Honda HRC’s Ruben Fernandez was involved in a first-turn pile-up, robbing the home rider of any chance of a good qualification race result at this MXGP of Spain. As the rain fell on this Lugo circuit, the #70 tried his best to come through the field, but on a track where passing was extremely difficult, he was only able to manage to come back to 15th and will now have an outside gate-pick for the motos tomorrow.
Knowing that the start would be crucial, the CRF450R rider gave himself the best opportunity by posting a blistering laptime in timed practice, giving him third gate-pick and a real chance to carry on his good form and run up front in this MXGP class. Unfortunately, those hopes came to end as he got squeezed around the first corner and found himself with bumps and bruises as he picked up his machine. Determined to try and recoup as many positions as possible, he put his head down and put in laptimes, matching the leaders of the race. However, on a slippery track that was very difficult to pass on, the Spaniard could only fight back to 15th place, giving him an outside chance of a good start in tomorrow’s GP-scoring races.
Ferruccio Zanchi has been well aware of how important starts can be, as the young Italian has struggled to get out of the gate this year. This was partly due to his timed practice results, which then had the domino effect of not giving him a good gate-pick for the qualification races, which then didn’t allow him to race at the front of the field. Today, he put all that right, getting third in timed practice and then ripping a good start on his Honda CRF250R. The #73 was inside the top five for the entire race, and finished in fifth place, his best result since he won the first moto of the MXGP of Castilla La Mancha. This will give him a big boost of confidence heading into tomorrow where he has the chance at another podium in Spain.
Teammate Valerio Lata didn’t have the best of days, struggling to really find his groove on this loamy circuit and not managing to get close to the top five battles. Tenth in timed practice was followed on by a 10th in the qualification race, as he was a victim of not getting a good start and not being able to move through the field. There are definitely improvements to be made, but the start is proving to be crucial and if the #18 can get off the line well, he can definitely keep his good recent run of results going.
There is more rain forecast tomorrow, but the Lugo circuit is holding up well and could actually do with a bit of water to create some more lines for these world championship riders to utilise. All three know that the gate-drop is the main focus and while they’ll be at various positions along the grid, they will all be raring to go for both GP races.
Ruben Fernandez 70
Definitely not how I was hoping the day would go. It’s never nice having to pick your bike up on the first corner, especially when you have scrapes down your arm and you’re missing a lot of your jersey! I tried my best to come through the pack give myself a fighting chance tomorrow, but 15th is the best I could do, and I guess we’ll see if that is enough to get near the front off the starts tomorrow. I really hope I can do well because I’m feeling good and my laptimes are up there with the best so it’s just a case of getting a good chance and giving my all for all these fans who have been supporting me.
Ferruccio Zanchi 73
Finally I was able to put all the pieces of the puzzle together and do well in all the sessions I needed to do well in. I’ve known for a few weeks that timed practice is important because it sets you up for the rest of the weekend and finally, I got a third-placed time and that just makes everything easier. I was able to get a good start and felt good in the qualification race and fifth is better than I’ve had for a while so now I want to put in two strong motos tomorrow and really get this season back on track.
Valerio Lata 18
I’m not satisfied with my riding today and I know I have to do better than 10th place. About the only good thing was that I didn’t give up and I got a pass on the last lap to give me one point. It’s not a lot, but at least it is something, and I will be working hard with the team to try and improve things for tomorrow.
Marcus Pereira de Freitas
HRC General Manager – MXGP
Sometimes it really feels like we aren’t having much luck at the moment. Ruben has been riding fantastically recently, and was looking strong and a possible race winner today and instead he remounted in last place, with some cuts and scrapes after a first-turn incident with a bunch of other riders. He should be fine for tomorrow, but it makes his job even harder on a track where everyone is very similar speed. Ferruccio was the bright-spot today and it was good to see him fighting at the front of the field once again and hopefully he can do the same on Sunday and get himself into the podium battle.
MXGP 2025 Saturday, May 10th 2025
Qualifying Round 8 MXGP of Spain
Qualification Race
Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Geerts Jago 93 BEL 10 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team Yamaha 23:54.358
2 Febvre Romain 3 FRA 9 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP Kawasaki 0:10.010
3 Renaux Maxime 959 FRA 8 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team Yamaha 0:13.864
4 Coenen Lucas 96 BEL 7 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 0:15.586
5 Vlaanderen Calvin 10 NDL 6 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team Yamaha 0:17.753
6 Seewer Jeremy 91 SWI 5 Ducati Factory MX Team Ducati 0:18.690
7 Jonass Pauls 41 LAT 4 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP Kawasaki 0:20.040
8 Herlings Jeffrey 84 NDL 3 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 0:21.013
9 Coldenhoff Glenn 259 NDL 2 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP Fantic 0:21.632
10 Pancar Jan 253 SLO 1 TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team KTM 0:26.946
11 Horgmo Kevin 24 NOR 0 Honda SR Motoblouz Honda 0:28.734
12 Watson Ben 919 GBR 0 MRT Racing Team Beta Beta 0:36.560
13 Bogers Brian 189 NDL 0 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP Fantic 0:38.571
14 van Doninck Brent BEL 0 0:39.253
15 Fernandez Ruben 70 SPA 0 Honda HRC – MXGP Honda 0:39.766
16 van de Moosdijk Roan 34 NDL 0 KTM Kozak Team KTM 0:58.168
17 Sterry Adam 811 GBR 0 KTM Kozak Team KTM 1:00.303
18 Valentin Ander SPA 0 1:01.682
19 Koch Tom 226 GER 0 MRT Racing Team Beta Beta 1:03.684
20 Gilbert Josh GBR 0 1:08.163
MXGP 2025 Saturday, May 10th 2025
Rider standings
Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team Constructor
1 Febvre Romain 3 FRA 339 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP Kawasaki
2 Gajser Tim 243 SLO 305 Honda HRC – MXGP Honda
3 Coenen Lucas 96 BEL 294 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM
4 Coldenhoff Glenn 259 NDL 257 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP Fantic
5 Renaux Maxime 959 FRA 225 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team Yamaha
6 Fernandez Ruben 70 SPA 223 Honda HRC – MXGP Honda
7 Bonacorsi Andrea 132 ITA 194 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP Fantic
8 Horgmo Kevin 24 NOR 177 Honda SR Motoblouz Honda
9 Vlaanderen Calvin 10 NDL 168 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team Yamaha
10 Seewer Jeremy 91 SWI 161 Ducati Factory MX Team Ducati
11 Jonass Pauls 41 LAT 121 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP Kawasaki
12 Geerts Jago 93 BEL 113 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team Yamaha
13 Watson Ben 919 GBR 112 MRT Racing Team Beta Beta
14 Pancar Jan 253 SLO 110 TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team KTM
15 Guadagnini Mattia 101 ITA 107 Ducati Factory MX Team Ducati
16 Herlings Jeffrey NDL 97
17 Gifting Isak 517 SWE 78 JK Racing Yamaha Active Yamaha
18 Guillod Valentin 92 SWI 72 Wildcard Rider Yamaha
19 Bogers Brian 189 NDL 64 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP Fantic
20 van de Moosdijk Roan NDL 60
21 Brumann Kevin 87 SWI 50 Wildcard Rider Husqvarna
22 Sterry Adam GBR 40
23 Koch Tom 226 GER 30 MRT Racing Team Beta Beta
24 Stauffer Marcel 411 AUT 23 Wildcard Rider KTM
25 Ludwig Noah GER 19
26 Gilbert Josh GBR 19
27 Spies Maximillian GER 13
28 Cairoli Antonio 222 ITA 10 Ducati Factory MX Team Ducati
29 Lupino Alessandro 177 ITA 9 Ducati Factory MX Team Ducati
30 Tonus Arnaud 4 SWI 8 Wildcard Rider Yamaha
31 Tondel Cornelius 17 NOR 7 JWR Honda Racing Honda
32 van Doninck Brent BEL 6
33 Monticelli Ivo ITA 6
34 Aparecido dos Santos Fabio BRA 5
35 Nickel Cato GER 4
36 Pape Romain 53 FRA 3 Wildcard Rider Yamaha
37 Forato Alberto 303 ITA 2 Honda SR Motoblouz Honda
38 Evans Mitch 43 AUS 1 Wildcard Rider Honda
39 Scheu Mark GER 1
40 Adamson John 212 GBR 1 Wildcard Rider Honda
41 Valentin Ander SPA
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