Although He didn’t survive the season unscathed…
The 2025 MotoGP season was largely ruled by Ye
Pinball Wizard, aka Marc Marquez. Although you’d have to say it was split into
two parts, i.e.; Pre-Japanese Grand Prix, and Post Japanese Grand Prix. As
Motegi brought the inevitable High’s and Low’s to the current and former MotoGP
World Champions.
This year’s dominant force was Marc Marquez. As
the 32 year old Spaniard totally crushed the competition on His Factory Ducati.
Winning an impressive total of 11 Grands Prix races. Along with six Sprint race
wins and eight poles.
As Marquez made His intentions known early,
storming out of the gate. Scoring two straight “Clean” sweep weekends in Thailand
and Argentina, i.e.; claiming pole and winning both Sprint and Grand Prix
races. Before coming up short at the Circuit Of The Americas, (COTA) crashing
out of Sunday’s U.S. Grand Prix; round 3 of 22. After claiming pole and winning
the Sprint race in Austin.
Marquez stamped His authority upon this year’s
title by reeling off seven straight Grands Prix wins. From Motorland Aragon in
Spain, to the Balaton Park Circuit in Hungary. (Rounds 8-14) Spanning from June
8th to August 24th
Marquez’s points lead was so commanding that He
clinched the title when finishing runner-up at Motegi, behind His shrinking violet
Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia, with five races remaining.
As Bagnaia finished fifth overall, 257 points
adrift of Marquez. (545-288) With Marc’s younger brother Alex Marquez, Marco
Bezzechi and Pedro Costa sandwiched in-between Him standings wise.
Whilst Marc Marquez’s championship triumph was
short lived. As the Spainard was involved in a crash with Marco Bezzecchi at
Indonesia a week later, suffering a broken right collarbone, the same side as
His famous arm injuries. With Doctors discovering during surgery that He’d
twisted some titanium screws in the arm! As Ye Pinball Wizard eventually sat
out the rest of the season recovering…
On the opposite end of the spectrum was
reigning MotoGP Champion Jorge Martin, whose debutante season for Aprilia can
only be described as a Nightmare! Beginning by crashing only an hour into Pre-season
testing at Sepang! Breaking His right Hand and fracturing His left Foot, Yikes!
Then on the Monday preceding the season opening
round in Thailand, Jorge crashed again. This time breaking His left Hand,
forced to sit out the first three round, before making His Aprilia debut at
Qatar.
Yet this debut seemed rushed, as thee
Martinator’ definitely wasn’t 100% physically recovered, and disaster struck
again! As Jorge lost control of His Scooter’ with Fabio di Giantonnio having
nowhere to go, striking Martin. With Jorge suffering eleven broken ribs and a
collapsed lung!
Martin did little to endear Himself to the
team, announcing He planned to leave early, foregoing the second year of His
contract due to lack of performance, before ultimately rescinding this claim during His Qatar injury recovery.
Martin returned to action at the Czech Grand
Prix on July 20th, (Round 12) before suffering His latest setback. Having
collided with Aprilia teammate Marco Bezzecchi at Turn-1 of the Sprint race’s
start atMotegi, suffering a broken collarbone.
Martin made His seventh Grands Prix weekend
start at the season finale in Valencia. Where He served a double long-lap
penalty for causing the Motegi collision with Bezzecchi. Before retiring at
halfway distance due to lack of physical stamina.
Meanwhile, Bezzecchi’s year aboard Aprilia has
gone the polar opposite’s of Martin’s. With the Italian celebrating His 27th
birthday at Velencia claiming His third MotoGP victory of the season. Having
won seven days prior at Portimoa, along with His earlier win at Silverstone.
Bezzecchi secured third in the final points
standings, and presumably leaves Martin looking over His shoulder, as the
Italian becomes Aprilia’s top hope? Whilst Raul Fernandez would likely be “Next
Man Up” at Aprilia, since Honda supposedly hasn’t completely closed the door on
Martin joining in 2027.
Trackhouse Racing’s (Raul) Fernandez scored His
maiden MotoGP win Down Under at Phillip
Island (Australia) enroute to finishing 10th overall. While rookie
teammate Ai Ogura impressed early season, before ultimately finishing P16
overall.
The only other rider with multiple wins were
Peco’ Bagnaia winning twice, i.e.; Austin and Motegi. While Alex Marquez
finished runner-up overall to brother Marc on the back of three wins aboard the
satellite Gresini Duc’. Taking wins at Jerez, Barcelona and Sepang.
Alex’s teammate, rookie Fermin Aldeguer won
convincingly in Indonesia. With Johann Zarco taking a solitary win at Home on
the Le Mans circuit aboard His Castrol LCR Honda in wet weather conditions…
Thus three riders scored their debutante MotoGP
victories this year, i.e.; Alex Marquez, Raul Fernandez and Fermin Aldeguer.
As that’s only the Grands Prix Sunday races,
since I’m sure others won some of the Sprint races. Yet as always, Ducati
claimed the Lion’s share, with a total of 17 Grands Prix W’s. Followed by four
wins from Aprilia and a single win for Honda. Which presumably will continue
next year, before the next major regulation change in 2027.
As Marc Marquez becomes tied with thee Doctor, aka Valentino Rossi and the great Giacomo Agostini win seven World Championships apiece in the premiere GP500/MotoGP category. And you’d have to say odds favour Marquez winning His eighth title next year…