win despite another poor start.

    Within half a lap, Bautista had succumbed to the pressure from Razgatlioglu.  By the start of the 2nd lap, Razgatlioglu made a successful move for the lead however he then ran wide at turn 6.

    This began a half-lap scrap where the positions changed at turns 8, 10 and then turn 1 on the following lap. Ultimately, Razgatliolgu prevailed and after this entertaining battle it was a done deal for the win, although Bulega at least kept him honest and under pressure for the remainder of the 10 laps.

    Bautista had slipped back and was locked in a battle with Jonathan Rea.  Rea, his teammate Andrea Locatelli and Vierge were stuck behind Bautista after the former very briefly ran in 3rd in the early stages only to crash out at turn 7 on lap 6.

    Yari Montella also crashed out at turn 7 but was able to rejoin while Michael Ruben Rinaldi pulled into the pits of his own volition and Tito Rabat was eliminated late on.

    Andrea Iannone made the most of Rea’s exit as he moved past Remy Gardner and a fading Vierge to seal 5th.  He was also aided by Alex Lowes eliminating himself when he lost the front of the bike at the first corner on the last lap, securing 4th for Locatelli with Bautista broken clear up the road for 3rd with Axel Bassani and Michael van der Mark being promoted into the crucial top 9 that sets grid spots for Race 2.

    Tissot Superpole Race Results

    Image Credit: WorldSBK

     

    Race 2

    Thanks to 2 consecutive runner-up spots, Bulega put himself in a position of near certainty going into the final race of the weekend to prolong the championship battle into Jerez.  However, what the Italian pulled off on Sunday afternoon in Estoril was a real warning shot to his rival ahead of next week’s showdown.

    Once again, Bulega made the hole shot to turn 1 and was followed by Locatelli from 4th on the grid.  Bautista was 3rd, a jump-starting Iannone 4th and Razgatlioglu down to 5th from pole position.

    Predictably, Razgatlioglu’s fightback began on lap 2, passing Bautista for 4th at turn 1.  He did not really need to pass Iannone on-track who would soon be docked with a double long-lap penalty (far from his first this year) but did so anyway at the penultimate chicane of the Estoril track later on lap 2.

    There followed a forceful move on Locatelli by Razgatlioglu at the final chicane, which Iannone also took advantage of.  It was not long before the Italian departed the fight but Bautista and Locatelli had passed him before he dived off the racing line for his penalty.

    By this stage, Bulega was already 1.5 seconds clear of Razgatlioglu.  Surprisingly, the gap did not come down and later in the race Razgatlioglu was caught by the trackside cameras shaking his head as he came out of the last 2 corners.

    It appeared that the hot conditions were causing Razgatlioglu to struggle for rear grip and he had to settle for 2nd place 5 seconds down on a jubilant Bulega.  The race was hardly a classic, but it reignited hope that Bulega was not yet down and out in 2025 as he and Bautista sealed the Teams’ Championship for aruba.it Racing – Ducati.

    Rinaldi and Tarran Mackenzie both crashed out while Lecuona slid out with 8 laps to go.  The fight for the final podium spot was a more muted affair once Alex Lowes (who started 10th) passed Locatelli for 4th on lap 5 but was unable to catch Bautista, as Rea faded to 9th after another promising race start.

    Vierge settled in 6th while Gardner and Axel Bassani fought with Rea for 7th.  van der Mark was 3 seconds back in 10th and was being caught by Garrett Gerloff and a resurgent Iannone.

    The gap now stands at 36 points between Razgatlioglu and Bulega (with BMW and Ducati even closer in the Manufacturers’ Standings) ahead of the Jerez showdown in a week’s time.  Should Bulega prevail in Race 1, the championship will go down to the final day, and the battle for 3rd overall has intensified as Danilo Petrucci’s absence this weekend saw him lose positions to Bautista and Locatelli in the standings.

    Race 2 Results

    Image Credit: WorldSBK

    Feature Image Credit: WorldSBK

     

  • WorldSBK: Match point to Razgatlioglu after Estoril Race 1 win

    WorldSBK: Match point to Razgatlioglu after Estoril Race 1 win

    Toprak Razgatlioglu put one hand on the 2025 Superbike World Championship trophy after winning race 1 at the EICMA Estoril Round, with there now being a possibility that the Turkish rider can win his third title in the class tomorrow if he outscores Nicolo Bulega by 21 more points – ahead of the Jerez finale next weekend.

    Starting from pole position with a new lap record around Estoril, Razgatlioglu was pipped to turn 1 by his title rival Nicolo Bulega.  However, five riders crashed and left a chaotic scene at the first corner that necessitated a red flag being flown by the end of the 1st lap.

    The race was interrupted after Tetshuta Nagashima, Bahattin Sofuoglu, Axel Bassani and Michael van der Mark went down together at turn 1 without any serious injuries, while Tarran Mackenzie narrowly avoided going down after also being hit.  Nagashima is a wildcard for Honda HRC this weekend, while Danilo Petrucci, Sam Lowes and Michael Ruben Rinaldi had all been declared unfit prior to the race.

    All of the riders were thankfully able to restart the now 20-lap race.  Razgatlioglu had a nightmare getaway dropping to 5th while Alvaro Bautista shot into the lead ahead of his teammate Bulega.

    For Razgatlioglu, it was imperative that he passed the Yamaha duo Andrea Locatelli and Jonathan Rea in case the Ducati duo escaped up front.  However, the BMW rider made it back into the lead by as early as lap 3…

    When Razgatlioglu moved clear of the Yamahas, Bulega and then Bautista by turn 1 on lap 3, he was able to immediately stretch his lead.  Bulega had to battle past his teammate to stop Razgatlioglu blasting off into the distance, but the consequence of his move at turn 6 left Bautista vulnerable to Rea.

    As has so often been the case in 2025, Razgatlioglu was able to control the pace and came home 2 seconds clear of Bulega.  The gap had been stretched in the first half of the race and steadily came down in the second, but this may have been down to a tyre offset from a swtich made during the red-flag period and Razgatlioglu had enough in hand over the closing laps to respond to Bulega’s pace to give himself a narrow shot at wrapping up the championship after Race 2 tomorrow.

    There was at least plenty of action in the battle for the final podium spot which eventually went to Bautista.  On lap 8, Rea made a mistake by running wide at the first corner but was able to close right back up to Bautista, with the latter then slipping up on lap 12.

    Bautista’s error just after half distance allowed Alex Lowes to close in for the podium battle.  Thankfully for the Ducati rider Lowes slowed down Rea’s assault and Bautista was able to come home 2 seconds clear for 3rd place but a whopping 15 seconds down on the race leader.

    Sadly for the outgoing Rea, there was to be no podium result as he slipped behind both Lowes and Locatelli on lap 15 of 20.  On the following tour an impressive Locatelli got past Lowes into turn 1 to seal 4th while Bautista had gotten clear of the battle behind.

    Xavi Vierge (who replaces the retiring Rea next season) nearly caught the bike that will soon be his and Andrea Iannone was right behind at the chequered flag.  In 9th came Remy Gardner ahead of a charging Garrett Gerloff with Tito Rabat the other big mover from his starting spot.

     

    Race 1 Results

    Image Credit: WorldSBK

    Feature Image Credit: WorldSBK

  • Rueda Clinches the Crown in Chaotic Mandalika Showdown

    Rueda Clinches the Crown in Chaotic Mandalika Showdown

    After a season of relentless pace, poise, and precision, José Antonio Rueda has been crowned the 2025 Moto3 World Champion at the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia, sealing the title with races to spare after a brilliant run of form that left his rivals without an answer. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider’s journey to glory has been one of quiet consistency and fierce determination — the kind that doesn’t always make headlines lap-by-lap, but defines champions over a season.

    Photo credit: Pirelli Press office

    Rueda’s campaign has been a masterclass in balance — starting the season with a win he races with equal parts aggression and control. From the very first round, he showed the hallmarks of a rider ready to step out from under the “next big thing” label and into genuine championship contention. His blend of speed and race intelligence meant he was almost always in the fight, no matter the circuit.

    The Spanish rider’s title was effectively sealed after a hard-fought second-place finish at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, where he once again showed his trademark patience under pressure.  Rueda kept his composure to bring home the points that put the championship at his doorstep. It was a fitting way to crown a campaign defined by maturity beyond his years. He sealed the deal this weekend after a red flagged race saw him emerge from the race in the top spot and seal the championship

    From his victory charge in Mugello to his late-race duels in Austria and Aragon, Rueda has been a constant presence at the front. But perhaps his greatest weapon this season wasn’t raw speed — it was precision. Few mistakes, fewer crashes, and an uncanny ability to manage the chaos of Moto3 racing, where a thousandth of a second can separate glory from heartbreak.

    In parc fermé, emotion spilled over as Rueda celebrated with his team. It’s a world title that also cements Aki Ajo’s team as a dynasty in the lightweight class, adding another jewel to a crown already glittering with names like Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta – Rueda now joins that elite list, continuing Spain’s remarkable production line of world champions — and doing so with a riding style that whispers promise for the classes above.

    Image
    Photo Credit: MotoGP Videopass

    His closest rivals — Ángel Piqueras, David Muñoz, and Máximo Quiles — all had their moments in the sun, but none could match Rueda’s consistency across the continents. Even when the battles got fierce, the #99 kept his head down and let his results do the talking.

    As Moto3 prepares to head to Australia, the pressure now shifts to the rest of the grid — the title may be wrapped up, but the fight for pride, podiums, and factory futures rages on. For José Antonio Rueda, however, the future already looks golden. A calm, calculated champion in a class known for chaos — and a rider who will be moving to Moto2 in the 2026 season as the world champion in Moto3.

    Eyes now move to Piqueraz, Munoz and Quiles to see who can pick up second and third in the title fight.

  • WorldSBK: Bulega bounces back on Sunday in Aragon

    WorldSBK: Bulega bounces back on Sunday in Aragon

    Nicolo Bulega bounced back on Sunday at the Tissot Aragon Round to keep the Superbike World Championship battle rolling on into the last two rounds after a pair of hard-fought victories against Toprak Razgatlioglu, whose record-breaking winning streak he has finally ended.

     

    Tissot Superpole Race

    As with Race 1 yesterday, Razgatlioglu established a pattern of passing into turn 15 but Bulega would retaliate through the long final corner of turn 16.  This first occurred at the end of lap 1 then again on laps 2, 4, 5 and 9.

    When both realised they would have to get a little more creative to pass each other, turns 7 and 12 became passing hotspots.  Razgatlioglu preferred the former and Bulega the latter.

    Behind them was Alvaro Bautista who made it into 3rd place but still had Sam Lowes sticking with him.  Dominique Aegerter, Yari Montella and Tito Rabat collided at turn 5 on the opening lap but it was an otherwise clean 10-lap affair.

    The TV direction had no chance to much of the action further down the grid as the titanic battle constantly played out at the front.  With 3 laps to go, Bautista had broken free of Sam Lowes after the Brit made a small mistake and it looked as if the Spaniard could possibly make it a 3-way fight for the win or at least try and take some points off Razgatlioglu to help his teammate.

    The other notable thing to happen on lap 8 was that there was no overtakes between the top 2.  Razgatlioglu was preparing himself for a late lunge and it came at turn 7 on the penultimate lap.

    However, Bulega was back ahead at turn 12 before Razgatlioglu slid through at turn 15 and lost the lead again at the end of the straight going through turn 16.  It was all so predictable but heading onto the last lap through the last two corners but going into the last lap it was all to play for.

    Razgatlioglu surprised Bulega with a move into the corkscrew halfway around the final lap.  The BMW rider held the lead right up until the last corner, when the inevitable happened…

    Bulega slingshot his way underneath his rival and took victory by    to avenge his narrow defeat yesterday and ended Razgatlioglu’s winning streak of 13 races to seal his first victory since back in May at Most.

    Tissot Superpole Race Results

    Image Credit: WorldSBK

     

    Race 2

    The whole grid made it cleanly around the opening corners of Race 2 as Bautista fell down to 5th behind Andrea Iannone and Jonathan Rea.  Then came the inevitable Razgatlioglu pass on Bulega at turn 15 before the Ducati’s retaliation at turn 16.

    Razgatlioglu had to try something different and one lap later bullied his rival out of the way at turn 14 instead of 15, but again Bulega was far superior through the long left of the last corner.  When Razgatlioglu passed into turn 16 himself on lap 3, by the exit of the corner Bulega was immediately back ahead.

    Thankfully for Razgatlioglu he carried enough speed to retake the lead at turn 1 as it became clear that we were once again in for an absolute classic World Superbikes race.  Bulega was back ahead by turn 16 next time around.

    Meanwhile, Bautista had gotten back up to 3rd place and began to slowly reel in the leaders.  Ultimately, he lost too much time to catch Razgatlioglu and try to take some points off him to help his teammate Bulega.

    At the end of lap 7 Razgatliolgu was again briefly ahead through turn 16 but was close enough to scythe through on Bulega at turn 7 on the following lap.  Bulega struck back at turn 12 and held on until turn 1 on lap 10.

    The defining moment of the race sadly did not come right at the end as it had yesterday or in the Tissot Superpole Race.  After a successful move at turn 7 again on lap 11, the next time around at the same corner Razgatlioglu uncharacteristically ran wide to let Bulega through easily.

    That was it as far as the race was concerned and Razgatlioglu had to focus on repelling Bautista behind to bank the points for 2nd place.  Meanwhile, Bahattin Sofuoglu and Zaqhwan Zaidi crashed out further down the order.

    The next most interesting fight to develop was over 4th place.  With 4 laps to go the battle intensified between Iannone, Rea and Sam Lowes but the latter slid out at turn 14 on the penultimate lap.

    Alex Lowes was around 3 seconds further back and trying to keep Andrea Locatelli at bay with Michael van der Mark close behind.  The latter rider on the second BMW crashed out at high speed at turn 16 on the penultimate lap but thankfully was not too badly hurt.

    The late accidents promoted Garrett Gerloff and Ryan Vickers to the points.  Bulega eased to the line 3.2 seconds clear of his title rival with Razgatlioglu just over a second clear of Bautista so that the championship lead comes down from 39 to 36 points with 2 rounds (6 races) to go in 2025.

    Race 2 Results

    Image Credit: WorldSBK

    Feature Image Credit: WorldSBK

  • Marc Márquez: The Champion Who Refused to Break

    Marc Márquez: The Champion Who Refused to Break

    From broken bones to unbreakable spirit — Marc Márquez is world champion again.

    Marc Márquez has always been more than a motorcycle racer. He is a force of nature, a rider who bends the laws of physics, a competitor who redefined what it meant to be on the limit. And now, after years of heartbreak, setbacks, and doubt, Márquez is once again at the summit of the sport. A ninth world championship crown shines on his head — one forged in pain, resilience, and an unshakable refusal to give in.

    For those who have followed his journey, the number nine carries a weight beyond statistics. It’s more than a number. Márquez was already a legend when he secured his sixth MotoGP title and eighth world title in 2019. But then came 2020 — the year when everything changed. A brutal highside at Jerez left him with a shattered right arm, a wound that became a nightmare of failed surgeries, infections, and setbacks. What was supposed to be a short recovery spiraled into a saga of suffering. The rider who once seemed invincible suddenly looked human, broken not only in body but almost in spirit.

    The world questioned whether he would ever return. Some even whispered that his career was finished. MotoGP, it seemed, was moving on. But Márquez never stopped believing. He rebuilt himself slowly, painfully, brick by brick. Even when he did return to racing, it wasn’t the Márquez of old. The victories were rare, the bike unstable, the risks enormous, and the shadow of injury lingered over every lap.

    Box Repsol

    And yet, through all the doubt, the fight never left him. That is what makes this ninth crown so remarkable. It is not the product of youthful dominance or raw talent alone, but of talent sharpened by years of hard work and hardship. Casey Stoner once put it perfectly: “Normally you have hard work can beat talent. Until talent decides to work hard.” Márquez has always had the talent — the kind that cannot be taught, the kind that cannot be matched. But now, after everything, he has also shown the discipline, the patience, and the grit to mold that talent into something unstoppable.

    Alberto Puig, a man not known for giving away easy praise, summed it up simply before Sundays Grand Prix: “The guy deserves everything.” Coming from Puig, it was not just admiration but recognition of what Márquez has endured to stand once more as world champion.

    This ninth title feels different because it is not about domination. It is about redemption. It is about proving that greatness is not defined by never falling, but by always rising again. Márquez is no longer just the fearless boy who conquered MotoGP in 2013. He is a seasoned warrior, one who has stared down his own mortality and chosen to fight back.

    MotoGP Videopass

    Legends in sport are rarely made by numbers alone. They are made in the moments when all seems lost, when the world doubts, and when an athlete finds something deeper within themselves. Márquez has had many victories that will be remembered — the saves, the last-lap duels, the impossible lean angles. But perhaps his greatest victory is this: that after being broken, after being written off, he came back and reminded the world why he is one of the greatest to ever race.

    Marc Márquez is now a nine-time world champion. The statistics will place him among the immortals, but the story — his story — is what will endure. The boy became a man, the man was broken, and the champion rose again.

  • Dominant Muñoz Wins in Japan, Rueda Edges Closer to Glory

    Dominant Muñoz Wins in Japan, Rueda Edges Closer to Glory

    David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) thrived in the chaos of Motegi, taking a commanding win at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan after mastering tricky conditions that caught many of his rivals out. Behind him, Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) put together a fierce comeback to grab second and keep his championship push firmly alive, while Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) edged out Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) in a last-lap duel to secure his eighth podium of the year.

    Gold & Goose / Red Bull Content Pool

    When the lights went out, Rueda made the start he needed from pole, though Perrone was equally sharp off the line. Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) delighted his home crowd by slotting into third, but the order didn’t last long. Joel Kelso (LEVELUP – MTA) came flying through on Lap 2, barging past Rueda at Turn 5 to seize the lead. Muñoz was quick to follow, while Quiles and Perrone also dispatched the poleman a lap later, pushing Rueda back to fifth. Meanwhile, David Almansa (Leopard Racing), starting from the very back, wasted no time cutting through the pack with fastest laps to join the leaders.

    Rain spots soon began to pepper parts of the circuit, injecting another layer of unpredictability into an already frantic contest. Quiles took his first turn at the front on Lap 4, but the lead group was in constant flux. Kelso’s charge faltered on Lap 6 after a brush with Almansa at Turn 10 forced the Australian wide and down the order. By Lap 8, Muñoz had broken clear by a second, leaving Furusato in second with the chasers strung out behind. Rueda and Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI), the top two in the standings, were mired in ninth and tenth, giving the championship leader a golden chance to stretch his advantage.

    Gold & Goose / Red Bull Content Pool

    But the Japanese fans’ hopes were dashed soon after. Furusato, running second, suffered a vicious highside at Turn 2 on Lap 9. Though he remounted, he went down again at Turn 5 in the tunnel section, ending his chances of a dream home podium. Muñoz, now unchallenged at the front, continued to increase his advantage.

    As the laps ticked down, the fight shifted to the podium. Perrone and Quiles scrapped hard, while Almansa, Fernandez, Rueda and Yamanaka formed a chasing pack. Piqueras’ race unravelled further with a crash at Turn 10, though he managed to rejoin in 11th. Almansa’s brilliant ride also ended in heartbreak just two laps from home, leaving Rueda to lock horns with Quiles and Perrone for the podium.

    With two laps to go, Rueda pounced on Perrone for second at Turn 7 and dug in defensively. Perrone then tried to muscle past Quiles at Turn 13, but the rookie countered perfectly, holding the outside into Turn 14 to snatch back third place.

    At the flag, Muñoz crossed the line almost two seconds clear, securing his third victory of the campaign with authority. Rueda’s determined ride to second keeps his title bid firmly on track, while Quiles continued his stellar rookie season with another rostrum finish.

    Gold & Goose / Red Bull Content Pool

    Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) capped off his strong weekend with fifth place, just ahead of home hero Ryusei Yamanaka. Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) overcame a double Long Lap penalty to finish seventh, followed by Kelso in eighth, Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) in ninth, and Dennis Foggia (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) rounding out the top ten.

    Despite his crash, Piqueras salvaged 11th to keep his fading championship hopes mathematically alive. Behind him came Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Matteo Bertelle (LEVELUP – MTA) on his return from injury, Carpe and Stefano Nepa (SIC58 Squadra Corse) to complete the points scorers.

    Muñoz may have owned the day, but Rueda was the big winner in the title picture. With a 78-point cushion, the #99 now heads to Indonesia with a chance to wrap up the Moto3 crown early.

    Pos Rider Number Team Time/Gap Points
    1 David Muñoz 64 LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP 33:09.599 25
    2 Jose Antonio Rueda 99 Red Bull KTM Ajo +1.618 20
    3 Maximo Quiles 28 CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team +2.203 16
    4 Valentin Perrone 73 Red Bull KTM Tech3 +2.336 13
    5 Adrian Fernandez 31 Leopard Racing +3.853 11
    6 Ryusei Yamanaka 6 FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI +5.496 10
    7 Guido Pini 94 LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP +5.617 9
    8 Joel Kelso 66 LEVELUP-MTA +5.771 8
    9 Luca Lunetta 58 SIC58 Squadra Corse +11.955 7
    10 Dennis Foggia 71 CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team +21.113 6
    11 Angel Piqueras 36 FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI +21.326 5
    12 Matteo Bertelle 18 LEVELUP-MTA +21.528 4
    13 Jacob Roulstone 12 Red Bull KTM Tech3 +21.568 3
    14 Alvaro Carpe 83 Red Bull KTM Ajo +21.669 2
    15 Stefano Nepa 82 SIC58 Squadra Corse +22.631 1
    16 Cormac Buchanan 14 DENSSI Racing – BOE +24.383 –
    17 Marco Morelli 95 GRYD – Mlav Racing +27.887 –
    18 Eddie O’Shea 8 GRYD – Mlav Racing +29.201 –
    19 Ruche Moodley 21 DENSSI Racing – BOE +35.122 –
    20 Riccardo Rossi 54 Rivacold Snipers Team +35.305 –
    21 Scott Ogden 19 CIP Green Power +68.971 –
    – David Almansa 22 Leopard Racing DNF – 15 Laps –
    – Taiyo Furusato 72 Honda Team Asia DNF – 8 Laps –
    – Noah Dettwiler 55 CIP Green Power DNF – 1 Lap –
    – Arbi Aditama 93 Honda Team Asia DNF – Lap 1 –
  • WorldSBK: 0.030s separate top 2 in titanic Aragon Race 1 battle

    WorldSBK: 0.030s separate top 2 in titanic Aragon Race 1 battle

    Having never won at this circuit before, Toprak Razgatlioglu extended his winning run to 13 races in the Superbike World Championship after an incredible duel with resurgent polesitter Nicolo Bulega in Race 1 at the Tissot Aragon Round.

    With Bulega starting on pole position with a new lap record and Ducati historically holding the upper hand in Aragon, hopes were high that Razgatlioglu would finally be denied as he steamrolls his way to a third WorldSBK title.  What ensued under the Spanish sunshine was a thrilling battle that lasted the entire length of the race as 2025’s main protagonists chopped and changed positions throughout and were never more than 1 second apart for the entire 18 laps.

    The general pattern was that Bulega would get a much better exit from the long final corner of turn 16 to get close to Razgatlioglu by turn 1, then the latter would be stronger through the middle of the lap.  While the top-2 in the championship did battle, Sam Lowes was in close attendance right behind the pair.

    This pattern first occurred at the end of the 1st and start of the 2nd lap after Razgatlioglu had stolen the lead on lap 1.  Then it happened again at the end of the 2nd lap and the start of the 3rd.  Two laps later and again, Bulega slingshotted into the lead at turn 1 before he ran wide at the tight chicane at turns 14/15 to allow Razgatlioglu back through – then Bulega was ahead again by the next time they reached turn 1.

    By the halfway stage of the race Razgatlioglu had edged ever so slightly clear of Bulega while it looked as if Danilo Petrucci, Alvaro Bautista and Alex Lowes were starting to close up to the top 3.  Ultimately, home hero Bautista crashed out with 6 laps to go from 5th place while Petrucci and Alex Lowes stabilised their respective positions of 4th for the former and an inherited 5th for the latter.

    Behind them, the two Andrea’s were battling over 6th with Iannone passing Locatelli in the 2nd half of the race.  Behind them came Axel Bassani from 23rd on the grid after being penalised earlier, with the Bimota rider making up 15 places and settling into 8th in the closing laps while Jonathan Rea faded after to 13th after his own promising start.

    With 5 laps to go, Bulega began to pick up his pace and stretch a small gap to Sam Lowes.  However, Sam was saving himself for the last couple of laps and closed back in to the top 2 to finish less than 1 second off the winner.

    The MarcVDS rider was so close but just not quite by enough to get involved in the scrap for the lead as Bulega very nearly made it past Razgatlioglu into turn 1 on the final lap.  Once again, a superb ride through the long last corner let the Ducati rider close right up to the BMW as they blasted towards the chequered flag and were separated by just 0.030s in Razgatlioglu’s favour.

    The win meant a lot to Razgatlioglu and was devastating for Bulega after such a defiant ride.  Not only was it the Turk’s first win at Aragon but it matched his record of 13 consecutive wins from last season and was of course another hammer blow in the championship for his Italian rival – but tomorrow’s pair of races should hopefully be another close fought affair with the BMW and Ducati neck-and-neck.

    Race 1 Results

    Image Credit: WorldSBK

    Feature Image Credit: WorldSBK

  • Rueda Steals Misano Glory with Last-Corner Stunner

    Rueda Steals Misano Glory with Last-Corner Stunner

    Jose Antonio Rueda [Red Bull KTM AJO] pulled off the kind of move that defines champions, diving up the inside at the final corner in Misano to snatch a dramatic Moto3 victory. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider denied Maximo Quiles [CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar] what looked like a sure win, extending his already commanding lead in the standings as the paddock now heads to the flyaways. For Quiles, it was heartbreak but also a strong second place that reinforces his rapid rise in his rookie season, while Adrian Fernandez [Le0pard Racing] returned to the podium in what is turning out to be a challenging season with a hard-earned third.

    Photo Credit: Pirelli & C. S.p.A

    The opening laps set the tone for what would become another Moto3 classic. Joel Kelso [Levelup-MTA] and Valentin Perrone [Red Bull KTM Tech3] were locked in combat right from the first corner, David Muñoz [Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP] battled for the podium places and Jacob Roulstone [Red Bull KTM Tech3] also fought at the front in the opening laps. True to form David Muñoz pulled off an agressive move early in the race running himself and rookie Valentin Perrone out wide closing the door on both riders podium hopes.

    At the front, Rueda capitalised, making his first move for the lead on Lap 7. The Spaniard was instantly on the offensive, showing the confidence of a championship leader. Quiles wasn’t about to let him escape. The Aspar rookie cut through the group, first picking off rivals before turning his attention to Rueda and Kelso. On Lap 10, Quiles launched a bold move to snatch second from the Australian, only for Kelso to strike back immediately. The top six were glued together, Fernandez and Piqueras hanging onto the tail of the fight while Perrone regrouped after his earlier clash.

    The closing stages saw the intensity rise with every corner. With five laps left, four riders—Rueda, Quiles, Kelso and Perrone—were slightly clear, a quartet that seemed destined to decide the podium. Fernandez edged ever closer as Piqueras slipped back, unable to quite bridge the gap when it mattered most. The final two laps delivered the fireworks. Quiles muscled his way into the lead through Turns 12 and 13, Perrone briefly climbed to second, and Rueda found himself shuffled back before regrouping.

    Photo Credit: Pirelli & C. S.p.A

    It all came down to the last lap. Quiles led across the line with Rueda shadowing him, Perrone still in the mix but under pressure. At Turn 13 Perrone ran wide, ending his hopes of victory. That left Quiles to defend through Turn 14, but Rueda had planned his attack to perfection. Carrying more speed into the final corner, he dived underneath his rookie rival and made the move stick, crossing the line just over a tenth clear to claim one of the most decisive wins of his season.

    Behind them, Fernandez’s persistence was rewarded with third, denying Kelso by a fraction. Angel Piqueras [Frinsa – MT Helmets – MSI]  settled for fifth, while Perrone slipped to sixth, less than a second from glory showing how close this Moto3 battle was. Muñoz recovered superbly from his early aggressive mistake to finish seventh, ahead of Ryusei Yamanaka [Frinsa – MT Helmets – MSI], rookies Guido Pini [Liqui Moly Dynavold Intact GP] and Alvaro Carpe [Red Bull KTM Ajo], who rounded out the top ten.

    Rounding out the points were Jacob Roulstone and Taiyo Furusato [Honda Team Asia] in eleventh and twelth. Just behind them was Dennis Foggia [CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team] and David Almansa [Le0pard racing]. Scott Ogden took the final point in fifteenth.

    Pos Pts Rider Team Time/Gap
    1 25 Jose Antonio Rueda Red Bull KTM Ajo 33:48.906
    2 20 Maximo Quiles CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team +0.113
    3 16 Adrian Fernandez Leopard Racing +0.117
    4 13 Joel Kelso LEVELUP-MTA +0.164
    5 11 Angel Piqueras FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI +0.456
    6 10 Valentin Perrone Red Bull KTM Tech3 +0.936
    7 9 David Muñoz LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP +8.623
    8 8 Ryusei Yamanaka FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI +8.806
    9 7 Guido Pini LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP +9.056
    10 6 Alvaro Carpe Red Bull KTM Ajo +9.523
    11 5 Jacob Roulstone Red Bull KTM Tech3 +10.993
    12 4 Taiyo Furusato Honda Team Asia +11.022
    13 3 Dennis Foggia CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team +14.820
    14 2 David Almansa Leopard Racing +18.575
    15 1 Scott Ogden CIP Green Power +24.454
    16 – Ruche Moodley DENSSI Racing – BOE +29.595
    17 – Cormac Buchanan DENSSI Racing – BOE +33.991
    18 – Stefano Nepa SIC58 Squadra Corse +38.135
    19 – Noah Dettwiler CIP Green Power +38.461
    20 – Riccardo Rossi Rivacold Snipers Team +38.465
    21 – Marcos Uriarte LEVELUP-MTA +42.546
    22 – Nicola Carraro Rivacold Snipers Team +0.000
  • Barcelona brilliance: Piqueras wins the battle, Rueda saves the day

    Barcelona brilliance: Piqueras wins the battle, Rueda saves the day

    Ángel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) produced a brilliant ride at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to take his fourth win of the season, beating José Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in a nail-biting finish. The victory trims the Spaniard’s title deficit by five points, (-64 points now) while Rueda recovered from an early Long Lap penalty (collected for riding slow on line in practice – 2nd offence) to snatch P2 in the final corner. Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) completed the podium after another classy ride, marking his second rostrum of 2025.

    Photo Credit: Pirelli Press Office

    Starting from his maiden pole, David Almansa (Le0pard Racing) made the holeshot stick, but the action exploded behind him. Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar) rocketed through from ninth to P4 on the opening lap, while Piqueras slipped down the order to P6. Title leader Rueda immediately served his Long Lap penalty on Lap 3, tumbling from fifth to 15th – but the #99 was far from done.

    By Lap 4, Piqueras had bulldozed his way up to third, with Rueda already slicing back into the top 10. The lead group was a freight train, Almansa still heading the charge with Quiles, Muñoz, and Piqueras all in close quarters. On Lap 9, Hungarian GP winner Quiles surged into P1, only to be quickly countered by Almansa and Piqueras. Disaster struck for Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) who suffered yet another technical issue forcing him out of the race. Kiwi Cormac Buchanan (Denssi Racing – BOE) also crashed out on lap 9.

    The relentless shuffle continued until Lap 11, when Rueda finally hit the front for the first time. He tried to break clear with four laps to go, opening half a second over the pack, but the chasers refused to let him escape. Almansa, Piqueras, and Furusato dragged him back into range.

    Photo Credit: Pirelli Press Office

    The final lap was pure chaos. Piqueras made a bold lunge at Turn 1 to seize the lead. Rueda slipped back to fourth behind Furusato and Almansa, but the championship leader wasn’t finished – throwing his KTM up the inside at the last corner to snatch second. Piqueras, however, held firm for a crucial victory that could shape the title battle.

    Behind them, Furusato sealed a deserved podium in third, while Almansa and teammate Adrián Fernández (Le0pard Racing) rounded out the top five, a good result for the pair of Hondas however Furusato in P3 wasn’t enough to keep Honda in the constructors fight with KTM taking home the constructors championship this weekend. Guido Pini claimed sixth, ahead of Joel Kelso (Levelup MTA) who was beaten up in the early laps and unable to recover, David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) and Ryusei Yamanaka (Frinsa – MT Helmets – MSI) who had an impressive charge through the field after a back of the grid (collected for for slow riding in qualifying – 2nd offence) picked up nineth place and Valentín Perrone brought it home in tenth place.

    Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) lead the next group of riders across the line in eleventh place, despite the impressive start Quiles crossed the line in twelfth place ahead of fellow rookie Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power) and Marcos Uriarte rounded out the point scoring places with 14th and 15th respectfully.

    🏁 Moto3 Barcelona GP – Race Results

    Pos Rider Team Time/Gap
    1 Ángel Piqueras 🇪🇸 FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI 32:40.243
    2 José Antonio Rueda 🇪🇸 Red Bull KTM Ajo +0.081
    3 Taiyo Furusato 🇯🇵 Honda Team Asia +0.156
    4 David Almansa 🇪🇸 Leopard Racing +0.229
    5 Adrián Fernández 🇪🇸 Leopard Racing +0.542
    6 Guido Pini 🇮🇹 LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP +0.587
    7 Joel Kelso 🇦🇺 LEVELUP-MTA +0.773
    8 David Muñoz 🇪🇸 LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP +1.216
    9 Ryusei Yamanaka 🇯🇵 FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI +1.240
    10 Valentín Perrone 🇦🇷 Red Bull KTM Tech3 +1.289
    11 Luca Lunetta 🇮🇹 SIC58 Squadra Corse +4.973
    12 Maximo Quiles 🇪🇸 CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team +5.005
    13 Álvaro Carpe 🇪🇸 Red Bull KTM Ajo +5.067
    14 Scott Ogden 🇬🇧 CIP Green Power +8.197
    15 Marcos Uriarte 🇪🇸 LEVELUP-MTA +17.124
    16 Riccardo Rossi 🇮🇹 Rivacold Snipers Team +18.135
    17 Marco Morelli 🇦🇷 GRYD – Mlav Racing +18.167
    18 Ruche Moodley 🇿🇦 DENSSI Racing – BOE +19.079
    19 Dennis Foggia 🇮🇹 CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team +19.505
    20 Nicola Carraro 🇮🇹 Rivacold Snipers Team +20.330
    21 Noah Dettwiler 🇨🇭 CIP Green Power +24.386
    22 Eddie O’Shea 🇬🇧 GRYD – Mlav Racing +27.245
    23 Stefano Nepa 🇮🇹 SIC58 Squadra Corse +31.955
    24 Arbi Aditama 🇮🇩 Honda Team Asia +58.381
    NC Cormac Buchanan 🇳🇿 DENSSI Racing – BOE 9 Laps
    NC Jacob Roulstone 🇦🇺 Red Bull KTM Tech3 9 Laps
  • WorldSBK: Razgatlioglu masters Magny-Cours to seal 12 consecutive wins

    WorldSBK: Razgatlioglu masters Magny-Cours to seal 12 consecutive wins

    After a dominant display in qualifying and Race 1, Toprak Razgatlioglu unsurprisingly rode off into the distance on the Sunday of the French Round to take a 4th consecutive hat-trick and 12th win in a row in 2025 ahead of a demoralised Nicolo Bulega.

     

    Tissot Superpole Race

    Bulega very briefly led the Sunday morning 10-lap race in Magny-Cours before Razgatlioglu secured the win with a clinical move at the tight hairpin halfway round the opening lap to ease home for another victory.  A mistake for Bulega at turn 15 at the end of lap 3 left the Italian behind the Lowes’ brothers, which sealed the deal for any hopes of a battle for the race win.

    Alex Lowes once again came home in 3rd despite running behind his brother Sam in the early stages.  Sam was cycled back to 4th when Bulega came past him and Alex a lap and a half after his mistake, but the MarcVDS rider then crashed out with 4 laps to go with much bigger consequences than yesterday to leave him stranded down the grid for Race 2.

    The best-of-the-rest fight for 4th place became a battle between Danilo Petrucci and Michael van der Mark.  Clearly van der Mark’s contusions from yesterday’s crashes were not slowing him down as he came home a solid 5th behind Petrucci.  Andrea Iannone meanwhile just held off Jonathan Rea, Axel Bassani and Xavi Vierge for 6th.

    Rea was fortunate to even make it to the finish after he had to take avoiding action at the hairpin at one point which led to Alvaro Bautista slamming into the back of him.  Bautista ended up on the floor and – like Sam Lowes – one of the quick riders stuck outside of the top 3 rows for Race 2 in the afternoon.

    Tissot Superpole Race Results

    Image Credit: WorldSBK

    Race 2

    Razgatlioglu defended his lead at the start of Race 2, Bulega held onto 2nd, and Alex Lowes settled into 3rd to seal the exact same podium for all three events this weekend in Magny Cours.  It was another dominant display from the BMW rider who sealed a 12th consecutive victory and leaves him with a 39-point lead in the championship with just 3 rounds (and 12 races) to go in 2025.

    The action at the start of Race 2 was provided by a fast-starting Rea who shot up to 4th place from 7th on the grid.  Bautista was also riding like a man possessed from a lowly 14th on the grid after another pair of unfortunate crashes in the previous 2 races.

    By the end of the race Bautista was so rapid that he almost caught Alex Lowes for the final podium spot.  It was thrilling to watch the Ducati rider scythe away through the order, particularly against a rejuvenated Michael van der Mark who came home a solid 5th place behind Bautista.

    Alex Lowes had been battling Danilo Petrucci for 4th initially before the Barni Ducati rider lost his pace, while Rea also fell into 6th ahead of Vierge – who himself had initially squabbled with van der Mark.  Rea had challenged Alex Lowes for 3rd for as long as he could, but the Bimota, factory BMW and factory Ducati’s were just a little too quick for the retiring legend to stay in the podium battle for long.

    Behind Petrucci in 7th came Locatelli, Aegerter and Gerloff rounding out the top 10, with only 2 seconds separating those 4.  Tarran MacKenzie and substitute HRC rider Sergio Garcia rounded out the points scorers after solid rides to 14th and 15th places respectively.

    Razgatlioglu was 8 seconds clear of Bulega at the flag and enjoyed a symbolic celebration at the same corner where he crashed at high-speed last year which ruled him out of action for that particular round.  With a 39-point gap at the top of the standings and Bulega seemingly unable to thwart his BMW nemesis like he could do earlier in the campaign, Razgatlioglu is well on his way to a 3rd WorldSBK title ahead of his much-awaited MotoGP move in 2026.

    Race 2 Results

    Image Credit: WorldSBK

    Feature Image Credit: WorldSBK