Alex Marquez Wins Valencia Sprint, Sixth in Main GP

Alex Marquez capped a breakthrough 2025 MotoGP season with a sprint race victory at the Valencia Grand Prix but settled for sixth in the main event, where rear tire problems hampered his podium hopes. The Gresini Ducati rider, who finished runner-up in the riders' standings behind his brother Marc, dominated Saturday's 12-lap sprint at Circuit Ricardo Tormo under grey skies, securing his third win of the year.

Starting from second on the grid behind polesitter Marco Bezzecchi of Aprilia, Marquez overtook the Italian into Turn 1 and pulled away from KTM's Pedro Acosta, who finished second, 1.149 seconds behind. VR46's Fabio Di Giannantonio took third after a late pass on Trackhouse's Raul Fernandez. Bezzecchi, who had set a lap record in qualifying, dropped to fifth after a poor launch caused by a ride-height device that failed to disengage until Turn 2. The Italian lost positions to Acosta, Fernandez, Di Giannantonio, and Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo in the opening corners but recovered one spot late. "I wasn't able to unlock the front device, unfortunately," Bezzecchi said. "Without this problem, it could be better."

Sunday's 27-lap grand prix began promisingly for Marquez, who...