The 2025 German MotoGP race concluded with only 10 riders crossing the finish line, a phenomenon unseen in the premier class since the 2011 Australian Grand Prix. This unexpected outcome captured the attention of teams and fans, highlighting the challenges faced throughout the event.
From the weekend’s outset, the grid was reduced due to several withdrawals. Somkiat Chantra of LCR Honda missed the race because of a leg injury, and the team chose not to replace him. Subsequently, Tech3 confirmed on Friday that Enea Bastianini would not participate due to illness, leaving just 20 riders set to compete by Saturday.
Injuries and Crashes Impact Race Start and Finish Line
Injuries continued to affect the field, with Maverick Vinales and Franco Morbidelli both sustaining incidents during qualifying and the sprint race. Their withdrawals meant the Sunday race began with only 18 riders. Over the 30 laps, eight competitors crashed out, including notable names such as Fabio Di Giannantonio and Marco Bezzecchi, who were both battling for podium positions before their crashes ended their races prematurely.
Other riders who failed to finish the race were Pedro Acosta, Joan Mir, Ai Ogura, Lorenzo Savadori, Miguel Oliveira, and Johann Zarco. Their exits contributed to the unprecedentedly small number of finishes.
Historical Context of Limited Finishers in MotoGP
This race marked the first time since the 2011 Australian Grand Prix that only 10 riders have completed a premier class event. Back in 2011, Casey Stoner secured victory while earning his second premier title after switching to Honda from Ducati. That race saw Stoner finish ahead of Marco Simoncelli, who achieved his second—and last—MotoGP podium before his tragic passing in the Malaysian Grand Prix a week later.
The 2011 podium was completed by Andrea Dovizioso riding for Honda. Other finishers that day included Dani Pedrosa, Colin Edwards, Randy de Puniet, Nicky Hayden, Toni Elias, Loris Capirossi, and Karel Abraham. The race had only 14 starters, with Jorge Lorenzo, Ben Spies, and Damien Cudlin not starting due to injuries.
Such low finishing counts remain rare, with only 18 premier class races in the 21st century recording 10 or fewer finishers. The all-time record for the lowest number of finishers was at the 1974 West German Grand Prix, which saw only four riders cross the line. Before 2011, the last race with 10 finishers was the 1990 US Grand Prix.
Marc Marquez’s Dominant Victory and Championship Impact
Marc Marquez dominated the 2025 German Grand Prix, extending his championship lead to 83 points. This victory marked his 69th premier class win, moving him to second place on the all-time winners list, trailing only Valentino Rossi, who holds 89 wins.
The result at the Sachsenring further cements Marquez’s status as one of the sport’s greats and provides momentum for the remainder of the season.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why is MotoGP not so popular?
A. The truth is that entertainment attracts more interest than sports, and MotoGP is trying to benefit from this trend. However, the current MotoGP lacks the personalities needed to make it exciting.
Q. Why isn’t MotoGP popular?
A. Motorcycle sports don’t have mainstream popularity like football. Even with lots of promotion, most people simply don’t relate to motorcycling. If people were looking for hard-to-find entertainment, it might be different, but that’s not the case.
Q. Which is the fastest? MotoGP is faster. To give you an example. At the 2023 Misano MotoGP, the fastest lap time was 1:31.791 by Francesco Bagnaia with a top speed of 303.3 Km/h (188.46 mph) by Dani Pedrosa.
A. In terms of speed, MotoGP bikes tend to outperform Superbikes. MotoGP motorcycles are built for top-level racing and can reach higher speeds due to advanced engineering and technology. While Superbikes are incredibly fast and competitive, they are based on production models and generally have more constraints in performance. Therefore, MotoGP bikes are typically quicker.
Q. Has anyone won F1 and MotoGP?
A. John Surtees is known for being the only World Champion in both motorcycle racing and Formula 1. He was skilled and courageous in both sports.
