Marco Bezzecchi Takes Back-to-Back Tissot Sprint Wins with Dramatic Phillip Island Triumph

Phillip Island, Australia – October 18, 2025:
Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) made it back-to-back Tissot Sprint victories after a thrilling late charge at the Australian MotoGP. The Italian rider overcame early drama and a mid-race scare to pass Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) with three laps to go, sealing a sensational win at Phillip Island.

Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) completed the podium after a nail-biting fight to the finish, with just a tenth of a second separating P3 to P5 in one of the closest Sprints of the 2025 MotoGP season.

Opening Action: Fernandez Leads, Chaos Behind

The Sprint got off to a wild start as Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) launched off the line for the holeshot, but Raul Fernandez wasted no time grabbing the lead by Turn 2. Bezzecchi slotted into second, though his Aprilia bore some extra aerodynamic “additions” after colliding with seagulls during the warm-up lap — an incident that had the paddock talking.

Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), who started from pole after breaking the all-time Phillip Island lap record, dropped to sixth on the opening lap. Meanwhile, Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP)and rookie sensation Pedro Acosta engaged in a fierce battle behind the Aprilia duo. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) saw his race end early with a Lap 1 crash at Turn 2.

As Fernandez and Bezzecchi built a small gap out front, the fight for third intensified. Miller and Marquez traded places multiple times through Turns 10 and 1, while Acosta, showing his trademark aggression, moved past both on Lap 7 to claim P3.

Bezzecchi Strikes Back for Victory

By Lap 9, Bezzecchi had regrouped and was right back on Fernandez’s tail. The Italian made his move stick at Turn 2 on Lap 10, displaying the relentless pace that earned him Sprint glory a week earlier. Behind them, Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) — winner in Indonesia — crashed out at Turn 6 but thankfully walked away unhurt.

The closing stages saw Bezzecchi and Fernandez firmly locked into the top two positions, while the battle for third became a thriller. Acosta faced immense pressure from Miller and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), but the KTM star held firm to clinch the final podium spot.

Aprilia Makes History with 1-2 Finish

Bezzecchi’s triumph not only marked his second straight Sprint win but also delivered the first-ever Aprilia 1-2 finish in a Tissot Sprint, as Fernandez backed up his pace with another impressive P2 result. Acosta’s third place ensured a non-Ducati top three, a rarity in recent MotoGP history.

Miller and Di Giannantonio completed the top five, separated by mere milliseconds, followed by Alex Marquez (P6)and Fabio Quartararo (P7), who struggled to match his qualifying pace. Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) and Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Tech3) rounded out the Sprint points in eighth and ninth respectively.

Further down the order, Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) claimed tenth, while Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) endured a disastrous Sprint, finishing 19th. The defending champion’s poor showing, combined with Bezzecchi’s win, narrows the gap between them to just eight points in the fight for third overall in the 2025 MotoGP standings.

Top 10 – Phillip Island Tissot Sprint Results

1️⃣ Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing)
2️⃣ Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team)
3️⃣ Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
4️⃣ Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP)
5️⃣ Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team)
6️⃣ Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP)
7️⃣ Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP)
8️⃣ Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol)
9️⃣ Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Tech3)
10️⃣ Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3)

🏁 Key Takeaways

• Marco Bezzecchi claims consecutive Tissot Sprint wins
• First-ever Aprilia 1-2 finish in Sprint history
• Pedro Acosta edges out Miller for final podium spot
• Francesco Bagnaia slips to 19th, tightens fight for third in standings

With momentum on his side, Bezzecchi will look to carry his winning form into Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix, as Aprilia continues to mount serious pressure on the factory giants of Ducati and Yamaha.