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/1537729
ROUND 12 / JULY 18-20, 2025 AUTODROMO BRNO / OSTROVACICE, CZECH REPUBLIC ROAD RACE I FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP P82 In a somewhat predictable fi- nale, Marquez executed the race- winning pass on Acosta with one and a half laps to go and held on for another Sprint victory, ex- tending his championship lead. Acosta earned his first Sprint podium since Aragon 2024, with Bastianini joining them for his first rostrum of the year. Bezzecchi and Quartararo rounded out the top five, fol - lowed by Raul Fernandez (Track- house Aprilia), who snatched sixth from polesitter Bagnaia on the last lap. Johann Zarco (Cas - trol LCR Honda) and Pol Espar- garo (Red Bull KTM) claimed the final points, with Martin finishing 11th and Alex Marquez 17th and out of the points after his tough opening lap. Sunday MotoGP On Sunday, Bagnaia grabbed the holeshot, but Marquez again quickly retook the lead at turn three, just like on Saturday. Bezzecchi passed both by lap two, only for Marquez to reclaim the top spot on lap eight with a forceful inside move. KTM STRONG As new CEO Gottfried Neumeister watched on from pit lane, KTM enjoyed its best Saturday of the year with Pedro Acosta and Enea Bastianini both on the podium. Even Pol Espargaro, the injured Maverick Vinales' replacement, scored a point for ninth. "A lot of things came together this weekend," said Espargaro. "Historically, we are fast here. This morning, I was very quick with the used tire. This helped all the guys think, okay, this retired guy is fast! We can really go faster than him! Also, when the track is super grippy as it is, Ducati mechani- cally generates this grip, and we struggle a bit more than them. So when we have this natural grip with the track, our guys are super quick, and we can use it to be fast. Our bike works super well in these conditions." MARC'S ADVICE FOR MARTIN Jorge Martin received the best advice he received during his injury break from current champion- ship leader Marc Marquez, and he didn't heed it. Marquez messaged his injured compatriot soon after his Qatar smash and told him to avoid mak- ing any rash decisions when healing, something he later reflected would have served him well. "This Briefly... Jorge Martin (1) was finally back in action at Brno. The reigning champion was straight into Q2 and left with an 11th in the Sprint and seventh in the GP, but, more importantly, no crashes and no more injuries.