"When you test new elements, you clearly need time to assess them, so this can slow you down and have an impact on performance. We are constantly trying to improve and grow the bike in order to provide a better RS-GP25 to both Marco and Jorge. On Monday, we’ll have the tests and a lot of new upgrades to try. Also, part of what I tested this weekend in Jerez will subsequently be given to the Aprilia factory riders."
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MOTO2 Gonzalez unstoppable in Jerez as Baltus earns first 2025 podium
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The perfect weekend on home turf always goes down a treat, and that’s exactly what Moto2 Spanish GP winner, Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP), enjoyed in Jerez. The Spaniard was in a class of his own on Sunday afternoon; now, he’s the Championship leader again too. Barry Balus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) was Gonzalez’s nearest challenger as the Belgian produced a fine ride to bag P2 and his first podium of the year, while Senna Agius made it two Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP riders on the famous Jerez podium with a hard-fought P3 finish.
From pole, Gonzalez grabbed the holeshot from teammate Agius as Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) lost ground from the front row. Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) made a fast and aggressive start to see the Brazilian climb to an early P2, as the top four – Gonzalez, Moreira, Agius and Baltus – built an early 0.8s lead over Arenas and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo).
Further down the order, Championship leader Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) was in P8 behind seventh place Celestino Vietti (Beta Tools SpeedRS Team), as we saw both CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team riders crash out. First, Daniel Holgado following contact with teammate David Alonso at Turn 13, and then the latter crashed on Lap 5. The reigning Moto3 World Champion collected the luckless Izan Guevara (BLUCRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) along the way as both saw their races prematurely end at the Jorge Lorenzo corner.
The following laps saw the race settle down as Gonzalez stretched his lead to 2.6s by the end of Lap 11. Baltus was keeping Moreira and Agius behind him for the time being, with the latter making a move into the podium places with three to go. The Australian was past Moreira on the run down the hill into Turn 6, and then he faced a 1.2s gap up to Baltus in second place.
However, no one could lay a glove on Gonzalez. A pole position, lights to flag victory from the Spaniard saw him retake the Championship lead in front of his home fans, a simply wonderful weekend from the #18. Baltus bagged his first podium of the season with a classy P2, while Agius did eventually fend off Moreira to stand on the rostrum for the second time in 2025.
Moreira was forced to settle for P4, while Öncü picked up a P5 after his Qatar GP podium finish. Arenas was less than a second away from the Turk in P6, Vietti led home the Boscoscuro charge in P7, with Canet conceding the Championship lead after a P8 finish on home turf. Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) claimed some valuable points in P9 ahead of teammate Filip Salač, as Joe Roberts, his OnlyFans American Racing teammate Marcos Ramirez, Adrian Huertas (Italtrans Racing Team), Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Tony Arbolino (BLUCRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) finished in the points paying places.
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"It was a really good race. I'm happy with the big step forward we took this weekend. We need to keep working like this to confirm our place among the top teams. Thanks to the whole team for their hard work. We're heading to Le Mans with a good result behind us, knowing that we can do even better.”
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MOTO3 Rueda achieves childhood dream with home victory
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The cliché goes that every Spanish rider wants to win the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez but for some, it means even more. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) is one of those; born an hour away in Sevilla, he’s gone from watching it on TV with friends and family to winning it with them in attendance. A childhood dream was achieved with domination as Rueda gave the home crowd a victory in Moto3™ to start off Sunday in style for the home fans.
Polesitter Rueda hit the front and snatched the holeshot on the opening lap, holding position in front of his home crowd. At Turn 6 on Lap 1, there was drama as Ruche Moodley (DENSII Racing – BOE) took out David Almansa (Leopard Racing) and David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP); the #64 of Muñoz was able to remount but an already-difficult GP due to his back of the grid penalty was made a whole lot harder. Lap 2 was likewise eventful, as Riccardo Rossi (Rivacold Snipers Team), Vicente Perez (LEVELUP-MTA) and Cormac Buchanan (DENSII Racing – BOE) all fell in separate incidents, with New Zealander Buchanan rejoining.
With Rueda demonstrating his pace and supremacy that we already knew from Friday and Saturday, the field stretched out but Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) and Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) were digging deep and keeping him honest. With three seconds back to Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) and Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) behind, all three were alone for the podium places. Just past half-race distance, Rueda set the fastest lap, asking more from his rivals to see if they could keep up with his pace. On Lap 13 and sensing his compatriot breaking clear, Piqueras picked off Kelso at Turn 1 but the gap was bordering on a second. In his attempt to keep with Rueda, the #36 went wide, allowing Kelso back through, with the gap now at 1.5s.
That exchange was enough for the #99 to put his trademark on the Grand Prix, easing clear where he remained until the chequered flag, taking a magical home victory that never looked in doubt across the weekend. P2 was to be sorted out on the final lap however, with Kelso vs Piqueras at Turn 5 and Turn 6; it was close but eventually, it went the way of the Valencian to make it a Spanish 1-2, leading to a memorable celebration at Turns 9 and 10 on their slow-down lap. Kelso’s podium is his second of the season whereas Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) made it three Spaniards in the top four, pipping Yamanaka, who was P5.
Furusato was solid in sixth, with Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) a career-best seventh. Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) made it all three of the most recent JunioGP™ Champions in the top eight, with Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) and teammate Valentin Perrone completing the top ten after their Long Lap Penalties from qualifying.
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“After two difficult races in Austin and Qatar, we really needed to finish today's race with a good result. We needed this to remind ourselves that we have the potential to be there. We are missing a little step forward in order to be able to fight consistently with the riders at the front, but I am confident that we will get there with the team’s hard work. Eyes are now on Le Mans!”
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“It definitely wasn't the weekend we were hoping for in Jerez. After struggling on Friday and Saturday, I was willing to do my best today, but an incident on the first lap prevented us from doing so. We will try again at Le Mans”
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