Pedro Acosta, Enea Bastianini and Brad Binder starred in a scorching and sunny Catalan Dash and the fifteenth Saturday of exercise in 2025 MotoGP. The Spaniard, Italian and South African engaged in a detailed and entertaining three-way battle on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as they took their KTM RC16s to P4, P5 and P6; separated by two tenths of a second on the line.
- Pedro Acosta heads the timing screens on Friday morning, seals fifth place throughout Q2 after which wins the KTM contest for the highest 4 through the 12-lap Dash
- Enea Bastianini fees to P9 and the third row of the grid by way of morning Quali after which lays rubber on the Montmelo course to take fifth within the Dash
- Brad Binder hikes his pace and potential with P1 on Friday afternoon. The South African qualifies P11 and confirms sixth by the flag
- Maverick Viñales makes his second return since left shoulder surgical procedure following his crash on the German Grand Prix in July. The Spaniard units the twenty second quickest time and ends the Dash with P17
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has been a staple venue for MotoGP since 1992 and the observe’s inauguration. The favored 4.6km course mixes 15 corners of various pace calls for in addition to a protracted house straight allowing speeds near 360kmph. Pink Bull KTM have tasted MotoGP victory on Catalan soil and got here to Spain optimistic of trophies after the elevated competitiveness of earlier Grands Prix.
Friday started positively with all 4 KTM RC16 riders within the prime ten of Free Follow 1 and the Pink Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing duo of Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder quickest by way of the pace traps. A sunny afternoon Follow session allowed Binder to surge: #33 set a brand new lap report on his option to P1. Acosta was a tenth of a second away in P2 and Enea Bastianini was P6. Maverick Viñales, on his first look since trying the Austrian Grand Prix, entered Q1.
The Dash noticed Acosta, Binder and Bastianini grouped collectively after the primary few laps as Acosta additionally persevered with diminishing rear grip. The trio swapped positions and circulated in shut proximity. They remained wedged collectively till the checkered flag for 3 points-scores. Viñales was content material to finish the gap and made seventeenth.
The grand prix will around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for twenty-four laps at 14.00 CEST tomorrow.
Pedro Acosta, fifth in qualification, 4th within the Dash: “Fairly unusual. My begin was fairly OK however then I felt that the rear tire didn’t have lots of grip. I attempted to heat it up however the grip I’d had in the remainder of the periods was not there. Anyway, P4 once more and we’re continually within the prime 5 and never making errors. We’ve to maintain going on this manner. At one level Brad handed me after which Enea! Nevertheless it was enjoyable to see individuals on-line evaluating us to the Pink Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup!”
Enea Bastianini, ninth in qualification, fifth within the Dash: “We had an excellent race. I suffered a bit within the first laps as a result of with the total tank I can’t push like I need however then my tempo improved. I watched ‘the film’ from behind from a couple of laps! After which determined to hitch it. My Q2 might have been higher however I made a mistake in the direction of the top of the lap. With out it I used to be most likely on the second row however when you’re 0.1 from fifth place then…it’s like this.”
Brad Binder, eleventh in qualification, sixth within the Dash: “We had a fairly eventful combat on the market! I believed we might have a bit extra tempo to go along with the leaders however all three of us had been on the similar pace and it made for a cool combat. We had a small problem in qualifying and I had to make use of my spare bike. Beginning a bit additional again than I might have preferred didn’t assist however we had been in a position to do a good job. Tomorrow will probably be a protracted race and we’ll need to preserve these tires. We’ll see.”
Maverick Viñales, twenty second in qualification, seventeenth within the Dash: “Not unhealthy, to be sincere. At the moment was a bit simpler than yesterday, most likely as a result of I’m much less tense on the bike. I lose an excessive amount of on the left aspect. As a lot as I’ve the mentality that this weekend is a part of the restoration, I simply need to push! I would like to know that my physique has arrived to a restrict and I must be clever and hearken to it. Tomorrow we’ll consider after the warm-up…however I really feel I can do the total race, so we’ll strive it.”
Aki Ajo, Pink Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing Group Supervisor: “What a race! Very thrilling, and we’ve to be pleased with three riders within the prime six. For certain, the goal is even increased and I really feel, relying on the circumstances, that we will put that concentrate on on a podium combat. I repeat although: it’s necessary to work nicely and solidly and make the steps nearer to the entrance. It was nice to observe our riders immediately and let’s hope tomorrow we will do one thing related and even higher.”
Outcomes Qualifying MotoGP Grand Prix of Catalunya
1. Alex Marquez (ESP) Ducati 1:37.536
2. Fabio Quartararo (FRA) Yamaha +0.267
3. Marc Marquez (ESP) Ducati +0.409
5. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Pink Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing +0.483
9. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Pink Bull KTM Tech3 +0.651
11. Brad Binder (RSA) Pink Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing +0.797
22. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Pink Bull KTM Tech3 1:38.531 (Q1)
Outcomes MotoGP Dash Grand Prix of Catalunya
1. Marc Marquez (ESP) Ducati 19:58.946
2. Fabio Quartararo (FRA) Yamaha +1.299
3. Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA) Ducati +3.653
4. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Pink Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing +5.868
5. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Pink Bull KTM Tech3 +5.913
6. Brad Binder (RSA) Pink Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing +5.943
KTM GP Academy
Pink Bull KTM Ajo’s Jose Antonio Rueda was probably the most superior KTM GP Academy recruit on the Moto3 grid in P7. The championship chief will begin from the height of the third row after one other tight Q2 qualifier. Teammate Alvaro Carpe was fractions of a second slower in P9 as Pink Bull KTM Tech3 duo Jacob Roulstone and Valentin Perrone will begin the 18-lapper from P11 and P15 on Sunday morning.
Moto2 Pole Place fell to Daniel Holgado however Pink Bull KTM Ajo riders Collin Veijer and Daniel Muñoz had been a part of a powerful pursuing pack that noticed 18 racers divided by simply 0.8 of a second. The Dutchman continued his optimistic development of pace and kind in his maiden season within the intermediate class and took his first entrance row spot due to the 2nd quickest lap from Q2. Muñoz, substituting Deniz Öncü because the Turk recovers from proper leg surgical procedure and making his fourth look for the group, guided his machine to a good sixth place.
Outcomes Qualifying Moto3 Grand Prix of Catalunya
1. David Almansa (ESP) Honda 1:46.877
2. Joel Kelso (AUS) KTM +0.202
3. Angel Piqueras (ESP), KTM +0.209
7. Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP), Pink Bull KTM Ajo +0.363
9. Alvaro Carpe (ESP), Pink Bull KTM Ajo +0.441
10. Maximo Quiles (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Group +0.533
11. Jacob Roulstone (AUS), Pink Bull KTM Tech3 +0.661
13. Dennis Foggia (ITA) CFMOTO Aspar Group +0.790
15. Valentin Perrone (ARG), Pink Bull KTM Tech3 +1.031
Outcomes Qualifying Moto2 Grand Prix of Catalunya
1. Daniel Holgado (ESP) CFMOTO Inde Aspar Group 1:41.549
2. Jake Dixon (GBR) +0.080
3. Collin Veijer (NED) Pink Bull KTM Ajo +0.189
6. Daniel Muñoz (ESP) Pink Bull KTM Ajo +0.258
16. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO Inde Aspar Group +0.709
