JuniorGP Valencia: Cano does the double in ETC, Pawelec the 'Flying Pole' in Moto2, Iker Garcia roars in Stock

After Brian Uriarte, Moto3 champion already sealed in Barcelona, here comes the encore for Carlos Cano in ETC, the Polish super rookie Milan Pawelec crowned Moto2 champion, and finally Iker Garcia the new Stock king (with an emotional dedication to Borja Gomez). Jacopo Cretaro steps onto the podium, but given the -12 gap at the start it doesn’t help for the title: he’s still the first to congratulate his rival, as seen in the cover photo. The FIM JuniorGP era ends here, before the name change to MotoJunior starting in 2026. Here’s how the final races of this intense 2025 season played out.

Fernando Bujosa on pole position, his rival Carlos Cano (2024 champion) right alongside. The single ETC race gets underway, the final showdown among the remaining contenders for the 2025 title. But they aren’t the only protagonists: we also see Lucas, Longarela, Ramadhipa (unfortunately crashing in the final laps), Karpushin... Not to mention Pritelli’s brilliant comeback, starting far back and fighting his way into the top 10! There’s another concern for Bujosa too, who receives a track limits warning with 6 laps to go. Carlos Cano is never in the podium fight; Longarela, Lucas, and Fernando Bujosa are the ones battling for it, with the latter knowing he must win at all costs, while the AC Racing boys in the box are hoping... But the ending is bitter for the Spaniard and the tricolor team: they’re pipped by Alex Longarela and Alvaro Lucas. Bujosa is in tears, while Emilio Alzamora’s protégé finishes 4th, just enough to seal back-to-back titles in the final ETC year (next year it becomes the Moto4 European Cup).

Pole position for Eric Fernandez, in the title fight along with points leader Unai Orradre, Milan Pawelec, Alberto Ferrandez and Alberto Surra (9th on the grid). Others join the single-race battle too, like Zurutuza and Artigas, but above all Orradre avoids big risks, holding between 5th and 6th the whole race. But he’s too conservative... Up front, amid the big battle, there’s a real mess with Ferrandez out on the last lap! Milan Pawelec savors it, pushed by his fans on a day of glory: he’s the new Moto2 European champion! Xabi Zurutuza climbs to second on the podium, superb third for Xavi Artigas, who carries a flag in memory of the unfortunate Pau Alsina.

Iker Garcia on pole, leader Tibor Varga 6th, Jacopo Cretaro 7th: these are the grid slots for the three contenders for the 2025 title. Garcia quickly takes the lead of the race; the former MotoE Hungarian doesn’t shine and slips a few places, while our standard-bearer is temporarily just off the podium; unfortunately, Venturini is involved in a multi-rider crash in the opening corners... Up front it’s a tight battle, but even so Iker Garcia holds firm; he started the season winning and wants to finish it in the best possible way. Our Cretaro stays close, but GV Racing’s Spaniard won’t be denied: race victory and Stock European title, dedicated to Borja Gomez, who passed away in a very serious accident before the Magny-Cours round. Alberto Garcia is 2nd, Jacopo Cretaro finishes 3rd in the race and 3rd in the championship, still a solid calling card before the Supersport World Championship.

The only category with the champion already decided one round early. The protagonists are riders with world championship experience, like Marco Morelli, the poleman for this final round. The young Argentine precisely dominates Race 1, winning by a clear margin! Behind him, the fight between Brian Uriarte and Jesus Rios is much closer, with the new champion edging it at the photo finish by 9 thousandths! Worth highlighting is Rico Salmela’s superb 4th despite a Long Lap for track limits. Among the Italians, Leonardo Zanni is 8th and the only one in the top 10; also scoring points are Giulio Pugliese (11th) and Dodò Boggio (15th).

Race 2 sees another lightning start from Marco Morelli, followed by Brian Uriarte; bad luck for Rico Salmela, retiring with a technical problem after a few laps... On the results sheet, Leonardo Zanni and Giulio Pugliese are in the top 10, while Leonardo Abruzzo climbs back into the points after the Long Lap that marked his Race 1. A twist comes with Jesus Rios’s crash: he remounts, but takes himself out of contention for the third step of the podium. Up front it’s not a solo act; Uriarte wants to sign off in style and sticks to Morelli from the start. It’s a razor-thin head-to-head, with the Argentine prevailing over the new champion by 150 thousandths. Further back, watch the combative trio of Casey O’Gorman, Joel Esteban and Leonardo Zanni fighting for P3: no joy for the Italian, who yields to two future World Championship riders: the Spaniard is 3rd, the Irishman finishes 4th.

-> Final standings and results on fimjuniorgp.com