Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1535807
MOTOGP SPRINT RACE Things were looking quite rosy for Quartararo and Yamaha after the Frenchman took his third straight pole position, and he charged away at the green light to take the holeshot. Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Ducati) reclaimed second despite a bold move from Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team), who launched from fourth. By the end of the Wellington Straight on lap one, Marc was into sec - ond, and he took the lead by the Hangar Straight. Despite six straight Sprint wins in 2025, Marc had com - pany this time around. Alex Mar- quez overtook Quartararo and then capitalized on a mistake from his brother at turn three to snatch the lead. The brothers broke away, leaving a three-way fight for third between Quartar - aro, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), and Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Ducati). Bagnaia passed Quartararo, with Diggia following. A fierce battle ensued, with Quartararo rallying to close the gap. Mean - while, Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) and a charging Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing Team) joined the mix. Bezzec- chi, who had dropped to 17th at the start, overtook Zarco, then Quartararo, and closed in on Bagnaia. Diggia pulled away to secure third as Bezzecchi muscled past Bagnaia, followed by Zarco slip - ping through the Maggots and Becketts section. Quartararo, trying to find his way past Bag - In Moto2, Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) took a first-ever grand prix win in thrilling circumstances, sneak- ing past race-long leader Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) and Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) on the last corner. And in Moto3, no one seems to be able to stop Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo), not even a last-place grid start, as he charged through to take the win from Max Quiles (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team) and Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse). VOLUME 62 ISSUE 21 MAY 28, 2025 P93 YAMAHA'S DESPAIR Fabio Quartararo was crestfallen after a ride-height device failure forced him to retire from the lead of the British GP. The French- man couldn't hide his emotion afterward, breaking down during his media duties before stating, "[What happened] is just so shit." It was an issue that also affected teammate Alex Rins on the last lap, causing him to lose two places. "I had the same problem as Fabio," he said. "On the last lap, my [device] was broken. I was generating a lot of pressure on the front [brake] to disengage, and let's say, lucky that it hap- pened on the last lap. "It's happened in the past. But this year it's the first race, and it's really strange. [The device] loses oil and then stays down." DUCATI OFF COLOR Had it not been for Quartararo's woes, Ducati would've been fac- ing a first race without a bike on the podium since August 2021, 72 races ago. The chances were obviously dented by Sprint winner Alex Marquez's first-corner crash before the red flag. "Without that, he was winning the race with a hand behind his back," said Pecco Bagnaia. Yet both he and team- mate Marc Marquez struggled with a lack of grip early on, while gen- erating enough temperature in the front tire was also an issue. The Italian is still struggling massively with a lack of front feel aboard the GP25. "I couldn't feel the differ- ence between the soft and hard front tire. It's something to reflect on because the others are improv- ing and we are stuck or even go- ing worse," warned Bagnaia. Briefly... Alex Marquez (73) was superb in the Sprint, putting an end to brother Marc's (93) Saturday win streak.