Spanish triple to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Circuit

*José Antonio Rueda (Moto3), the first Andalusian rider to win in Jerez

*Manuel González crowns a splendid weekend with his victory in Moto2

April 27, 2025. The Estrella Galicia 0'0 Grand Prix of Spain at the Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto was, without a doubt, an unforgettable celebration to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the cathedral of motorcycling. A weekend filled with excitement, in which the best gift came with the renewal of the contract with MotoGP until 2031, ensuring that Jerez will remain a world reference for the passion for two wheels for many years to come. With a record attendance of 224,420 spectators, just over 43,000 fans compared to the previous edition, and the presence of authorities such as the President of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno; Antonio Sanz, Minister of the Presidency of the regional government, Almudena Martínez; President of the Diputación de Cádiz; and the Mayor of Jerez, María José García-Pelayo, this Grand Prix has become part of the history of our sport and our circuit.

The big event of the day was the eagerly awaited MotoGP race. Fabio Quartararo started from pole position after a bittersweet Saturday in which he took his long-awaited pole position, but also suffered a crash in the Sprint while battling for victory with Marc Márquez, who went on to win in front of an absolutely enthusiastic crowd. At the start, the Yamaha rider got off to a solid start, while Pecco Bagnaia made a spectacular start that allowed him to move into second place, ahead of his teammate. Álex Márquez, a very combative rider, tried to break back into the Top 3 with a risky overtake that nearly cost him a crash.

As the French rider began to open up a gap at the front, his Ducati teammates engaged in a fierce battle for second place, even coming into contact in a tense maneuver. Despite Marc's constant attacks, Bagnaia held off the pressure. Until, as a result of so much pushing, the elder Márquez suffered a crash at Turn 7, although he managed to recover and rejoin the race in 22nd place.

The fight continued, and Álex Márquez, with his pace improving, overtook the Italian and set his sights on Quartararo, who had taken advantage of the incidents to pull away. However, lap after lap, Álex closed the gap until he caught and overtook the Frenchman with a precise pass that allowed him to take the lead. From then on, Álex didn't hesitate for a moment, opening a gap of more than two seconds over his pursuers.

The race ended with tennis player Carlos Alcaraz waving the checkered flag, bringing a spectacular event to a close. Álex Márquez claimed his first victory in a MotoGP race on a Sunday, Fabio Quartararo took a well-deserved second place, and Pecco Bagnaia rounded out the podium in third. Marc Márquez, after his crash, finished in 12th place in a race that was as tough as it was exciting. In front of a devoted crowd, Álex Márquez capped off a perfect day celebrating the circuit's 40th anniversary.

Alex Márquez 1º
This victory has been the best birthday present. Getting my first win here in Jerez is incredible. I stopped at Nieto-Peluqui and was thinking about taking off my sleeping bag and sleeping there tonight. The fans were incredible at every turn. It was also a race in which I feel I was smart in every move. I was focused on keeping the gap and not giving anyone else a chance. Thank you, Jerez, because you are the best in the world.

Fabio Quartararo 2º
It's incredible to be on the podium, especially when the gap between me and Alex wasn't that big, although we already knew he had more. But keeping Pecco half a second behind was incredibly difficult. We've had to wait many years to get back on the podium, and even in Jerez, so a huge thank you to all the fans who have been supporting us. Even yesterday, after the crash, everyone was applauding. So, thank you very much to them, and see you at Le Mans.

Francesco Bagnaia 3º
Honestly, thank you so much to the fans because it was incredible. I don't like races like this where I feel stuck, behind like yesterday. Every time I tried to overtake, I lost and had to drop back. But, in any case, congratulations to Álex for his first win and to Fabio, who did an incredible job on a more difficult bike.

This historic Sunday began with an intense Moto3 race, where José Antonio Rueda, after a flawless Friday and Saturday, started from pole. The rider from El Palacio quickly consolidated his lead, closely followed by his teammate Álvaro Carpe and the rest of the pack. Although several crashes marked the opening laps, the race pace remained steady. Ángel Piqueras managed to force his way through the Red Bull KTM Ajo riders to begin his personal pursuit of the championship leader. As the laps passed, Carpe lost ground while Joel Kelso joined the battle for the podium.

With seven laps remaining, Piqueras and Kelso engaged in a thrilling duel that allowed Rueda to extend his lead. Everything was decided in a thrilling final lap, where Piqueras, in a risky maneuver, managed to overtake Kelso to take second place. Meanwhile, José Antonio Rueda crossed the finish line alone, celebrating a well-deserved victory that also gives him the lead in the Moto3 overall standings. With this flawless race, José Antonio Rueda became the first Andalusian rider in history to win at Jerez, the best possible tribute to the 40th anniversary of our circuit.

José Antonio Rueda 1º
Getting my first win at my home Grand Prix is ​​always special. Now it's time to enjoy today with the fans, and here we have the best fans anyone could ask for. I'm speechless with emotion, and all I can say is thanks to my family, who have always supported me over the years, and to my entire team, who have made this possible.

Meanwhile, the Moto2 race kicked off with Madrid-born rider Manu González as the clear favorite after dominating the field throughout the weekend. From the opening laps, the action quickly unfolded: Albert Arenas quickly lost his second place under pressure from Senna Agius and Diogo Moreira, determined to fight for the podium until the final lap. Barry Baltus also joined the fray, engaging in an intense battle with Agius for the front positions. Midway through the pack, an unfortunate incident between the Aspar Team riders caused Dani Holgado to crash after contact with David Alonso. He then suffered a severe crash at Turn 6, also taking out Izan Guevara.

Meanwhile, up front, the Liqui Moly driver maintained a relentless pace that allowed him to further consolidate his lead. The fight for podium positions intensified lap after lap, with Baltus and Moreira fighting for every inch of the asphalt. Finally, González crossed the finish line alone, securing an uncontested victory on a circuit where he had already shone during the preseason. Barry Baltus secured second place after a very solid race, while Senna Agius completed the podium in third, with Diogo Moreira achieving a creditable fourth place. The day's biggest disappointment was Aron Canet, who was unable to find the necessary rhythm to challenge the leading drivers at any point during the weekend.

Manuel González 1º
It's exactly what I dreamed of as a kid—winning at home. It was a crazy race. I was riding alone, remembering my training and all my efforts, and this feels like a gift. I feel so happy and want to thank the team, everyone who supports me, my family and friends. It's incredible. Thank you all so much.

In its 40th anniversary year, the Andalusian track experienced an unforgettable weekend, marked by excitement in every category, the dominance of the Spanish drivers, and an absolutely magical atmosphere in every corner of the circuit. With a historic attendance record—224,420 spectators throughout the weekend, 43,000 more than in 2024—the fans once again demonstrated their unconditional passion for the sport and their love for Jerez. An anniversary that couldn't have been celebrated in a better way: packed with Spanish victories, excitement, and an energy that confirms our circuit is unique in the world.