MotoGP Grand Prix Valencia Sprint – Alex Marquez charges to Sprint glory after defeating Pedro Acosta and Fabio Di Giannantonio on Saturday

Alex Marquez has secured back-to-back Sprint victories, securing glory by 1.149s after a perfect ride. The No. 73 continues to impress in 2025, setting the fastest lap in the process as he stormed to the flag.

Pedro Acosta claimed second, unable to convert a second-row start into a Saturday victory as he remains ready to fight for his first GP win tomorrow. Fabio Di Giannantonio completes the podium, converting his front row start into third at the flag. 

Elsewhere, Raul Fernandez would narrowly miss out on the podium, finishing in fourth ahead of Marco Bezzecchi, who started from pole position. Although disappointed, it was an important day for Bezzecchi, who secured third in the 2025 standings.

There was plenty of drama throughout, with Jack Miller serving a Long Lap Penalty during the Sprint. Miller received the penalty for not dropping positions, initially giving after contact with Fermin Aldeguer.

Now attention turns to Sunday with a blockbuster Valencia GP in store! The field remains closed as we prepare to go racing at 13:00 GMT.

Alex Marquez charged to glory on Saturday, looking unstoppable out on the circuit. However, although the Spanish star has just secured the win, he is already looking to improve further as Sunday’s Valencia GP looms.

Alex Marquez said: "I am super happy to win today! During this weekend, we struggled more than normal, but today I said that we have to win and we have to be there. I tried my best and attacked from the start.

"The key was to do our rhythm and save some tyre in the beginning before pushing at the end. I am super happy, but I think we need to make one more step in our setting for tomorrow to be even stronger!"

Pedro Acosta finished in second after a phenomenal ride, narrowly missing out on the Sprint victory. Now attention turns to Sunday, with Acosta searching for his first Grand Prix win.

Acosta added: "I mean, we knew my only opportunity was to be super aggressive on the first lap, and it was not so bad. But then we were struggling not to lose the front, and I went wide at Turn 8, and then it was a snowball effect as it got worse and worse.

"It was like a football match, when you are trying to take the penalty and you know that eventually it will arrive. I am happy with KTM, they tried to give me the best that they can, and we are working well. We will try again tomorrow!"

It was a return to the Saturday podium for Fabio Di Giannantonio, who took third position at the flag, giving his immediate thoughts after the Sprint.

Di Giannantonio said: "It was a beautiful race; I enjoyed it a lot. The fight with Raul was pure racing; everyone was super clear but super tight. Raul was putting in a good pace, but I thought I had something more.

"It was difficult to overtake, but I am super happy. It was a super battle, and now the Sprint podium. Let’s keep going and go again tomorrow!"

ALEX MARQUEZ WINS ON SATURDAY!!
After a phenomenal ride from Alex Marquez, the Spanish star charges to win the Tissot Sprint in Valencia. Alex Marquez takes victory by 1.149s, defeating Pedro Acosta, who will head back to the drawing board for Sunday. Fabio Di Giannantonio completes the Sprint podium finishers after an epic final two laps!

Raul Fernandez and Fabio Di Giannantonio are producing an incredible scrap on track! Di Giannantonio tried to attack at Turn 3, with the moves continuing for a handful of corners before the Italian secured his spot in P3! This fighting has brought Marco Bezzecchi back into the mix as he runs in fifth position…

It’s an incredible pace at the head of the field, with Alex Marquez continuing to sit comfortably in the lead. Raul Fernandez and Fabio Di Giannantonio are no longer closing the gap to Acosta as P2 for the No. 37 looks to become a reality.

The front riders are running inside the low 1:30s bracket, running just a few tenths slower than their fastest laps!

Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo are beginning to lock horns out on the circuit, with Morbidelli finding his way into P6. Quartararo is looking for an opportunity to return the favour as he fights inside the points.

Meanwhile, Jack Miller has received a further penalty, this time for not dropping three positions. Miller must serve a Long Lap Penalty now, which will cost the Australian around three seconds.

There are some track limit warnings beginning to appear on our screens, with Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin being two of the notable riders. Bagnaia sits P13 at the moment, sitting outside of the points with a lot of work to do…

ALEX MARQUEZ EDGES CLEAR
Alex Marquez has stretched his margin to over one second, sitting comfortably in the lead of the Sprint. The extended lead comes after a mistake from Pedro Acosta, who nearly lost the front – running wide in the process. Chasing Acosta out on track are Raul Fernandez and Fabio Di Giannantonio, who are closing the gap for the podium!

Jack Miller has received a penalty for the incident at Turn 2, with the FIM MotoGP Stewards handing the Australian a drop of three positions. Currently, Miller sits in ninth and will drop outside of the points once he serves the penalty.

Check out the clash:

Fermin Aldeguer suffered a collision with Jack Miller, with the pair making contact over at Turn 2. Both riders stayed on, luckily, with Aldeguer dropping outside of Saturday’s points scoring positions.

Meanwhile, Bezzecchi is continuing his fight back through the field, with Fabio Quartararo sitting ahead of the Aprilia rider. On the other side of the box, Jorge Martin has had to go straight onto the escape road, losing ground and dropping back...

At the head of the field, Alex Marquez continues to lead Acosta, with the KTM star searching for the gold medal. Acosta has looked strong throughout the weekend, ending Q2 just 0.097s adrift from pole. 

Further back, both Honda riders have crashed together, with Joan Mir and Luca Marini hitting the deck at Turn 3 – bringing a disappointing end to their Sprint hopes.

We are RACING! It’s a brilliant start from Alex Marquez, who snatches the holeshot on the charge to Turn 1. Pedro Acosta also made a great start, launching an attack at Turn 2 – dropping polesitter Marco Bezzecchi to third. 

Bezzecchi’s difficulties went from bad to worse, losing more places – eventually dropping to sixth position. The Italian sits behind Fabio Di Giannantonio, Fabio Quartararo and Raul Fernandez!

Air temperature sits at around 20°C in Valencia, currently the MotoGP stars are on their warm up lap ahead of the lights out. It’s one of the most important warm up laps of the season, with tyre temperature proving to be a very important factory this weekend – especially on the right-hand side.

There are plenty of riders looking to charge through the order today at the tricky Circuit Ricardo Tormo. One of those riders will be Fermin Aldeguer, who will head from P9 on the grid.

However, looking back on 2025, we want to know: who has been your hard charger of the season?

It’s nearly time to go racing for the final ‘Super Saturday’ of the season! Just five minutes separate us from going lights out, with no clear favourite ahead of lights out. Remember, the top five were separated by just 0.097s in Q2, meaning it’s anyone’s chance to shine at the front!

Well, as the riders prepare to go racing on the grid, check out the starting order from the top 12 below!

1. Marco Bezzecchi (Pole)

2. Alex Marquez

3. Fabio Di Giannantonio

4. Raul Fernandez

5. Pedro Acosta

6. Fabio Quartararo

7. Franco Morbidelli

8. Jack Miller

9. Fermin Aldeguer

10. Joan Mir

11. Johann Zarco

12. Ai Ogura

Valencia could prove to be a big weekend for HRC, with the Japanese manufacturer facing the opportunity to move up one group in the concession rankings. Honda needs to score nine points this weekend, moving them from Rank D to Rank C – changing their limitations for testing and development.

Next up on our awards list: Race of the Year! We’ve had some epic battles in 2025, from Italy’s breathtaking three-way fight all the way to an unexpected home GP winner in France.

But before you give your opinion, check out Neil Hodgson’s thoughts below in his latest column!