RAUL FERNANDEZ WINS BRITISH MOTOGP AS MARTIN EXTENDS TITLE LEAD

Trackhouse rider claims his first Grand Prix victory of season while Jorge Martin increases his championship advantage to 31 points

Raul Fernandez won the British MotoGP on Sunday after recovering from a crash in Saturday's Sprint, while Jorge Martin finished second to extend his lead in the championship standings.

This was Fernandez's first Grand Prix win of the season and the second of his MotoGP career after his triumph at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix.

The Trackhouse rider started second but took the lead at the opening corner before controlling the 20-lap race to finish about 2.5 seconds ahead of Martin.

Pole-sitter Martin dropped to fourth at the start because of a technical problem but recovered by overtaking Marc Marquez and Aprilia teammate Marco Bezzecchi to finish second.

Bezzecchi completed the podium in third after holding off Alex Marquez in the closing stages.

The Italian, who returned to competition after recovering from injuries sustained at the German Grand Prix, climbed to second in the championship standings.

Martin collected 20 points to increase his total to 240, while Bezzecchi earned 16 points to move to 209, leaving the Spaniard with a 31-point championship lead.

Ai Ogura, who started third on the grid and entered the race second in the standings with 203 points, crashed out around the halfway stage and dropped to third in the championship.

Despite climbing from sixth to third at the start, reigning champion Marc Marquez slipped to seventh, collecting nine points to remain fourth in the standings with 200.

Fabio Di Giannantonio finished sixth to earn 10 points and remained fifth in the championship with 199.

British MotoGP race results

Raul Fernandez

Jorge Martin

Marco Bezzecchi

Alex Marquez

Pedro Acosta

Fabio Di Giannantonio

Marc Marquez

Brad Binder

Luca Marini

Diogo Moreira

Franco Morbidelli

Fabio Quartararo

Jack Miller

Pol Espargaro

Toprak Razgatlioglu

Augusto Fernandez

Did not finish: Ai Ogura, Francesco Bagnaia, Cal Crutchlow, Iker Lecuona, Enea Bastianini, Alex Rins and Joan Mir

- Halis Sunnetci

ALEX MARQUEZ LEADS MARCO BEZZECCHI IN SILVERSTONE MOTOGP FP1

Alex Marquez kicked off the British Grand Prix fastest of all in FP1

Alex Marquez led the way in FP1 at Silverstone
© Gold and Goose

Gresini Ducati MotoGP rider Alex Marquez was fastest of all by 0.173s in opening practice for the MotoGP British Grand Prix ahead of the returning Marco Bezzecchi.

The first round after the summer break takes place at Silverstone, which has seen 11 different winners in the last 11 editions of the British Grand Prix.

Alex Marquez will be looking to add his name to that list this weekend, having taken a sprint victory previously at the former RAF airbase.

Alex Marquez, 2026 Silverstone MotoGP.
© Gold and Goose

He got his weekend off to the best start on the Gresini Ducati, posting a 1m58.692s to lead the field by 0.173s.

The younger Marquez brother headed the leading Aprilia of Marco Bezzecchi, who is making his comeback following a collarbone injury in Germany ahead of the summer break.

Last year’s British Grand Prix winner completed 13 laps on his RS-GP and was faster than KTM’s Pedro Acosta, who was the only crasher in FP1.

Bezzecchi set the early pace at the start of the 45-minute FP1 at 2m01.807s, before Aprilia counterpart Raul Fernandez - fresh from signing a new two-year deal with Trackhouse - took over with a 1m59.807s.

Alex Marquez hit the front for the first time with just under 10 minutes of the session gone with a 1m59.436s, before Jorge Martin edged ahead on the sister factory team Aprilia with a 1m59.372s.

Gresini’s Marquez would post his session-topping 1m58.692s lap with around 30 minutes to go, and would not be challenged through to the chequered flag.

Bezzecchi moved up to second, while Acosta fitted some fresh rubber to move up to third with a 1m58.974s after a crash at Stowe with 20 minutes remaining.

Fernandez was fourth on the Trackhouse Aprilia, while Fabio Di Giannantonio was fifth on the VR46 Ducati.

Marc Marquez was sixth on the factory team Ducati, while Ai Ogura was only seventh on the Trackhouse Aprilia despite a switch to fresh medium rubber late on.

A FAST crash for @37_pedroacosta at Stowe 🫢#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/ylxm1Ui2hp

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 7, 2026

Championship leader Martin was eighth on a 1m59.372s, while Franco Morbidelli was ninth on the second of the VR46 Ducatis.

Pecco Bagnaia completed the top 10 on the second of the factory team Ducatis.

Joan Mir was Honda’s leading campaigner in 11th, while Fabio Quartararo led the Yamaha charge in 15th.

Gresini stand-in Iker Lecuona was 16th, while Pol Espargaro was 21st for Tech3 as he stands in for Pol Espargaro.

Home hero Cal Crutchlow was 22nd on the LCR Honda.

- Lewis Duncan

JORGE MARTIN CALLS FOR BARCELONA SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AFTER “DANGEROUS” MOTOGP CRASH

Jorge Martin suffered a concussion after an unusual crash at Turn 12 during opening practice in Barcelona on Friday

Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

Jorge Martin believes the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya needs to extend the run-off area at Turn 12 after a crash during Catalan Grand Prix practice left him with a concussion.

The 2024 MotoGP champion lost the front-end of his Aprilia into the right-hander, with the bike smashing into the air fence before bouncing back into the gravel. With limited run-off available to slow him down, Martin hit the front fairing and was visibly shaken after getting back to his feet.

The Spaniard had to visit the medical centre for check-ups, with MotoGP’s official doctor later revealing that he was “slightly concussed” and also suffered bruising to his left forearm.

Martin was eventually cleared to take part in practice starts at the end of the session, but the incident renewed concerns about rider safety at what Martin described as a dangerous part of the circuit.

The 28-year-old said the crash immediately reminded him of the fatal accident that claimed the life of Moto2 rider Luis Salmon at the same corner in 2016.

“I think that it's really dangerous to crash there," he said. "I don't really like to say it, but it reminds me a lot about Luis Salom. When I was crashing, I thought about him straight away.

“Luckily, the bike turned so I went into the fairing and not the handlebars or other pieces. For sure, it's a place where they need to improve because it's really dangerous.”

Martin explained that he was trying to warm-up the tyre when he made a mistake at Turn 12 and hit the ground.

“I had more lean angle and more brake than the lap before,” he said. “But I was relaxed, I wasn't pushing. 

“But we struggled a lot to put temperature into the front in the morning. The evening was very good, we could go with the medium, but the morning was tough to put temperature and that's why you couldn't even push. And if you don't push, you don't warm up, and then it never stops.

“The problem is more on the left for sure, but it happened also on the right. So we have to be really careful. At that point I wanted to be behind Fabio [di Giannantonio] just to warm up the tyre and then I crashed.”

Martin also went down at Turn 2 towards the end of the main practice session on Friday afternoon, leaving him 17th on the timesheets and forcing him to go through Q1 for the first time this season.

While both team-mate Marco Bezzecchi and Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez earned a direct passage into Q2, Martin struggled for pace throughout the hour-long session, despite having finished second in first practice.

Martin insisted that there were no lingering effects from his Turn 12 crash when he took to the track in the afternoon session.

Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
1 / 1
Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Team

“I'm good,” he said.  “I feel lucky that nothing happened in the morning because I think it was a dangerous and a really scary crash.

“But I was fine to ride in the evening and physically, I feel great. In the second run I didn't feel anything about the first crash.

“For sure, after the evening crash, [there is] again some pain in other places, but we'll check later.”

- Rachit Thukral & Germán Garcia Casanova

BRAZILIAN GRAND PRIX | MOTOGP TOP SCORER

 

MOST SPRINT WINS IN A SEASON | MOTOGP

 

EVERY WINNER AT THE SACHSENRING

 

Every Grand Prix winner at the Sachsenring in the MotoGP era 🇩🇪🏆 One name stands out 🐜

#MotoGP #GermanGP

JORGE MARTIN'S SHOCKING DEPARTURE: APRILIA RACING SPLIT REVEALED IN EMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Jorge Martin SPA Aprilia Racing Aprilia MotoGP GP Qatar 2025 (circuit Lusai) 11-13/04/2025 

photo: MICHELIN

Jorge Martin Shocks Racing World with Abrupt Departure from Aprilia!

In a stunning turn of events, Jorge Martin, the 2024 MotoGP World Champion, has announced his departure from Aprilia Racing at the conclusion of the 2025 MotoGP World Championship. This bombshell revelation comes after a tumultuous period marked by a series of injuries for the talented rider, including fractures to his ribs, ankles, and wrists during his time with the Italian manufacturer.

Martin’s decision to part ways with Aprilia stems from what he describes as unmet “certain circumstances” outlined in his contract. In a candid statement shared on social media, Martin clarified his position, emphasizing that he had not violated any terms of the agreement but rather opted to exercise his contractual right to determine his future beyond the 2025 season.

The departure announcement sent shockwaves through the racing community, with Martin expressing his gratitude to fans, media, and supporters while articulating his desire to seize control of his professional destiny. Despite the challenges faced due to injuries and unforeseen circumstances, Martin maintained a respectful and transparent approach in his communications with Aprilia, underscoring his commitment to upholding the integrity of their initial agreement.

As the racing world reels from this unexpected development, Martin’s decision to part ways with Aprilia underscores the complexities and uncertainties that can define the high-stakes world of MotoGP. With the 2025 season now poised to be Martin’s swan song with the team, the countdown begins to see where the esteemed rider’s future in the fiercely competitive world of motorcycle racing will lead.

The shocking announcement from Jorge Martin serves as a stark reminder of the volatile nature of professional sports and the unwavering determination of athletes to navigate challenges while striving for excellence both on and off the track.

- DOUGLAS THEO

JORGE MARTIN FIT FOR THE QATAR GRAND PRIX

 

WORLD CHAMPIONS SINCE 2002 | MOTOGP

 

FRANCESCO BAGNAIA HAILS MALAYSIAN MOTOGP POLE AFTER 'INCREDIBLE' JORGE MARTIN BATTLE

“It’s incredible what we did today”

Francesco Bagnaia, Jorge Martin, qualifying, 2024 Malaysian MotoGP

MotoGP title rivals Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin spectacularly slugged it out for pole position at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Both smashed the Sepang lap record as they surged almost one second clear of the field.

Martin landed what looked like a knockout blow with a new official lap record on his first run, pitting with a half-second advantage over Bagnaia.

But with the pressure on, practice leader Bagnaia responded magnificently on his final run, beating Martin's record time by 0.216s!

Delight in the factory Ducati pits was matched by shock in the Pramac garage, but Martin rolled up his sleeves and was equal to Bagnaia through the opening sectors…

However, the title leader was forced to lift his GP24 when the front slid away at Turn 14, ending an epic pole contest.

“It’s incredible what we did today because already the lap time of Jorge was incredible,” said Bagnaia, before underlining the psychological importance of defeating Martin in qualifying.

“Being able to drop this lap time was also super important for the mental side because I know how difficult it is when you are doing your maximum and your opponent is faster.

“So it was very important and I’m very proud of my team because we did a very good again. Super happy.”

Martin, who starts this afternoon’s Sprint race 17 points ahead of Bagnaia, admitted: 

“For sure I thought [my first lap] was enough, but Pecco was incredible today.

“It is what it is. I tried my best. I think the first row was the target so I’m happy.

“The race will be tough, both of us have a really good pace so it will be important to understand where to be stronger.”

Martin can wrap up the title one round early if he holds a 38-point lead on Sunday evening.

A maximum of 12 points are available in the Sprint and 25 in the Grand Prix this weekend.

Meanwhile, Alex Marquez was a commendable, if distant, third on the grid.

“I closed my eyes and pushed in every corner at the limit!” he smiled. “I tried my best and I love this place. We made a really good lap, also in FP2 we were not bad for race pace.”

The Gresini rider paid tribute to the ‘magnificent’ performance of the duo ahead as he ruled out repeating last year’s Sprint victory.

“Looking forward to the race but we are not like last year, we don’t have the chance to win because these two are super magnificent," Marquez said.

“When you are fighting for the title you have like another step more [mentally]. So congrats to Pecco and Martin.

“But we are happy to be here after some difficult races.”

Martin’s team-mate Franco Morbidelli, Alex’s team-mate Marc Marquez and Bagnaia’s team-mate Enea Bastianini (who fell) will form row two of the grid.

KTM's Jack Miller was the top non-Ducati rider in seventh followed by the Yamahas of Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins, who are enjoying their most competitive team performance of the season.

Brad Binder (KTM), Johann Zarco (LCR Honda) and Maverick Vinales (Aprilia) completed the Qualifying 2 riders.

Zarco turned heads by leaping to the top of Qualifying 1 on his final lap, pushing Pedro Acosta out of Qualifying 2 in the process.

Meanwhile, Andrea Iannone enjoyed the best session of his MotoGP comeback with 17th on the grid.

"It wasn't an easy qualifying, but I'm happy," Iannone said. "On a physical level, with the heat, the humidity and considering how these bikes are physical in braking, it's complicated but I’m having fun. 

"It's a shame we had so little time, because we have the potential to be competitive, we're only 0.8 from the first GP23. 

"It will be my first time in the Sprint, I will have to understand how to manage myself, I don't know exactly what to expect, especially in the slipstream with all these wings."

- Peter McLaren

TISSOT SPRINT WINNER | JORGE MARTIN

 

POINTS BREAKDOWN | MOTOGP

 

RiDERS' CHAMPIONSHIP | MOTOGP

 

VALENTINO ROSSI ON DUCATI SIGNING MARC MARQUEZ

 

MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi is unimpressed with Ducati signing his old foe Marc Marquez instead of promoting Jorge Martin 👀 

Rossi 🗣️: “The consequence of [signing Marquez] is the breaking of the alliance with Pramac.”

FULL STORY: https://www.autosport.com/motogp/news/rossi-hits-out-at-ducatis-decision-to-sign-marquez-for-factory-motogp-team/10643365/

MARTIN WINS DRAMATIC HOME SPANISH GP SPRINT

Reuters 

 Jorge Martin of Pramac Racing won sprint in front of adoring home fans at a crash-filled Spanish GP to extend his lead at the top of the championship, as reigning MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia's Saturday went from bad to worse after a crash.

Spanish 19-year-old rookie Pedro Acosta continued his stunning debut season with Red Bull GasGas Tech3 to secure a second-place finish, with Yamaha' Fabio Quartararo also capitalizing on crashes to grab points to come third.

"Hopefully we can enjoy today because winning here in Jerez is amazing, and I'm really, really happy," Martin said.

Quartararo put on a gritty performance at the Circuito de Jerez, which witnessed as many as nine crashes, to finish third after starting 23rd on the grid.

"The track was really tricky, of course, many crashes in the front, but I managed to get the first podium of the year on the sprint," Quartararo said.

"Thanks to all the fans to be here and hopefully tomorrow we can make a great race, at least to enjoy like today."

Brad Binder of KTM got off to a flying start as he passed pole-sitter and six-times MotoGP champion Marc Marquez but was involved in a crash on turn one, resulting in Bagnaia and VR46 Racing's Marco Bezzecchi crashing out.

Ducati's Bagnaia had finished seventh in qualifying earlier on Saturday.

It was all heartbreak for home hero Marquez, who looked on course to win his first sprint but crashed out of the lead, managing to come seventh.

MOTOGP LEADER MARTIN CASTS DOUBT OVER PRAMAC FUTURE

Reuters 

 MotoGP championship leader Jorge Martin said that he could leave Pramac Racing and that he is more attached to manufacturer Ducati than the team.

Martin, who finished second last year after an intense battle with eventual champion Francesco Bagnaia, is top of the rider's standings with 60 points following his win at last month's Portuguese Grand Prix.

A move away from Pramac for the Spanish rider would deal a huge blow to the Italian team, who are reportedly eyeing a change from Ducati to Yamaha machines in 2025.

Asked if he would be happy staying at Pramac in the event of a switch to Yamaha's YZR-M1 bikes, Martin told reporters: "Well, at the moment I am more attached to Ducati than with Pramac.

"It has been like this for all my MotoGP career. Everybody knows what my priority is," added Martin, speaking ahead of this weekend's Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

"Let's wait because it is still early but I hope to move to a factory team. Even if Pramac changes, I think, I won't stay here."

- Reuters

Reuters

Francesco Bagnaia is on the brink of becoming just the third rider to claim back-to-back MotoGP titles but the Italian says there is no chance of him celebrating too soon with everything still to play for in the final race weekend of the season.

The Ducati rider holds a 21-point lead over Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin ahead of the season finale at Valencia, where he can seal the championship as early as Saturday by scoring at least four points more than Martin.

Only Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez have won consecutive titles and while Bagnaia would love to join them, he says his focus must be on racing.

QATAR AIRWAYS GRAND PRIX OF QATAR | RIDERS' CHAMPIONSHIP | MOTOGP 2023

 

PRAMAC'S MARTIN BREAKS LAP RECORD TO GRAB POLE POSITION AT JAPANESE GRAND PRIX

 

Reuters 

Jorge Martin of Pramac Racing set a lap record and stormed to his second pole position of the season at the Japanese Grand Prix on Saturday, with championship leader Francesco Bagnaia and last year's winner Jack Miller joining the Spaniard on the front row.

Martin secured his spot atop the timesheets by improving on Brad Binder's Friday mark with a time of 1.43.198.

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