2025 Valencia MotoGP Practice Results – Friday
November 14, 2025
Francesco Bagnaia claimed a landmark Japanese MotoGP victory amid late race drama as a second-place finish saw his Ducati teammate Marc Marquez crowned 2025 MotoGP World champion.
From the very first lap to the 24th and final lap, the race delivered intense action, strategic battles, and emotional moments, as all 23 riders on the grid contested fiercely under the autumn skies.
As the lights went out on Lap 1, Francesco Bagnaia, who had earlier secured pole position, launched his Ducati Lenovo GP25 flawlessly off the line, immediately asserting control at the front.
Behind him, the initial surge saw Pedro Acosta on the KTM holding firm in second place, with Marc Marquez, riding the sister factory Ducati, quickly navigating through the pack to settle in third.
Joan Mir also made a strong start but found himself running wide, allowing him to slot into fourth place early on.
The pack behind was tightly bunched featuring Marco Bezzecchi, Franco Morbidelli, Alex Marquez and others jockeying for position. It was a tense opening as riders settled into rhythm, with all competitors running medium compound front and rear tyres, balancing grip and durability for the race ahead.
Through the early laps, Bagnaia maintained a commanding lead, displaying impressive pace and control on his Ducati and steadily built a gap of approximately 3.5 seconds over the chasing group.
Behind him, Marc was methodical in his approach, patiently working to pass Acosta who was putting up strong resistance. Marquez’s experience and determination soon paid off as he overtook the KTM around mid-race, slotting into second place while Acosta’s pace began to fade.
Mir capitalized on this period by advancing to third position, much to the delight of the home crowd supporting the Honda rider.
Further back in the field, battles were fierce as riders fought to improve their standing. Bezzecchi was solidly in fourth, maintaining a consistent pace ahead of Morbidelli and the younger Marquez who completed the top six.
Each rider exhibited moments of aggression and precision, including Raul Fernandez and Fabio Quartararo who battled for points. Notably, several rookies such as Fermin Aldeguer and Somkiat Chantra showed promising pace, staying competitive amidst seasoned riders.
However, with ten laps to go, intermittent puffs of white smoke began to emerge from the lower right exhaust of Bagnaia’s Ducati, causing anxiety among the Ducati pit crew.
Despite the smoke, Pecco remained focused and seemingly unaware of any immediate mechanical issues, continuing to push hard for the win.
Marc, sensing the potential fragility of his teammate’s machine, started to slowly reduce the gap from 4 seconds to about 2 seconds during the closing stages.
However, with the World Championship title within reach by finishing second, Marquez wisely conserved his position rather than risking everything in a risky pursuit for victory.
On the final laps, Bagnaia’s bike continued to emit smoke intermittently, adding to the suspense but the Italian rider held on, ultimately taking the checkered flag 4.196s ahead of his closest rival.
The race marked a double triumph for Ducati Lenovo Team as they celebrated Bagnaia’s dominant Japanese MotoGP victory with Marc Marquez crowned 2025 MotoGP World Champion, to mark a historic seventh premier class title equaling Valentino Rossi’s record.
Full 2025 Japanese MotoGP Race Results
New 2025 MotoGP World Championship Standings after Japanese GP
The achievement was made all the more remarkable by Marquez’s courageous comeback after years of injuries and setbacks.
Meanwhile, Joan Mir secured a memorable third place finish, delivering Honda its first podium since 2021 in front of passionate local fans.
Other notable finishes included Marco Bezzecchi in fourth, Franco Morbidelli fifth, and Alex Marquez, after a challenging weekend, taking sixth place.
Raul Fernandez held seventh place for Trackhouse Aprilia, and notable veterans like Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco managed solid points finishes in eighth and ninth respectively, with rookie Fermín Aldeguer finishing tenth.
Unfortunately, the race also saw some retirements and tough finishes. Pramac’s Jack Miller, local favorite Takaaki Nakagami, and his factory Honda stablemate Luca Marini all failed to finish the race, adding drama and disappointment to what was otherwise a showcase of elite racing.
Ai Ogura was absent from the race due to injury, and reigning champion Jorge Martin missed the event after fracturing his collarbone in the Sprint race.
READ MORE:
Francesco Bagnaia takes Motegi Sprint victory in a Ducati 1-2 as Jorge Martin crashes
