Manuel Gonzalez won the Moto2 World Championship race Sunday at Motegi, in Japan. Riding his QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2 Kalex on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard won the 12-lap race by 2.535-second.
Championship leader, Ai Ogura was the runner-up on his MT Helmets – MSI BOSCOSCURO.
Filip Salac took third on his Elf Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex.
American Joe Roberts finished the race ranking twenty-seventh on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex. Roberts leaves Japan fifth in the World Championship point standings.
Ai Ogura leaves Japan with a 60-point lead in the World Championship.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Manuel Gonzalez is a Grand Prix winner, beating Ai Ogura and Filip Salac after an intense Sunday in Japan.
Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) is a Grand Prix winner after a showstopping race at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, with the #18 remaining on slick tyres in tricky conditions. It was an intense Grand Prix, which saw Gonzalez grab victory from home hero Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI), who battled through the field in what could be a pivotal day for the Moto2™ World Championship. Meanwhile, Filip Salac (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) completed an unbelievable recovery ride in third after carving through the field from 18th on the grid.
At the start, it was an incredible launch from polesitter Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team), launching into the lead at Turn 1. The #96 led on the opening lap from Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) and Ogura as the rain began to fall in Japan. The red flag was brought out with the race to be restarted with original grid positions.
The race was restarted for 12 laps, with mixed choices in terms of tyres and a handful of riders opting for slicks, including Championship leader Ogura. Once the Grand Prix restarted, it was another phenomenal launch from Dixon, leading ahead of his teammate Izan Guevara (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) on wet tyres.
Meanwhile, Championship leader Ogura plummeted down the order in the opening laps, dropping to 14th on Lap 1. However, the home hero began to make ground, building temperature in his Pirelli tyres – storming into seventh on Lap 2. It was sensational to watch, with Ogura using the most out of his Triumph engine to enter the podium places one lap later.
One of the key moves came at the start of Lap 4, with Ogura snatching the lead and setting the fastest lap. Gonzalez also began to find incredible speed on slicks, battling into second with Jeremy Alcoba (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team), soon entering the podium positions.
At the front, Gonzalez began to edge closer to Ogura, reducing the Japanese star’s lead to two seconds. Salac also entered the podium, overtaking Alcoba after starting from 18th on the grid. It was an intense three-way fight, with Alcoba and RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP’s Zonta Van den Goorbergh in chase.
The decisive move came on Lap 9, with Gonzalez pouncing on Ogura – dropping the #79 to second position. Once Gonzalez hit the front, it was an impressive pace from the Spaniard – stretching a one-second advantage.
On the final lap, Gonzalez continued his sensational pace, remaining unstoppable and cruising across the line to take his maiden Moto2™ victory. It was a dramatic day, which saw Ogura take second and, crucially, a 60-point advantage in the Championship. The Japanese hero stood on the podium at home, beating Salac, who claimed the final spot on the podium after an incredible recovery.
Alcoba was able to take the flag in fourth, finishing just 0.137s adrift from the podium rostrum in Japan. The #52 was able to stretch the gap to Van den Goorbergh in fifth as Xavier Artigas (KLINT Forward Factory Team) claimed a remarkable sixth place finish. Artigas had an incredible day, finishing ahead of Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo), with the Italian only able to finish as high as seventh. Italtrans Racing Team’s Diogo Moreira was eighth at the flag, a further 0.512s behind.
Claiming the final spots inside the top 10 on Sunday were Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) and Izan Guevara (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team), with the Spaniards both opting for wet tyres. Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) scored 11th, while Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) took 12th. Polesitter Dixon crossed the flag in 13th, with Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) and Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP’s Darryn Binder securing the final points.
Now we head to the iconic Phillip Island for the Australian GP in two weeks, where Ogura will have his first chance to be crowned the Moto2™ World Champion!