3rd place as Bastianini grasps Catalan MotoGP™ trophy

Red Bull KTM topped MotoGP Practice on Friday and placed three Red Bull KTM RC16s motorcycles in the top six of the Saturday Sprint at the low grip and high tire-wearing Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Expectations were high for the 24-lap Grand Prix on Sunday with Pedro Acosta starting in 5th, Enea Bastianini in 9th and Brad Binder in 11th with Maverick Viñales doing his best to compete with limited left shoulder flexibility launching from 22nd.

Three Red Bull KTM riders went for the same tire selection except for Acosta who elected for a soft rear and the immediate traction advantage helped the Spaniard run within half a second of the lead for the first quarter of the GP. Bastianini moved quickly up to P4 and was right behind his brandmate. Binder hovered on the edge of the top ten but lost control into Turn 7 on lap eight.

Acosta’s gamble for the podium faded by mid-race as Bastianini powered forwards. Meanwhile Viñales was bravely making laps within the points-scoring bracket. Enea briefly kept in touching distance of the two riders ahead but then had to consolidate his speed and was comfortably 3rd, almost ten seconds ahead of Pedro who was focused on the flag. Red Bull KTMs occupied P3, P4 and P13 by the finale.

4th represents Acosta’s sixth top five result from 15 rounds this season and he sits 5th in the championship standings. Binder is 11th, Bastianini is up to 12th and Viñales is 15th.

MotoGP moves to the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli for the San Marino Grand Prix next week.

Enea Bastianini, 3rd and 12th in the championship standings: “Four races [now] so competitive. This podium was very solid for me. I gave my 100% today and at one moment I was thinking about the victory…but it was impossible to catch the two in front. Anyway, I’m really happy, my first podium of the year, and all of the team have been so good.”

Pedro Acosta, 4th and 5th in the championship standings:“I was quite sure that even if the tire would drop quite a lot at the end of the race then I would be able to manage it; the only thing was that it dropped earlier than I imagined! Anyway, 4th again and we have to be happy with a very solid weekend, good points and good information for the team. Happy for KTM to again be on the podium.”

Maverick Viñales, 13th and 15th in the championship standings: “Obviously I had my limitations today but it well went and I did what I could. Let’s see if we can aim for more in Misano and come back stronger. I want to rest and then prepare and see if I can lift some weights and progress more with the recovery. The main issue for me is to change direction and then tuck into the bike on the straight. The rest was not too bad. I could compensate with my legs and my right arm.”

Brad Binder, DNF and 11th in the championship standings: “For some reason I didn’t get off the line well. I was mugged into Turn 1 and then pushed through the field to try and catch-up. Everything was working incredibly well. The bike was amazing…but braking into Turn 7 and as I cut back for the corner I must have touched the white line. It was enough to close the front. A bit of a pity because I felt really good. We have to take the positives of the weekend and I think with a ‘normal’ weekend we can be really strong again.”

Aki Ajo, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “Generally, a really positive Grand Prix for us: the Saturday Sprint with three riders in the top six and then a podium and P4 today. There is always something to learn and to understand. We had challenging grip conditions, and they were not easy to handle but it was important to evaluate this situation and with our new package. A solid weekend for all the riders and in Maverick’s case it was part of his recovery. I think the other three can be happy with the performance levels. It was a shame for Brad today but we’ll keep our progress going and we’ll be back on track already on Friday in Misano.”

1. Alex Marquez (ESP) Ducati 40:14.093

1. Marc Marquez (ESP) Ducati +1.740

1. Marc Marquez (ESP) Ducati, 487 points

2. Alex Marquez (ESP) Ducati, 305

3. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati, 237

Moto3 lasted for 18 pulsating and tense laps. The lead group consisted of 15 riders before funneling down to 10 contenders for the podium spots. The KTM GP Academy were rubbing elbows in the midst, but it was Jose Antonio Rueda, the current championship pacesetter competing at the circuit where he earned his maiden Grand Prix trophy two years ago, who shone. The Spaniard had to fill a Long Lap penalty but gassed back from 15th to the top five in a matter of minutes. He then hit the front and jostled for the win through a hectic last lap; eventually scoring P2, only 0.081 of a second away. Rueda was still able to uncork his tenth Prosecco bottle of the campaign and his first since the Czech Grand Prix.

Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Valentin Perrone finished just outside the chase in P10. The Argentine was three spots ahead of Rueda’s teammate Alvaro Carpe who was P13. Jacob Roulstone’s strong chance of a rostrum ended with a technical problem with eight laps to go.

KTM has mathematically confirmed the 2025 Constructors title: the first since 2023 and the second honor of the decade. Rueda has a 64-point gap in the Riders’ championship while Red Bull KTM Ajo lead the category by 116 points.

Jose Antonio Rueda: “I’m very happy with the job, the team and everything. I want to say a big thank you for all the work this weekend; we made the Long Lap but still ended up on the podium. I fought for the win until the end. Thanks for all the support.”

Collin Veijer elevated hopes for Red Bull KTM Ajo in Moto2 but it was Daniel Muñoz, racing for the fourth time this year in a replacement role (Deniz Öncü is recovering from a right leg operation), who provided the surprises. The young Spaniard was able to create speed, form and concentration to move up to 2nd in the race – after starting from P4 in the aftermath of grid penalties for other riders – and maintain his podium pedigree. He crossed the line in 3rd position for a well-deserved garland.

Daniel Muñoz: “I don’t believe it. I don’t know how I am here! Thanks so much to the team for the opportunity and I wish a good recovery for Deniz Öncü but I’m very happy to be up here. The team prepared the bike perfectly for the qualifying and this [the result] would not have been possible [without that]. Incredible. Thanks to my family and everybody.”

Veijer had banked a top five finish at the previous round in Hungary and then romped to his first front row grid slot on Saturday with an impressive P2 in a very close Q2 session. The rookie used his pace and growing confidence to make sure of P9 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

1. Angel Piqueras (ESP), KTM 32:40.243

3. Taiyo Furusato (JPN), Honda +0.156

12. Maximo Quiles (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team +5.005

19. Dennis Foggia (ITA) CFMOTO Aspar Team +19.505

2. Angel Piqueras (ESP), KTM, 206

3. Maximo Quiles (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 168

12. Dennis Foggia (ITA) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 81

1. Daniel Holgado (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team 36:21.444

2. Jake Dixon (GBR) +2.500

8. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO Aspar Team +8.790

1. Manuel Gonzalez (ESP), 217 points

2. Aron Canet (ESP), 179

3. Diogo Moreira (BRA), 175

7. Daniel Holgado (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 112

14. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 76