The 2025 Valencia MotoGP is heating up with drama and surprises!
13:06 Update: Morbidelli's race is cut short due to a physical issue with his right hand. A disappointing turn of events for the rider.
13:06: A long lap penalty is handed to Zarco for the turn four incident involving Bagnaia, with Ogura potentially caught in the mix.
13:05: Morbidelli's race ends abruptly as he pits after the first lap.
13:05: Bezzecchi takes the lead on the first lap, followed by Marquez, Di Giannantonio, and Fernandez, who moves up to fourth ahead of Acosta.
13:03: The race begins! Bezzecchi gets the holeshot, with Marquez and Di Giannantonio close behind. Acosta settles into fourth. Morbidelli's early crash with Aleix Espargaro on the way to the grid forces him to start from the pit lane.
13:00: Riders embark on their warm-up lap, gearing up for the 27-lap race.
12:53: With just minutes to go, the Valencia sky is overcast. Air temperature is 18°C, and the track temperature is 19°C. Riders are opting for hard-compound front tires and medium-compound rears, except for Somkiat Chantra, who chooses a medium front.
Could this be Acosta's day? After Friday's practice, Acosta was the favorite, but Marquez outpaced him in the Sprint. Bezzecchi, who struggled at the start yesterday, could be a dark horse if he gets a better launch today.
A podium finish for Acosta today would bring him one step closer to the record for MotoGP podiums without a win. But his ability to hold his position is key, as overtaking in Valencia is notoriously challenging.
12:46: Honda is on a mission to secure concession points. Alberto Puig announced on Friday that Honda needs nine points this weekend to move up a concession tier for 2026. However, their efforts yesterday were thwarted by Mir's collision with Marini and Zarco's finish outside the points.
12:42: Bezzecchi, starting from pole, aims to avoid a repeat of yesterday's poor start, which saw him drop to P6 by turn five. He attributed the issue to a problem with his start device.
12:38: Tech3 bids farewell to Hervé Poncharal, the iconic French team's leader since 1989. A heartfelt tribute is shared on Twitter.
12:37: Yamaha reveals its V4 engine strategy for the 2026 season, positioning themselves for the 2027 technical regulations.
12:31: Get ready for the final MotoGP showdown of the season in Valencia, starting at 14:00 local time. Will Bezzecchi hold onto his lead? Can Honda secure those crucial concession points? And will Acosta finally claim his first win? Stay tuned as the action unfolds!
