Aprilia wins with Bezzecchi – triumph after a tough start to the season
For Aprilia and Marco Bezzecchi, Silverstone was the much-desired turning point. After a mixed start to the season, the Italian not only secured his first victory since his triumph in India in 2023, but also the first Aprilia success since the 2024 Grand Prix of Austin. Starting from 10th on the grid, Bezzecchi showed an impressive race to catch up, took the lead after Fabio Quartararo’s retirement and never relinquished it until the finish.
Aprilia Motorsport boss Massimo Rivola spoke of a “liberating blow” and sent a clear message to the injured Jorge Martin: “The factory is working hard. The bike is ready to win races.” The background to this is Martin’s intention to draw an exit clause – Aprilia, however, insists on fulfilling the contract until 2026. Bezzecchi’s victory therefore also became a strategic demonstration of the RS-GP’s performance.
Fabio Quartararo: Defect prevents certain victory
The big loser of the race was Fabio Quartararo. The Yamaha rider led the race confidently and built up a lead of five seconds within a few laps after the restart – before a defect in the rear ride-height system meant the end of the race. “Fuck, it’s just so shitty what happened today,” commented the visibly frustrated Frenchman.
The disappointment was understandable: Yamaha had been waiting for another Grand Prix success since the Sachsenring victory in 2022. Quartararo had gambled with the soft front tire – and did everything right. But the mechanics failed. Yamaha Director Paolo Pavesio confirmed a technical problem that had never occurred in two years.
Five penalties after the race – tire pressure as a spoilsport
Three hours after the race, race control caused additional turbulence. A total of five penalties were handed out – four for under-inflation of the prescribed minimum pressure in the front tires. Those affected were:
- Luca Marini (Honda) – 16 seconds
- Enea Bastianini (KTM) – 16 seconds
- Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia) – 16 seconds
- Somkiat Chantra (Honda) – 16 seconds
The riders concerned had not maintained the prescribed minimum pressure of 1.80 bar for 60 percent of the race distance. The rule was introduced in 2023 and has since been strictly monitored using standardized tire pressure sensors. Manipulation by the teams is ruled out.
Particularly bitter: Luca Marini lost seven championship points as a result of the penalty and dropped from 8th to 15th place – with a corresponding impact on the championship standings. Brad Binder also received a position penalty for exceeding the track limits in turn 5, which effectively brought him back up to 14th position due to the Marini penalty.
Further comments and developments
Marc Márquez crashed on the second lap, but was able to restart after the red flag and saved third place. The Ducati factory rider ironically compared the crash to a trip to the water park: “I saw the wall coming and just went against it.” Despite a “disaster with the second bike”, it was enough to score important points – not least thanks to his risk control on the last lap against Franco Morbidelli.
Johann Zarco once again shone for Honda: after his home win at Le Mans, he also finished on the podium at Silverstone – second place for the Frenchman. “It was magical,” said the LCR rider, who is proving to be a consistent performer in an otherwise faltering manufacturer environment.
Pedro Acosta, the young KTM star, finished 6th, but was deeply disappointed: “I don’t want to come to the track anymore just to burn fuel.” He called for more support from the factory team, complained about a lack of acceleration and announced that he would “not wait forever for the title”.
Francesco Bagnaia had to record a zero after a strong start. The Ducati star crashed after problems with the rear tire – apparently due to spending too long in the tire warmer before the restart. His verdict: “We are stagnating, while the competition is improving.”
Effects on the World Championship
The Silverstone weekend and the retrospective penalties have shifted both the drivers’ and team rankings:
Riders’ World Championship (Top 5 after 14 of 44 races):
- Marc Márquez – 196 points
- Alex Márquez – 172 points
- Francesco Bagnaia – 124 points
- Franco Morbidelli – 98 points
- Johann Zarco – 97 points
Bezzecchi’s victory saw him jump from 12th to 7th place, while Marini lost two places and is now only 13th.
Constructors’ Championship:
- 1st Ducati – 245 points
- 2nd Honda – 110 points
- 3rd Aprilia – 93 points
- KTM – 88 points
- Yamaha – 84 points
Team classification:
- 1st Ducati Lenovo Team – 320 points
- 2nd BK8 Gresini Racing – 228 points
- 3rd Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing – 186 points
Conclusion: A race with far-reaching consequences
Silverstone 2025 delivered a charged MotoGP weekend in both sporting and political terms: Aprilia sends a clear signal to Jorge Martin with Bezzecchi’s victory, Yamaha proves to be competitive despite technical problems – and the debate about tire pressure penalties is more topical than ever. The MotoGP season remains exciting – on and off the track.