With both Márquez brothers already locked into P1 and P2 in the championship, and Bezzecchi secured in P3, only one question remained as MotoGP arrived in Valencia: who would claim P4, and could Bagnaia hold onto it?
The Valencia GP quickly became a Grand Prix of returns, with Viñales and Martín both back from injury, though the reigning champion, Marc Márquez, remained absent.
The Race of Milestones and Penalties
Quartararo celebrated his 200th GP start across all categories. But alongside the milestone came a series of penalties carried over from previous rounds: Mir and Martín both began the race under sanction of a long lap penalty.
On the grid, Morbidelli suffered an early disaster, falling before the start. Unable to lift the bike alone, he was forced to begin from the pitlane. From pole, Bezzecchi made a strong start, while Bagnaia’s hopes of securing P4 evaporated almost immediately. A crash at Turn 4 ended his race within the opening minutes, handing the advantage to Acosta, who would secure fourth in the championship as a result.
Morbidelli retired in the second lap after returning to the pits, while Zarco received a long-lap penalty for first-lap contact that had contributed to Bagnaia’s early exit. Martín and Mir meanwhile, served their respective penalties to continue.
Shifting Pace and Changing Positions
Towards the front, Fernández began haunting down Alex Márquez in P2. Behind them, Ogura crashed in Sector 1, triggering yellow flags. Quartararo’s 200th race was proving difficult as he languished in P11 – but it wasn’t the only disaster waiting for him.
Fernández maintained impressive pace, eventually overtaking Márquez and beginning to close in on Bezzecchi at the halfway point. Márquez’s pace deteriorated rapidly, leaving Acosta on his tail. The KTM rider lapped around half a second faster than the Ducati rider.
Martín soon retired from the race as well, gesturing frustration before pulling into the pits. He joined Bagnaia and Márquez as another champion who wouldn’t see the checkered flag today.
Once Acosta cleared Márquez, Di Giannantonio also closed in, overtaking the Spaniard a lap later. Tyre degradation was clearly plaguing Márquez, particularly on a circuit where tyre management is essential.
Closing Laps and Late Drama
With four laps remaining, Di Giannantonio and Acosta were locked in battle for the final podium position. At the same time, further drama unfolded: Quartararo crashed in Sector 2, beaching his bike in the gravel. Viñales retired in the pits in the meantime, unsurprising turns of event given he’d admitted starting the race with significant shoulder pain.
Di Giannantonio finally made his move on Acosta with two laps to go, becoming the sole Ducati rider in podium contention. Fernández managed to close to within three tenths of Bezzecchi but could not find a way past.
Bezecchi Ends on a High
Bezzecchi won the final race of the season on the Aprilia, ending the year as the manufacturer’s most successful rider with three victories. Fernández finished a strong second, with Di Giannantonio securing third.
The turbulent finale was a fitting end to a dramatic season. It had everything from surprising comebacks to talented rookies. The action is far from over, although this was the last race of the season. Testing awaits the riders this week here in Valencia, followed by a short break before they are back for the shakedown in Sepang. It is just a question when the reigning champion Márquez will rejoin the fun again.