A dramatic start to the Moto2 season saw two red flags at Buriram before a tense final two laps welcomed a head-to-head battle between Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) and Izan Guevera (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2).
Last year’s runner-up took gold in the opening encounter ahead of Guevara, whilst Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) took third.
From P2 on the grid, it was a perfect start for Guevara as he grabbed Moto2’s first holeshot of 2026. He didn’t hold the lead for long though as he ran wide at Turn 3 along with polesitter Senna Agius (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) and Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – PONT GRUP – MSI), allowing Holgado into P1 from fourth. However, on Lap 3, an incident at Turn 9 involving Agius, David Alonso (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) and Filip Salac (OnlyFans American Racing Team) brought out the red flag. Alonso was taken to the medical centre with arm pain whilst Agius and Salac could take the restart from pitlane.
With the distance reduced to just 11 laps, it promised to be elbows out from the start. Holgado got to Turn 1 first and led the field down to Turn 3 where there was more drama. Sergio Garcia (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) tucked the front, leaving class rookie Luca Lunetta (SYNC Group SpeedRS Team) nowhere to go. This brought out the second red flag of the Grand Prix with a new distance of seven laps set to sort out the order.
For the final start for a seven-lap dash, it was Holgado who once again led the charge but was soon behind Guevara who got under him at Turn 3. The battle was fierce as Gonzalez pushed through on Holgado on Lap 2 before going after Guevera; Holgado was third with Ortola fourth, all four riders in the leading group.
After stalking Guevara, Gonzalez pounced on the penultimate lap at Turn 7 with a bold move but the #28 wasn’t giving up as he tried to fight back at Turns 8, 9 and 12. Onto the final lap and it was last year’s runner-up who held the advantage and despite Guevara’s best efforts at the final corner around the outside, Gonzalez held on to repeat his season-opening victory from 2025 and take charge in 2026. Behind them, Holgado rounded out the first podium of the season whilst Ortola and Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) rounded out the top five.
Celestino Vietti (Sync SpeedRS Team) took P6 ahead of Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2), Daniel Muñoz (Italtrans Racing Team) and Deniz Öncu (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), with Ayumu Sasaki (Momoven Idrofoglia RW Racing Team) completing the top ten.
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