Marco Bezzecchi
Marco Bezzecchi put on one of the best performances of his MotoGP career as he traded fastest laps with Marc Marquez in an attempt to win the 2025 San Marino Grand Prix.
Bezzecchi came awfully close to securing his second win of the current campaign, missing out on the win by half a second to the championship-leading Ducati of Marquez.
Jorge Martin had a less-than-desirable race at the Italian circuit. After scoring a podium at the track during his title-winning season last year, the Spaniard was slapped with two long lap penalties and a pit lane start due to changing bikes before the start of the race.
Martin’s defence of the title this season has been relatively non-existent due to him being sidelined following injuries sustained in pre-season, as well as at his comeback race at the Qatar Grand Prix.
Neil Hodgson thinks Aprilia have sorted out their issues at ‘stop-and-go’ tracks like Misano
Despite Bezzecchi not taking the winners’ trophy home and Martin languishing in 13th, Aprilia have a swathe of positives to take away from their home race.
Speaking on TNT Sports’ coverage of the San Marino Grand Prix, former MotoGP rider Neil Hodgson was full of plaudits for the Italian constructor’s progression throughout the 2025 season.
With Bezzecchi leading the first 12 laps, Hodgson told his co-commentator Gavin Emmett, “I tell you what, plaudits to Aprilia. Their weak area was stop-and-go tracks.
“The bike was always a bit unstable on the racetrack. It still looks like it’s dancing around more than the Ducati.”
Emmett replied, “But it’s always stable in the fast corners, isn’t it?” to which Hodgson agreed, before Emmett added, “It’s almost like we’ve got Barcelona where they weren’t competitive on a track that they’ve been one of the strongest at.
“They’re changing the DNA of that bike a little bit, changing its strong suits.”
The 26-year-old had a torrid time at the Catalan Grand Prix. Bezzecchi crashed out of both races and was in a lot of pain after being hit by his bike in the aftermath.
READ MORE: Neil Hodgson suspects Aprilia told Marco Bezzecchi to accept one thing about Jorge Martin at Misano
Marco Bezzecchi and Marc Marquez were in a league of their own in the San Marino Grand Prix
The two front-runners at Misano finished over seven seconds ahead of Alex Marquez in third place. Marquez was praised for his ability to fend off Bezzecchi amid the mounting pressure that the Italian was attempting to throw his way.
The two riders traded fastest laps in the closing laps of the race, with Marquez setting a new lap record at Misano of 1:31.290 after Bezzecchi broke it just a couple of laps previously in his hunt for the Ducati.
| Rider | Fastest Lap |
| Marc Marquez | 1:31.290 |
| Marco Bezzecchi | 1:31.311 |
The win means Marquez has taken a step closer to winning his seventh title in the premier class of Grand Prix motorcycle racing. The feat will put him on par with fierce rival Valentino Rossi.
As well as a lap record at the Italian circuit, Marquez’s win also means that he breaks Martin’s 2024 record for the most amount of points accrued in a single MotoGP season.
The Spaniard’s 512 points after 16 rounds is an incredible feat when compared to his compatriot’s tally of 508 points across a full season of racing.
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