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Max Verstappen takes Jeddah pole ahead of Oscar Pisastri: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Jeddah, 19 April 2025: Max Verstappen turned around a slow start to his weekend at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit by beating Oscar Piastri to pole position for the 2025 FIA Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, as championship leader Lando Norris crashed in Q3 and will start 10th.
In the first runs of Q1, Piastri set the pace as he posted a lap of 1:28.019, seven thousandths of a second ahead of McLaren team-mate Norris. Verstappen slotted into third, 0.129s off top spot and ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell and the second Red Bull of Yuki Tsunoda. Norris then went for another attempt, and his 1:27.805 lifted him two tenths of a second above his team-mate.
Piastri improved on his final run, but only by a tenth of a second and he failed to climb back to P1. With Norris staying put in the McLaren garage that left the door open, and Verstappen strode through, posting a final time of 1:27.778 to take top spot ahead of the McLaren pair. Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli took fourth at the end of the session ahead of Tsunoda, Williams’ Alex Albon and Mercedes’ George Russell.
There was no place in the second session, though, for Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll who exited in P16, behind Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar, who progressed seven hundredths of a second ahead of the Canadian. Also ruled out at the end of Q1 were Alpine’s Jack Doohan, Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg, Haas’ Esteban Ocon and second Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto.
In Q2, Piastri again set the initial pace at 1:27.690 but almost as soon as the Australian crossed the line, Verstappen bounced him out of P1 with a lap of 1:27.529. Norris, though, found enough to go top once more, five hundredths of a second ahead of the Dutchman. Norris stayed in the pit lane for the final runs but this time, with used tyres on board, Verstappen couldn’t haul his way past the McLaren, and he went through to the top 10 shootout in P2 and with two new sets of Softs to play with.
Eliminated at the end of Q2 were Albon in P11, followed by Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, the second Racing Bulls car of Isack Hadjar and Haas’ Ollie Bearman.
At the start of the final top 10 shootout, Piastri took provisional pole with a lap of 1:27.560. No one else was able to get across the line, however, as Norris took too much kerb in Turn 4 and slid into the barriers on exit. The McLaren driver was unhurt, but the red flags came out.
While Norris’ crash had wrecked the flying laps of some drivers, Verstappen wasn’t one of them. The Dutchman had been on an out lap when Norris crashed and when the session resumed the Red Bull driver was quickly out on track on scrubbed tyres and a two-run fuel load, as he attempted to get two runs in. And with his first run he stole provisional pole from Piastri by the narrowest of margins – 0.001s.
In the final runs, Russell laid down the gauntlet with a lap of 1:27.407. Piastri followed and the Australian found 0.256s over his first run to bounce Russell out of top spot.
However, Verstappen now with less fuel on board and with his RB21 “coming alive” as he later put it roared to his second pole of the season and the 42nd of his career.
Behind Piastri and Russell, Leclerc took P4 for Ferrari ahead of Antonelli, while Carlos Sainz took sixth for Williams ahead of the second Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton. Tsunoda qualified in P8, ahead of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and the unfortunate Norris.
2025 FIA Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – Qualifying
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1’27.294 – –
2 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 1’27.304 0.010 0.011
3 George Russell Mercedes 1’27.407 0.113 0.129
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1’27.670 0.376 0.431
5 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1’27.866 0.572 0.655
6 Carlos Sainz Williams/Mercedes 1’28.164 0.870 0.997
7 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1’28.201 0.907 1.039
8 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1’28.204 0.910 1.042
9 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Renault 1’28.367 1.073 1.229
10 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes – – –
11 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 1’28.109 0.815 0.934
12 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT 1’28.191 0.897 1.028
13 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Mercedes 1’28.303 1.009 1.156
14 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT 1’28.418 1.124 1.288
15 Oliver Bearman Haas/Ferrari 1’28.648 1.354 1.551
16 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 1’28.645 1.351 1.548
17 Jack Doohan Alpine/Renault 1’28.739 1.445 1.655
18 Nico Hülkenberg Sauber/Ferrari 1’28.782 1.488 1.705
19 Esteban Ocon Haas/Ferrari 1’29.092 1.798 2.060
20 Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber/Ferrari 1’29.462 2.168 2.484 -
Lando Norris tops FP2 on Friday: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Jeddah, 18 April 2025: At the start of the session, it was Red Bull’s Max Verstappen who set the pace on Medium tyres. The Dutchman posted a lap of 1:29.89 on his first flying lap but he was soon usurped McLaren’s Lando Norris who jumped to the top with a 1:29.27s lap on the same compound on Good Friday evening.
Charles Leclerc also beat Verstappen’s time, slotting into second with a 1:29.477s that included a purple final sector. Moments later the yellow flags came out Turns 1-2 to cover Lance Stroll, who spun into the run-off area as he suffered rear locking.
There was also a nervy moment for Williams’ Alex Albon too. The Thai driver had to take evasive action when he came across a slow Lewis Hamilton at Turn 18. The Ferrari driver was set to be investigated after the session. Piastri then posted a lap 1:29.273s but Leclerc then went quicker to take top spot on 1:29.002s.
Racing Bulls’ Lawson was the first to move to Softs and the New Zealander posted a time 0.5s off Leclerc. George Russell then moved up to P1 on Softs, but the Mercedes driver was not happy with the balance of his car and Williams Carlos Sainz jumped to P1 on 1:28.942s. Verstappen was the next to go for a qualifying simulation and the Red Bull Racing driver posted a time of 1:28.547 to open a solid half-second gap to the Spaniard.
Verstappen’s stay wasn’t long, however, as Piastri went a tenth clear at the top with a lap of 1:28.430. Norris was one of the last out for his Soft tyre run and with a purple first sector the championship leader jumped above his team-mate with a lap of 1:28.340.
However, Piastri wasn’t done and after cool down laps and a trip through the pit lane he went for another attempt on the same tyres. However, he abandoned the lap after he clipped the wall and failed to improve on his personal best.
Norris repeated that tactic but unlike his team-mate the Briton was able to find an improvement and he shaved seven hundredths of a second off his best lap to seal P1 0.163s clear of Piastri.
With the focus then turning to high fuel runs, mostly conducted on Medium tyres, Verstappen held onto third place, a little under three tenths of a second off Norris. Leclerc also went out for a later Soft run and the Ferrari driver moved up to fourth place with a time of 1:28.749 that left him two tenths clear of Sainz. Yuki Tsunoda was sixth in the second Red Bull, four tenths off his team-mate Verstappen, while Russell’s uncomfortable Soft tyre run left him seventh ahead of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg and Williams’ Alex Albon.
However, with nine minutes remaining the red flags came out when Tsunoda touched the wall on the inside of the final corner and was pitched into the opposite wall at the exit of the corner. With broken left suspension and significant damage to the right of his RB21, the session was halted.
The session did resume, but with just a minute left on the clock there was just time for the bulk of the field to make it out of the pit lane to perform a practice start from the grid.
2025 FIA Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – Free Practice 2
1 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 1:28.267 21 251.808
2 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 1:28.430 0.163 22 251.344
3 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1:28.547 0.280 23 251.012
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:28.749 0.482 22 250.441
5 Carlos Sainz Williams/Mercedes 1:28.942 0.675 24 249.897
6 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1:28.963 0.696 19 249.838
7 George Russell Mercedes 1:28.973 0.706 21 249.810
8 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Renault 1:29.106 0.839 22 249.437
9 Nico Hülkenberg Sauber/Ferrari 1:29.193 0.926 21 249.194
10 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 1:29.220 0.953 23 249.119
11 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:29.242 0.975 16 249.057
12 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT 1:29.306 1.039 17 248.879
13 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1:29.371 1.104 23 248.698
14 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT 1:29.488 1.221 22 248.372
15 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:29.662 1.395 18 247.890
16 Oliver Bearman Haas/Ferrari 1:29.754 1.487 19 247.636
17 Jack Doohan Alpine/Renault 1:29.912 1.645 21 247.201
18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:30.007 1.740 18 246.940
19 Esteban Ocon Haas/Ferrari 1:30.019 1.752 22 246.907 -
Pierre Gasly quickest in FP1: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Jeddah, 18 April 2025: Pierre Gasly went quickest in the first practice session for the 2025 FIA Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, with the Alpine driver outpacing McLaren’s Lando Norris by less than a hundredth of a second, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc third.
At the top of the hour, Haas’ Esteban Ocon was first out on track in hot and humid conditions, but it was Mercedes’ George Russell who set the early benchmark with a lap .
1:29.674 that left him 0.306s ahead of Norris, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen followed in third. Williams’ Carlos Sainz then bolted on a set of Soft tyres and jumped to second ahead of Norris.
The championship-leading McLaren driver was back out on track on the red-walled Pirelli tyres, however, and he quickly rocketed back to the top of the timesheet with a time of 1:29.246s , three-tenths ahead of Russell and four-tenths clear of team-mate Piastri.
Gasly, who notched his team’s first points of 2025 last weekend in Bahrain, then arrived with his table-topping lap of 1:29.239 that pushed him seven-thousandths of a second ahead of from Norris.
Leclerc sealed third place on the timesheet with a lap of 1:29.309 that left him 0.070 off Gasly, while fourth place went to Piastri who earlier in the session suffered a malfunctioning drinks system.
After Sainz’s soft tyre run briefly put him into the top two it was team-mate Alex Albon who ended up the highest placed of the two Williams drivers, with the Thai racer taking P5, 0.367 of Gasly’s P1 mark.
George Russell was sixth for Mercedes, ahead of Sainz, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton was eighth and half a second adrift of team-mate Leclerc.
Max Verstappen was ninth 0.579 off the pace and tenth place went to his Red Bull team-mate Yuki Tsunoda who ended the session just three thousandths of a second off the four-time champion.
2025 FIA Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – Free Practice 1
1 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Renault 1:29.239 25 249.065
2 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 1:29.246 0.007 25 249.046
3 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:29.309 0.070 28 248.870
4 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 1:29.341 0.102 25 248.781
5 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 1:29.606 0.367 23 248.045
6 George Russell Mercedes 1:29.618 0.379 21 248.012
7 Carlos Sainz Williams/Mercedes 1:29.779 0.540 26 247.567
8 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1:29.815 0.576 27 247.468
9 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1:29.818 0.579 26 247.460
10 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1:29.821 0.582 26 247.452
11 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT 1:29.907 0.668 19 247.215
12 Nico Hülkenberg Sauber/Ferrari 1:29.916 0.677 25 247.190
13 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:29.934 0.695 24 247.141
14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:29.976 0.737 24 247.025
15 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT 1:30.011 0.772 15 246.929
16 Jack Doohan Alpine/Renault 1:30.183 0.944 25 246.458
17 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:30.583 1.344 23 245.370
18 Oliver Bearman Haas/Ferrari 1:30.595 1.356 21 245.338
19 Esteban Ocon Haas/Ferrari 1:31.029 1.790 21 244.168
20 Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber/Ferrari 1:31.038 1.799 23 244.144 -
Three Indians on show as TVS Racing gears up for a thrilling 2025 ARRC season
Hosur, 15 April 2025: At least three Indians will be on show displaying their talent, as TVS Racing is set to elevate the 2025 Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) by bringing a diverse set of top racers from across the globe, making the competition more intense. Apart from Sarthak Chavan, Chiranth Vishwanath and KY Ahamed, there is a chance for another Indian to enter the fray as a wild card. The championship will kick off at Thailand’s Chang International Circuit between April 25 & 27, marking the beginning of an action-packed five-round season. Building on its strong legacy, TVS Asia One Make Championship (OMC) will see participation from five new countries—Spain, Australia, Switzerland, England, and Argentina—further strengthening its international presence. The 2025 season will also feature a race-optimized TVS Apache RR 310, engineered for superior performance, ensuring riders stay at the forefront of competitive racing.
Backed by four decades of racing pedigree, TVS Racing continues to push the boundaries of performance and innovation. In 2023, the TVS Apache RR 310 set a new top speed record of 215.9 km per hour in its class, showcasing the brand’s engineering excellence. Building on this momentum, the 2024 season saw it break its own lap records at Thailand’s Chang International Circuit and Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit. This year, the refined TVS Apache RR 310 features an enhanced aero package, increased power, and improved riding dynamics, ensuring riders have the most competitive machine on the grid. With a lineup of 15 elite racers from 12 countries, comprising both seasoned champions and promising new talent, TVS Racing is not just competing in the ARRC OMC; it is redefining benchmarks in global two-wheeler motorsport.
Commenting on the 2025 ARRC season, Vimal Sumbly, Headof Premium Business, TVS Motor Company said, “As we enter our fourth season at the Idemitsu FIM ARRC with the TVS Asia OMC, we are raising the bar once again with a race-optimized TVS Apache RR 310 and participation from diverse set of racers from five new countries. With top racers from 12 nations and key performance enhancements to the TVS Apache RR 310—including an upgraded aero package, increased power, and refined riding dynamics—this season is set to push the boundaries of racing technology and competition. Our commitment to motorsport excellence continues to drive innovation, nurture global talent, and reinforce TVS Racing’s leadership in two-wheeler motorsport. The 2025 season promises to be the most competitive yet, and we look forward to seeing our racers showcase their skills and set new benchmarks on the track.”
Ron Hogg, Promotions Director of Two Wheels Motor Racing (TWMR) said, “TVS Asia has come a long way since its debut not only in accelerating the expansion of the two-wheel industry within its target market but also in crafting and executing sportsmanship beyond excellence for the Asian motorsports. This is evident not only from the year-to-year performances between man versus machine but also in its effort to progressively alleviate its standards through a diversified entry list. For the riders, this practice is an excellent approach in helping them reevaluate their level of performance in the face of new rivalries while simultaneously pushing them beyond their existing benchmark for greater success. As for ARRC, this ultimately aligns with our ongoing mission of expanding beyond the existing demography of interest. This is what we hope to continue inculcating through this championship – a partnership that stimulates excitement while providing an enriching and valued experience for all. Season 2025 is about to kick-start and we are thrilled to watch as it unfolds.”
Upgraded TVS Apache RR 310 for Peak Performance
The 2025 TVS Apache RR 310 is engineered for even greater speed, agility, and control. Key performance upgrades include:
· Enhanced engine power (+0.5 bhp) for improved acceleration and top speed.
· Friction reduction technology for optimized efficiency and durability.
· Aerodynamic refinements boosting water cooling for peak performance in demanding conditions.
Further mid-season upgrades will take performance to the next level, featuring:
· A more compact and minimized bike for better handling.
· 10% improved aerodynamic efficiency for superior race performance.
· Modified gear ratios for enhanced cornering speed and precision.
A Global Talent Pool for a More Competitive Season
This season, 15 elite riders from 12 countries will battle for championship glory. The lineup includes seven returning racers from the 2024 squad, three of whom are from India. They are joined by eight new promising racers, bringing fresh energy and an exciting challenge to the competition. The 2025 ARRC TVS Asia OMC rider lineup, includes:
Sl.No. Rider Name Country 1. Hiroki Ono Japan 2. MD Ramdan Rosli Malaysia 3. Sarthak Chavan India 4. Chiranth Viswanath India 5. Atih Kanghair Thailand 6. Kim Min Jae Korea 7. KY Ahamed India 8. Luis Miguel Spain 9. Hunter Corney Australia 10. Rendi Indonesia 11. Kanatat Jaiman Thailand 12. MD Haziq MD Fairues Malaysia 13. Leendro Paredes Philippines 14. Arysad Rusdi Singapore 15. Wild Card Entry India/England/Argentina The 2024 season saw Hiroki Ono from Japan dominate the ARRC OMC with his second title, while Sarthak Chavan from India made history as the first Indian to secure a top-three finish internationally. The 2025 ARRC TVS Asia OMC promises high-octane action, cutting-edge racing technology, and fierce competition across five rounds, kicking off at Thailand’s Chang International Circuit.
About TVS Racing
TVS Racing, a pioneer in building Motorsports in India since 1982, has been integral in growing the racing performance culture and has been pivotal in engineering the TVS Apache series through the company’s “Track to Road” strategy. The brand has redefined the sports segment by focusing on race performance, making it a highly desirable product for sports enthusiasts. This has resulted in TVS Apache and TVS NTORQ 125 becoming the fastest growing brands in their respective segments. TVS Racing is also the pioneer of the One Make Championship in the country, the first Indian manufacturer to introduce the series in India in 1994.
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Oscar Piastri takes controlled Bahrain win ahead of George Russell and Lando Norris: F1
Sakhir, 13 April 2025: Oscar Piastri handed McLaren its first Bahrain Grand Prix win with a controlled drive from pole position that saw the Australian finish 15 seconds clear or Mercedes’ George Russell while Lando Norris recovered from a starting grid penalty to battle through to third at the flag.
At the start of the race, polesitter Piastri got away well to take the lead. Alongside him, however, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was slow off the line and he was passed by Mercedes’ George Russell and the second McLaren of Lando Norris. Further back Max Verstappen also had a tricky start and Red Bull driver was passed by Williams’ hard-charging Carlos Sainz. Verstappen slotted into eighth place ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.
As Piastri took control of the first stint, Sainz charged up to sixth, but he was soon passed by Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and Verstappen followed the Italian driver at the hairpin to reclaim seventh. Sainz then slipped back and on lap 9 both Hamilton and Yuki Tsunoda in the second Red Bull charged past the Williams driver.
Norris was in trouble, however. The McLaren driver has stopped short on the grid and in trying to move he put his car beyond the grid slot. He was handed a five-second time penalty.
The Soft tyres many had started on quickly began to fade and at the end of lap 10 Norris was the first to shed them. He dived into pits, served his time penalty and made a switch Mediums.
Sixth-placed Pierre Gasly and Verstappen were next in for a change, but the champion’s switch to the Hard compound Pirellis was a slow 4.7 seconds and when he emerged, he found himself three seconds back from Gasly and with backmarkers between them.
At the front, Medium-tyre starters Leclerc and Hamilton took over as the lead pair, ahead of Piastri and Russell. Norris was now fifth ahead of Gasly and Haas’ Esteban Ocon, while Verstappen was down in P8.
Ferrari completed a stacked stop at the end of lap 17 and while Leclerc slotted into the pack in fifth and soon passed Gasly, Hamilton emerged in P11. With fresher tyres on board, he soon made his way past Tsunoda.
On lap 20 Verstappen was ambushed by Antonelli who got past in Turn 4. Struggling with “everything overheating” Max was then passed by Hamilton who was gradually hauling his way forward.
At the front, Piastri was slowly stretching away from Russell and on lap 24 he was five seconds clear of the Mercedes. Norris was third but being pressured by Leclerc who almost made his way past in Turn 1 only to go too deep. The Monegasque driver wasn’t done, however, and on the following lap he powered past the McLaren in Turn 4 to steal third place.
With the second pit stop window now open, Tsunoda climbed to P7 but on lap 31, he tangled with Sainz. The Red Bull driver slid sideways into the Williams man’s car and the Spaniard’s car was damaged. With debris strewn across the track the Safety Car was deployed, and the pit lane was quickly flooded with drivers taking advantage of the caution.
Behind the SC, Piastri led ahead of Russell, Leclerc, Norris and Hamilton. Gasly was now sixth ahead of Ocon and Max, with Alpine’s Jack Doohan next ahead of Sainz and Tsunoda.
The Safety Car left the track at the end of lap 35 and Piastri held the lead ahead of Russell and Leclerc. Hamilton and Norris tussled but after swapping position twice the McLaren driver forged ahead. Verstappen, too, was on the move and he dived past Ocon to claim P7.
In a tight closing third of the race, battles throughout the order. Norris pressured Leclerc for a dozen laps and although the Ferrari driver was initially able to resist, eventually his defence faded and on lap 52 the McLaren driver got past. Further back, Verstappen closed up to Gasly and on the final lap of the race the champion was able to power past to take sixth place.
At the front, Piastri was in control and after 57 laps he took his second win of the year ahead of Russell who was set for investigation for a DRS infringement late in the race due to technical problems with his car. Norris finished third ahead of Leclerc and Hamilton finished in fifth place ahead of Verstappen. Gasly ended up sixth ahead Ocon while Tsunoda took his first points for Red Bull Racing with ninth place ahead of the second Haas of Bearman.
2025 FIA Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix – Race
1 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 57 1:35’39.435
2 George Russell Mercedes 57 1:35’54.934 15.499
3 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 57 1:35’55.708 16.273
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 57 1:35’59.114 19.679
5 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 57 1:36’07.428 27.993
6 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda RBPT 57 1:36’13.830 34.395
7 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Renault 57 1:36’15.437 36.002
8 Esteban Ocon Haas/Ferrari 57 1:36’23.679 44.244
9 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull/Honda RBPT 57 1:36’24.496 45.061
10 Oliver Bearman Haas/Ferrari 57 1:36’27.029 47.594
11 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 57 1:36’27.451 48.016
12 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 57 1:36’28.274 48.839
13 Nico Hülkenberg Sauber/Ferrari 57 1:36’32.907 53.472
14 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT 57 1:36’35.749 56.314
15 Jack Doohan Alpine/Renault 57 1:36’37.241 57.806
16 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Mercedes 57 1:36’39.775 1’00.340
17 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT 57 1:36’43.870 1’04.435
18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 57 1:36’44.924 1’05.489
19 Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber/Ferrari 57 1:36’46.307 1’06.872
Carlos Sainz Williams/Mercedes 45 1:17’36.543 Retirement -
Indian Supercross Racing League opens rider registrations for Season 2
Pune, 15 April, 2025: The Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL), the world’s first franchise-based Supercross league, is back with the much-anticipated Season 2. The rider registrations open on 24 April and promise higher-octane action, new international faces, and the return of celebrated talent from across the globe.
Following a inaugural run that brought together over 100 elite riders from nine countries and electrified fans across Indian cities, ISRL is rapidly becoming a sought-after destination for global motorsport talent. Season 2 is poised to reach greater heights with a bigger format and added star power, most notably with superstar Salman Khan joining hands with the league as the official brand ambassador. With inquiries already pouring in from international athletes and a strong home-grown line-up raring to go.
Eeshan Lokhande, Co-Founder, Indian Supercross Racing League, said, “ISRL Season 1 was just the beginning. With the kind of global traction and home-grown talent we witnessed, we’re entering Season 2 with renewed energy and confidence. Salman Khan coming on board as brand ambassador adds to the momentum, bringing his unmatched charisma to the world of Supercross. Our goal is to build a global mega-platform that gives Indian motorsport its rightful place on the world stage. We’re thrilled to welcome back many of our international riders and see an even bigger talent pool lining up. This is going to be one wild ride.”
Rugved Barguje, 3-time Indian National Supercross Champion, expressed his enthusiasm saying, “Racing in Season 1 of ISRL was an unforgettable experience. The support from the crowd, the level of competition, and the chance to race on real Supercross tracks in India—it was a dream come true. The league has changed the game for Indian motorsport- making it more organized and structured, creating a professional platform for motorsport athletes to thrive. Season 2 is going to be even more epic, and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
Jordi Tixier, World Champion MX2 (2014), added, “Season 1 blew my expectations out of the water. The tracks, the fans, and the constant improvements by the organizers made it truly special. India showed real passion for Supercross, and I’m looking forward to being back. I’m super excited to make more memories in Season 2.”
Brendan Sipple, International Rider for Reise Motosports, echoed the excitement: “From the fans to the tracks, everything about Season 1 was world-class. The energy, the teams, and the entire vibe was electric. I feel lucky to have raced in India, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Season 2. ISRL is creating something amazing here.”
Season 1 featured some of the biggest names in global motocross, including Jordi Tixier (World Champion MX2, 2014), Matt Moss (9-time Australian MX & SX Champion), Thomas Ramette, Hugo Manzato, and many more. From Australia to France and Thailand to South Africa, the talent was unmatched. Indian champions like Rugved Barguje, Ikshan Shanbhag, Prajwal Vishwanth, Sarthak Chavan, and Shlok Ghorpade raced shoulder-to-shoulder with global pros, making history on tracks designed to world-class standards.
The rider registration process covers four competitive categories:
- 450cc International Riders
- 250cc International Riders
- 250cc India-Asia Mix
- 85cc Junior Class
Interested riders can register now to be part of the mega auction, where teams will build their dream squads for the 2025 season. Please note, registration does not guarantee participation—it is the first step in joining the official rider pool for team selection during the auction process.
ISRL’s inaugural season set new benchmarks for motorsport events in India with a physical attendance of over 30,000 and a viewership of 11.5Mn in just 3 days of broadcast, establishing a new global record for a Supercross event.
Team BigRock Motorsports, led by India’s Dakar pioneer CS Santosh, emerged as champions of season 1, setting a high standard for competition. The first season successfully demonstrated India’s appetite for world-class Supercross action and laid a strong foundation for the sport’s growth.
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Chennai’s Rivaan Dev Preetham excels in Academy karting series in Spain
Valencia (Spain), 15 April 2025: Talented Rivaan Dev Preetham, the only Indian to have won a race in the history of FIA Motorsport Games, once again showcased his skill and talent dishing out promising results in the second round of the prestigious Champions of the Future Academy Programme here on Sunday.
The reigning Micro Max National champion logged a poor qualifying time due to a strategy that did not work, but managed to finish a creditable P11 in the first final after a forgettable P21 and P27 in the heats. However, the 11-year-old bounced back, qualifying fifth among 37 competitors from around the world and finished a creditable P5 in the second heat. He went on to post another top-15 result finishing 11th in the second final for a satisfying outing in Round 2 where he garnered 22 points. The driver supported by Redbrick Constructions, Sankar group of companies and Chaicup, clocked a best lap of 1min, 02.442 seconds.
The global karting programme is promoted by F1 Academy for young professional racing drivers. The MSport product will return from Spain on Wednesday but will be back to training after a short birthday bash on April 18 to prepare for the Meco Meritus Cup.
The Grade 6 student of Lady Andal House of Children in Chennai, who won two National titles in 2023 and 2024 is looking for a hat-trick this year. In 2024, he put up an admirable show at the World Motorsports Games where he won a race and a heat before finishing 8th overall in the Karting Mini class among participants from over 40 countries.
“I’m very happy to be on pace with the top guns. This is good learning experience and I look forward to better results in the remaining rounds,” said Rivaan Dev. The third round is in Italy from July 2 to 6 followed by another three rounds in Hungary, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
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Marquez vs Viñales lights up Doha before penalty drama; Bagnaia and Morbidelli complete the podium: MotoGP
Doha, 13 April 2025: The double in Doha – who’d have thought it? Some might, but not Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team). However, that’s exactly how it unfolded for the #93 as a frantic MotoGP battle played out in a Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar that saw Maverick Viñales clinch a first podium in Red Bull KTM Tech3 colours – or so we thought. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) recovered to P3 at the line after a dissatisfying Saturday, as drama unfolded for Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), who was forced to settle for P7, which was then P6.
Why? Because after a tyre pressure penalty for Viñales post-race, most of the points scorers were promoted one position. It saw Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) elevated to P3 – and, of course, Bagnaia to P2. Those +16s demoted Viñales to P14.
A FRANTIC OPENING
Marc Marquez was the rider to earn the holeshot into Turn 1, but as the field exited the opening corner, contact was made between the #93 and Alex Marquez, with a piece of bodywork pinging off the rear end of the red machine. This allowed Morbidelli to take the lead into Turn 2 as Viñales made life harder for Alex Marquez. Top Gun was P3 through the fast Turn 3 but fair play to Marquez, he bit back to get behind his older brother once more.
Morbidelli’s lead was up to 0.8s at the beginning of Lap 3, as Bagnaia made a decent start. The Americas GP winner was up to sixth before more contact! Alex Marquez was trying to muscle his way back past Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) into Turn 12 but he misjudged it. Both went wide with Marquez dropping to P7 and the luckless Di Giannantonio being forced back to P21. And for the incident, Alex Marquez was handed a Long Lap penalty.
Meanwhile, Bagnaia was on the move. On the anchors heading into Turn 1 on Lap 5, Bagnaia breezed past Marc Marquez to climb into second place. That meant the Championship leader was third, Viñales was fourth, Johann Zarco (LCR Honda Castrol) was running in P5 with Fermin Aldeguer and BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP teammate Marquez in P6 and P7.
On Lap 6, Marquez completed his Long Lap penalty. The #73 went from P6 to P12, 4.9s away from Morbidelli. At the front, Marc Marquez forced his way back through on Bagnaia for P2 with 16 laps left, and right behind them, Viñales set the fastest lap of the race as Morbidelli’s lead continued to shrink. What were we saying about Viñales? At the end of Lap 7, the #12 passed Bagnaia for P3 and then set his sights on Marquez.
VIÑALES LEADS, MARQUEZ PLOTS RESPONSE
And with 13 laps to go, Viñales got the better of his second factory Ducati. This was stunning from the Tech3 star, and a lap later, he led. Same spot, same outcome. Morbidelli lost the lead for the first time, and Marquez powered past the Italian as well. Bagnaia was then desperate to pass Morbidelli as the VR46 Academy duo swapped positions five times on Lap 11 of 22, but it cost the pair crucial ground. Over the line, Bagnaia was 0.9s behind Marquez.
Zarco was the next rider to get the better of Morbidelli as the Frenchman grabbed P4, and the Italian started to immediately lose ground. With eight laps to go, Viñales was still holding Marquez at bay, with Pecco 0.8s behind the top two. Then, a mistake. Viñales was slightly wide at Turn 6 and that opened the door for Marquez to take the race lead baton with seven laps to go, so what could Viñales and Pecco do now?
PIN PULLED – MARC MARQUEZ STYLE
The answer, for now, was not a lot. Marquez was the fastest of the trio, but only by a tenth over Bagnaia. However, Viñales was 0.3s slower than Marquez on Lap 17, so was this the KTM start beginning to run out of grip and steam? It wasn’t – it was Marquez finding pace. The fastest lap of the race was landed by the six-time MotoGP World Champion – it was two tenths quicker than Viñales and seven tenths faster than Pecco.
Three to go. Another fastest lap of the race for Marquez saw the #93 stretch his lead up to a second, as Bagnaia slipped 1.4s behind Viñales. And heading onto the last lap, it was as you were. Marquez led Viñales by 1.5s, Bagnaia was in a comfortable third and sure enough, as the chequered flag waved, Marc Marquez bounced back from his Austin disappointment with an almighty bang. For the first time since 2014, Marquez claimed victory and with it, strengthened his Championship position ahead of a date with Jerez.
Viñales’ P2 result is a huge boost for KTM – what a ride from Top Gun in Doha. Bagnaia will be disappointed to lose ground in the title chase but after a below-par Saturday, a comeback ride to P3 was a job well done by the Italian.
YOUR POINTS SCORERS IN QATAR
Morbidelli did fight back in the end to earn P4 across the line but as mentioned, that’s now P3 as Zarco held off the efforts of Aldeguer to earn a career best Honda result in P4, while the latter earned his best Grand Prix result in MotoGP with a P5. Alex Marquez’s recovery ended with a P6, a top job to get back there from the Spaniard, but that’s the run of P2s and podiums over.
Starting from the front row for the first time since 2023, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) bags P7 ahead of Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), and Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) – the Italian completed the top 10.
Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) claimed P11, Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) takes home a P12 as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Viñales after his penalty and Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) collected the final points.
Unfortunately, Jorge Martin’s (Aprilia Racing) Grand Prix Sunday comeback ended prematurely after the World Champion suffered a crash. The #1 was taken to the medical centre for a check-up, and then to local hospital. Aprilia have provided updates on rib contusions and fractures, with Martin remaining in hospital for the moment.
NEXT UP: JEREZ
For Marquez at the top, that’s seven wins from eight. And now, a trip home beckons. Marc Marquez leads the MotoGP World Championship ahead of the Spanish GP and we can absolutely promise a party atmosphere awaits in Jerez. The question is, can anyone halt the #93’s momentum? -
Marc Marquez pips Alex, Quartararo third as Bagnaia takes Q2 tumble
A late lap record pole position, Yamaha on the front row, Bagnaia in the gravel: qualifying sets us up for a floodlit spectacular.
Qatar, 12 April 2025: Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) continues his run of qualifying supremacy with a new lap record pole position at Lusail, putting in a 1:50.499 on his final push to deny Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) by just a tenth.
In third it’s a stunning performance from Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) as Yamaha get back on the front row for the first time since 2022, meanwhile fortunes reversed for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) as the #63 finds himself down in P11 after sliding out on his second run.
Q1: WILL HE, WON’T HE?
He tried. As he returns to action, it’s not about results just yet for reigning Champion Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing), it’s about getting back in the groove and gaining kilometers. It seems like it may well end up being both, however, as the #1 was sitting second behind rookie Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) for much of Q1, potentially on to move through. In the end it wasn’t quite to be though, with Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) slotting in to second to join Ogura in the fight for pole.Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) just pipped his teammate but finished the session third, missing out on Q2 by just 0.041s.
Q2: DESERT BLOCKBUSTER
Then it was the pole position shootout. Friday saw a gap of just 0.022s between Bagnaia and teammate Marc Marquez, and Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) was ahead of both – teasing much from the potential pole position shootout.Alex Marquez them around their first laps of Lusail and was briefly ahead before his brother pipped him to provisional pole. Morbidelli, Quartararo, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) was the top six after the first run, with Bagnaia P9 and looking for more. But in the final five minutes, it was all set to change.
BAGNAIA ON THE BACK FOOT
Eager to improve, the #63 was the first out for the second run but then it all came to a crashing sudden halt at Turn 4. The double MotoGP Champion tucked the front, spelling the end of his session too as he couldn’t get back in time to head back out. Di Giannantonio was on a storming lap though, good enough to put him on a provisional front row in second. Rins was also a huge improver, moving into P5, but teammate Quartararo was on his way to steal the show.‘El Diablo’ put in an absolute stunner to take over on provisional pole as the clock ticked down, but Alex Marquez then just snatched it away from the #20. That left Marc Marquez down in P3 but lighting up the timing screens, with the spotlight on the #93. Could he get it done on his final push? Just. The Ducati Lenovo Team rider set a new lap record to take his fourth pole of the year ahead of brother Alex in P2, but Quartararo’s third is his and Yamaha’s first front row since Assen in 2022, showing the steps made by the Iwata manufacturer. And right on the back of his absolute showstopper of a start and Sprint at COTA…
THE GRID
The second row features Friday’s fastest Morbidelli, who was just ahead of Marc on track to improve late on, pipping teammate Di Giannantonio. Then comes another serious standout performer as Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) makes it three manufacturers on the front two rows of the grid in sixth. The #12 also takes top KTM honours by some six tenths over Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who had a quiet session to finish P12 as last of the Q2 runners.Zarco just missed out on the top two rows but heads the third in P7, ahead of top rookie Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), with his best grid position so far of P8. Rins is ninth ahead of Ogura, with Bagnaia slowly bumped down to P11 as he was forced to cede the floor after his crash. He and Acosta alongside him will be gunning for gains at lights out, and after Bagnaia took the holeshot from well behind the front row in Texas, they’ll be ones to watch…
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Marc Marquez wins Sprint to take back championship lead; Alex takes P2: Lusail Sprint
Doha, 12 April 2025: The scintillating 2025 Saturday streak continues for Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) as the #93 completed a pole position and Tissot Sprint double at the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar to wrestle back the Championship lead from second place finisher Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). The bronze medal went the way of Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), as fellow Italian Francesco Bagnaia’s (Ducati Lenovo Team) evening ended with a disappointing P8 in Doha.
THE START: MARQUEZ VS MARQUEZ, BAGNAIA STRUGGLES
The top three on the grid all launched off the line very well but it was polesitter Marc Marquez who grabbed the holeshot ahead of Alex Marquez and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). Morbidelli and Fermin Aldeguer exchanged P4 at Turn 4, before the rookie got a little bit beaten up as Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Johann Zarco (LCR Honda Castrol) forced their way through.
Meanwhile, at the end of the first lap, Bagnaia’s progress was P11 to P8. Not bad, but the Italian needed more. At the front, Alex got the better of Marc at Turn 1 on Lap 2, but the red corner bit straight back. And what were we saying about Pecco needing more? That’s exactly the opposite of what happened on Lap 2.
First Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), then Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) and then 2023 and 2024 title rival, Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing), were ahead of Bagnaia. What was going on with the #63?
MARC PULLS CLEAR AS PODIUM FIGHT HOTS UP
At the front, Marc continued to lead Alex, with the gap between the two hovering around the 0.3s mark. Morbidelli was third, 0.7s further back, with Quartararo 0.3s away from his former teammate in P4. Viñales was well in touch in P5, as a mistake from Zarco cost the Frenchman a place to Aldeguer on Lap 4 of 11.
A fastest lap of the race was then set by Marc Marquez, seeing his lead stretch to 0.5s, but Alex Marquez responded with his personal best lap on the next lap to maintain that half a second. Elsewhere, Aldeguer was flying. The Gresini rider quickly reeled in Viñales and made a move stick with five laps left, with Bagnaia still outside of the points in P11. That was then P10 as Zarco lost more ground after running wide at the final corner, with Bagnaia now facing the tailpipes of Acosta and Ogura.
Three laps to go. Marc Marquez was now 1.2s up the road and looked set to keep his 100% Sprint record, while Morbidelli was keeping Quartararo half a second behind him. Bagnaia passed Acosta at Turn 4 to climb into P9 – in other words, a point-scoring position.
Last lap time! The victory fight seemed over, but the podium battle certainly wasn’t. Morbidelli’s margin had disappeared as Quartararo and Aldeguer swarmed. Could they do anything to pinch a podium from the Italian? Not quite. A small error at the final corner saw Quartararo hand Aldeguer a free pass into P4, but for the fourth Grand Prix in a row, Marc Marquez doubled up on a Saturday. Alex Marquez’s P2 run continued and Morbidelli did just about hold onto a bronze medal.
THE POINTS SCORERS
Aldeguer’s mid to late Sprint pace was nothing short of sensational as the rookie bagged a very impressive P4, with Quartararo backing up his front row with a hard-earned P5. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) was 0.5s adrift of the Yamaha star in P6, Ogura was the lead Aprilia in P7, with Bagnaia having to settle for a low-key P8. Work to do for Bagnaia ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) earned the final point in P9 as Viñales’ soft tyre gamble failed to pay off in the second half of the Sprint – the KTM rider slipped from P5 to P10. And speaking of Aprilia, in his first Sprint appearance since the 2024 Solidarity GP, World Champion Martin crossed the line in P16 to get crucial mileage under his belt after his injury layoff. How good was it to see the #1 back in the battle?
So once more, Saturday belongs to Marc Marquez. Can anyone find a way of beating the six-time MotoGP World Champion on Sunday evening? We’ll find out at 20:00 local time (UTC +3).
