Di Giannantonio takes the win at the Circuit in an unpredictable race

The 35th Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya de MotoGP will go down in history as one of the most unpredictable and challenging races of recent years. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was the setting for a Grand Prix marked by unexpected twists and turns throughout a race topped by Di Giannantonio, Aldeguer and Bagnaia, the latter benefiting from Joan Mir’s penalty for low tyre pressure.

In total, 184,857 people passed through the World Championship circuit over the course of the event to enjoy the best motorcycling in the world, with 74,890 attendees on racing Sunday alone.

Fabio di Giannantonio secured the second victory of his MotoGP™ career today, thus breaking a run of more than two years without standing on the top step of the podium. He did so, moreover, in the company of none other than Valentino Rossi, owner of the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team.

However, to reach this outcome, we must review chronologically everything that happened. The premier class was on the 12th lap of the race when an electronic fault with Pedro Acosta’s bike – who was leading at the time – caused his closest pursuer, Álex Márquez, to collide with the rear of his bike, resulting in a spectacular crash for the Catalan rider on the back straight of the Circuit. Fabio Di Giannantonio also went down following the impact of a piece of debris from Marquez’s bike.

Following the crash, Álex Márquez, who was conscious, was taken to hospital for a full medical examination. The Catalan rider has suffered a partial fracture of the C7 vertebra and a fracture of his right collarbone. He is due to undergo surgery this afternoon.

After the red flag was shown, a second start was taken, but there was another multi-bike crash right at the first corner. Johann Zarco lost control of his bike and took Pecco Bagnaia and Luca Marini with him.

The third and final start took place without Márquez and without Zarco, who has also been taken to hospital for further tests. Acosta took the lead once again with a blistering pace, with Raúl Fernández and Jorge Martín hot on his heels. The latter two riders, locked in their own battle, ran wide at Turn 5 of the circuit.

Joan Mir then took over second place and was very persistent in trying to overtake the KTM rider at every pass through the first corner. Even so, his efforts did not fully pay off, as a shrewd Fabio di Giannantonio saw his chance and overtook both Mir and Acosta.

Unfortunately, Pedro Acosta was losing pace on the final lap, dropping from first to fourth position. And, as if all that weren’t enough, Ai Ogura pushed him off the track on the final lap, a manoeuvre for which he received a three-second penalty.

In the end, the podium went to Fabio di Giannantonio, Fermín Aldeguer and Pecco Bagnaia in that order, following Joan Mir’s penalty for low tyre pressure. Marco Bezzecchi, the championship leader, didn’t have the best of weekends either and finished sixth, but he benefited from the incidents that left Martín, Acosta and Márquez with zero points.

Fabio di Giannantonio: “I want to thank my team for believing in me and choosing me when no one else did. This victory is for them. I think today’s victory is more about the human side of things than about motorsport itself.”

Manuel González confirms his progress in Moto2™

Manuel González was the outright winner of the CatalanGP in the intermediate category. With this result, the talented LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP rider continues his upward trajectory, having previously secured two second-place finishes. The gold, which had eluded him this season, became a reality today.

González worked his way to an impressive and strategic victory from second place. The Spaniard spent much of the race riding behind Celestino Vietti (Beta Tools SpeedRS Team). In the closing stages, the championship leader pulled off a surprise move to take the lead. Vietti had to settle for second place.

The Moto2™ podium was completed by a lightning-fast Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2), who staged an excellent comeback from 11th on the starting grid. With these results, González remains at the top of the standings with a slightly larger lead over Izan Guevara, who remains in second place. Vietti has moved up into the provisional top three following his performance in Barcelona.

Manuel González: “I think I’ve had the best race of my life. I’m pushing as hard as I can; I never give up and I never will. Everything went perfectly today. I know it’s not the same as winning the championship, but this race is very important to me and I’d like to thank the fans.”

Another masterclass from Máximo Quiles in Moto3™

The leader of the world championship’s junior class has done it again. Máximo Quiles treated fans to a thrilling race that culminated in a very close – and somewhat unexpected – victory.

The CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team rider didn’t get off to the best start, spending much of the race stuck at the back of the top 10. At the front, riders such as Almansa, Muñoz and Uriarte were locked in a relentless battle, with constant changes in position.

It wasn’t until the final five laps that Quiles decided to take the initiative, but David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) didn’t make it easy for him. The result was a spectacular battle between the two, with everything still to play for going into the final lap.

With Quiles in the lead, Muñoz took the inside line on the final lap, a move that Quiles was able to counter, thus securing another victory for himself. However, Muñoz was caught out by Álvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who snatched the silver medal from him by a mere four thousandths of a second.

Máximo Quiles: “It was the toughest race I’ve ever done. I struggled to shift down at the start and realised I couldn’t make up any ground. But then I started to improve and decided I had to go all out. On the final lap, I saw my chance and it paid off.”

The CatalanGP: a complete experience

The Circuit has hosted another edition of the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya de MotoGP, with fans taking centre stage. The public areas hosted a wide range of leisure and entertainment options for the whole family: from children’s activities in the Kids Zone to shopping areas such as the Fan Zone, as well as the Pelouse Jove, the Green Zone and the Monster Zone, not to mention classics such as the Pit Walk and the Open Track, amongst many others.

A sustainable event

Under the 3C management philosophy (Conscience, Commitment and Consistency), which integrates social, economic and environmental aspects, the Circuit works to achieve responsible activity in its mission ‘Driving for a better future’, within the framework of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for SDG.

This GP, which is certified to ISO 20121 and ISO 14001 standards, is once again proud to be held at Catalonia’s largest public self-consumption photovoltaic facility. The Catalan Circuit has a total of 2,319 solar panels that generate 50% of the energy consumed.

Other promoted actions are the rental of low-emission generators, the donation of surplus food, the offer of locally sourced and ecological products, the presence of drinking water sources in the public areas, the improvement of the biodiversity of the green areas, the collaboration with companies with social value, the valorisation and recycling of waste, the promotion of sustainable mobility, the use of the circular economy and many more.

Next stop: FIM MotoJunior World Championship 2026

From today’s motorcycling stars to the stars of tomorrow. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya remains firmly rooted in the world of motorcycling and now turns its attention to MotoJunior, formerly known as the FIM JuniorGP World Championship. An event featuring plenty of young talent, multiple categories and a packed programme.

Tickets available at www.circuitcat.com