Valencia is a strange place to end a season. The light hits differently here, sharp, dusty, electric, like the city knows it’s hosting the final chapter and is determined to squeeze every last drop of drama out of Moto2 before letting it go.
And for Italjet Gresini, this wasn’t just a race. It was a closing act. A final note in a long, chaotic, beautiful symphony of a season. A moment to breathe, to fight, and to look ahead all at once.
A Glimpse of Tomorrow on a Friday Morning
Before the engines had fully warmed, the future made its first appearance.
Sergio García, wearing the Italjet colours for the very first time, didn’t ease himself into the story, he jumped straight into the spotlight. With a clean, confident debut, he hauled himself into Q2 on day one.
He summed up that first taste of Italjet machinery perfectly:
“A very positive first day: this morning I immediately felt good with the bike. We made a decisive step compared to Portugal. I also improved my riding style, and all of this allowed us to secure direct access to Q2. I’m sure we can take another step tomorrow, but for now I’m happy with this first day in Valencia and I thank the team, they did a really good job.”
Not a statement. A signal. The future is stirring.
Arenas Fires Back in Qualifying
If García teased tomorrow, Albert Arenas reminded everyone of today.
Third fastest in free practice.
Fastest in Q1.
Fourth on the grid heading into Sunday.
A complete reset after a rough Friday, and a perfect setup for a final showdown.
As Arenas said:
“It was an intense but positive day: we managed to bring out our speed, finishing third in this morning’s free practice, then setting the fastest time in Q1, moving into Q2 and ending qualifying in fourth. We definitely redeemed ourselves compared to yesterday! Now we need to work to find the best setup for the race: we want to have a good one.”
He was dialled in. Controlled. Focused. A man preparing his final swing with the Italjet colours on his chest.
The Last Battle of the Season
Then came Sunday, the last fight of 2025.
The sun was fierce. The tension thicker than tyre smoke.
Arenas launched hard, carving into the top three almost immediately. The pace was there, the confidence was there, the fight was absolutely there. For several laps he looked destined to scrap for the podium.
But Moto2 is a merciless class, and the rear tyre refused to play along.
The moment the grip faded, so did the ability to unleash the full speed he’d been sitting on all weekend. Still, Arenas didn’t collapse. He dug in, defended, and carried the machine to the line with grit.
His words tell the truth of the race:
“We did a good job throughout the weekend and that allowed me to start well and place myself straight into the top 3. Our goal was to fight for the podium, but the rear grip wasn’t optimal and it didn’t allow me to make full use of the speed we had. I had to resist until the end: we bring home a fifth place and 11 points, which also let us gain one position in the championship. A chapter closes here: I finish calm and happy with the work we did — thanks to all the people who were with me on this journey.”
P5 on track.
11 points.
8th in the Moto2 World Championship to close his Italjet chapter.
A solid, proud finish.
Darryn Binder, The Fighter Who Stayed Standing
While Arenas fought his last battle of the year under the Valencian sun, Darryn Binder’s story ended differently, quieter, but no less meaningful.
Binder hasn’t been present for the final run of races, sidelined by the kind of season that tests a rider’s physical limits and mental resilience. A brutal cocktail of bad luck, injury setbacks, and the kind of timing that would make a pessimist out of anyone.
But Binder never folded.
Even from the sidelines, his determination never disappeared.
His season hasn’t been forgotten, not by the team, not by the paddock, and not by anyone who understands how hard Moto2 can hit.
He leaves 2025 with 24th in the standings and 19 points, but those numbers miss the truth: He endured. He pushed. He stayed standing in a season that threw everything at him.
As this chapter closes, we wish him strength and success wherever the next road leads.
Thank You, Riders
Albert Arenas, a leader, a fighter, and a professional in every sense. You close your Italjet Gresini chapter with pride.
Darryn Binder, you battled through storms that few saw, and your resolve never cracked. That matters more than any points tally.
Both leave with immense respect.
Where the Future Starts Stirring
Valencia is the end of the season, yes, but it’s also the place where things begin to move beneath the surface.
With García already showing his potential and Alonso López waiting in the wings, 2026 is quietly warming its engine. Not roaring yet, just rumbling. Gathering heat. A new blend of Italian engineering and Spanish fire is forming in the shadows.
Valencia closes the book on 2025.
But the future?
The future has already begun to shift.
