Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi surged from Q1 adversity to claim his first pole position of the 2025 MotoGP season.
Clocking a blistering 1:28.060, Bezzecchi edged out championship contenders Alex Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia, marking a triumphant return to the front row since his last pole at the Indian Grand Prix in 2023.
The turnaround came after a disappointing Friday, with Bezzecchi crediting MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi for late-night guidance that helped diagnose setup issues. “Vale came to the box and we worked until late night. Big thanks to him and the team,” Bezzecchi said.
Meanwhile, Marc Marquez, who had won the last five Grands Prix, saw his hopes dashed after a crash on turn two during his final flying lap. Despite initially setting the fastest time, the Spaniard will start fourth on the grid.
KTM’s Pedro Acosta and Ducati’s Enea Bastianini also showed promise but fell short of pole due to late-session errors. Maverick Vinales of KTM Tech3 will miss the rest of the weekend due to shoulder pain following recent surgery.
With the sprint race looming and championship standings tightening, Sunday’s Grand Prix promises high drama at the Red Bull Ring.
