Moto2: It was a stellar display from Brazilian star Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) as he took more points out of Manuel Gonzalez’s (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) points lead before post-race drama unravelled.
The championship leader crossed the line in P2, but the #18 was handed a DSQ for a technical infringement, resulting in a 0 scored in Indonesia. Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) celebrated a second Moto2 podium, initially in P3 but that turns to P2 now, with Aron Canet’s (Fantic Racing) classy comeback to P4 from outside the top 20 now earning him a P3 – and with it, a lifeline in the title chase.
Snatching the lead on Lap 1, Guevara hit the front ahead of polesitter Moreira but it didn’t last long as the Brazilian was able to take over at the helm on Lap 2. Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team) soon got himself into contention too, moving past Guevara to hit P2, a fast start from the middle of the second row. Having had exceptional pace on Friday, Gonzalez was sitting in fourth ahead of David Alonso (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team) but the Colombian suffered a huge crash at the penultimate corner, thankfully able to walk away.
Lap 6 brought with it the start of the battle between ‘Manugas’ and Guevara with the Championship leader getting the better of the 2022 Moto3™ World Champion but there was drama ahead as the second of the Aspar machines fell; Holgado tucked the front at Turn 17 but was all OK. Meanwhile, Canet had charged through the field and having started from 21st, he had climbed to fourth and was one of the fastest riders on the track, just ahead of 2020 Moto3 Champion Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2).
Into the second half of the race and the gap was stable at around one second between title contenders Moreira and Gonzalez, nothing able to split their lap times. Elsewhere, Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing) had moved into P6 ahead of Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – FRINSA – MSI), Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team), Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) who completed the top ten with six to go. Baltus’ charge continued on Lap 16, getting ahead of Arenas for fifth at Turn 16.
Nobody could land a blow on Moreira though, who cut into Gonzalez’s points advantage for a second consecutive weekend. Taking victory at the same circuit as his maiden Moto3 win, Moreira was flawless throughout the 22 laps. Gonzalez remains the Championship leader but now, the gap is just nine points going to Australia following the DSQ.
Guevara takes P2, that’s his first of the year and second in the class, whilst Canet’s climb to fourth (now third) keeps him in contention. Teammate Baltus rounded out the top four on a positive Sunday for Fantic.
Arenas was back in the top five for the first time since the Austrian GP in August, ahead of Roberts who was back in the top ten for the first time since his victory at Brno. Rookie Ortola made it P7 whilst Veijer, Dixon and Adrian Huertas (Italtrans Racing Team) rounded out the top 10.
Game on as we head to Australia in the title race: Moreira has the momentum, Gonzalez sees his lead slashed and Canet is now a real threat again… we’ll have a battle on The Island.
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