MOTOGP ARRIVES TO CATALUNYA FOR ROUND 15
From the brand-new challenge of Balaton Park, MotoGP heads to a classic stage: Barcelona. Round 15 is here, and with it comes one of the most iconic weekends on the calendar. For many, it’s a home race, and the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya rarely fails to deliver.
In 2025, expectations are once again sky-high. But at the very front, the big question remains: can anyone stop Marc Marquez on his home soil? Victory here could set him up to secure a first championship match point at Misano.
However, it’s worth remembering that the #93 hasn’t taken a win at this track since 2019. On the other hand, he arrives with unstoppable form: seven consecutive Grand Prix and Sprint victories, extending his title lead over younger brother Alex Marquez to 175 points.
Should he outscore Alex by ten or more this weekend, the door to an early crown at the San Marino GP will open. For Alex, it’s the ultimate chance to disrupt Marc’s charge, though the #73 hasn’t stood on the rostrum since Germany and will need to raise his game.
Last time out was described as his toughest weekend since joining the factory Ducati team, but Francesco Bagnaia arrives at a circuit where he was unbeatable in 2024, taking victory in both the Catalan and Solidarity Grands Prix. Yet like Alex, Pecco is without a podium since Germany, and with Marco Bezzecchi closing in fast, the pressure is mounting.
The #72 has been a constant podium threat since Assen, missing the top three in only one Grand Prix, and is now just 31 points behind Bagnaia in the fight for third overall. Meanwhile, Jorge Martin returns to the track where he sealed his 2024 World Championship and comes off a stunning ride in Hungary, climbing from P16 to P4. A podium is within reach, and Barcelona has been good to “The Martinator” before.
Over at KTM, Pedro Acosta continues to shine. With four podiums across the last three weekends, the rookie has surged to fifth in the standings after charging from seventh on the grid to second in Hungary. His teammate Brad Binder is also enjoying an upturn, consistently inside the top eight thanks to front-end improvements on the RC16.
In the Tech3 camp, Enea Bastianini has clicked with the KTM package and is a frequent contender inside the top ten, though Hungary brought him misfortune. Maverick Viñales could make his return for his home GP after missing out through injury, pending a Thursday medical assessment.
Not everyone has enjoyed smooth sailing. Fabio Di Giannantonio has endured a difficult run, losing ground in the standings after setbacks in Hungary and Balaton Park. He now sits seventh, behind teammate Franco Morbidelli, who leapfrogged him last time out.
Still, Diggia was sixth here in 2024, while Franky has previous success at the circuit, including a pole in 2020. Behind them, Fermin Aldeguer continues to close in, though Hungary proved trickier than his brilliant Austrian weekend.
Further down the order, Fabio Quartararo will be determined to reignite his season. The Frenchman sits tenth overall but has fond memories of Catalunya: his first Grand Prix victory came here in Moto2 back in 2018, followed by his maiden MotoGP podium in 2019 and victories in both 2020 and 2022. Johann Zarco, currently just ahead of Quartararo in the Championship, has also celebrated podiums at this venue and is targeting a turnaround. Raul Fernandez will be looking for redemption too, after leading the Sprint here last season before crashing out.
Honda, meanwhile, arrives with renewed optimism. Luca Marini took his best result with the factory team last time out, while Joan Mir heads to a track where he last finished in the top four, back in 2022. Both are expected to be contenders for the top ten. Teammate Somkiat Chantra is also aiming to return after injury, subject to medical clearance.
On the Trackhouse side, Ai Ogura will want to improve qualifying to match his typically stronger race pace, Barcelona being the scene of his Moto2 win last season. And over at Yamaha’s satellite outfit, Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira both seek to bounce back from difficult races, while Alex Rins arrives especially motivated for his home GP.
Barcelona has it all: a stunning Mediterranean backdrop and one of MotoGP’s most thrilling racetracks. The Grand Prix of Catalonia promises another unforgettable chapter this weekend.
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