39 points. That’s the lead that Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) holds heading to the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, as the Moto2 title race enters its crucial and unpredictable phase: the flyaway stretch.
Gonzalez’s P6 was nothing to shout from the Misano hills about, but it could prove to be a very important 10 points. It meant Diogo Moreira’s (Italtrans Racing Team) P4 only bought the Brazilian three points, but the same applies when you flip over the coin – those three points might just come in very handy. Moreira and Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) now sit level on 188 points apiece vs Gonzalez’s 227 after Canet’s P7 last time out, and as we land in Japan, a circuit where Gonzalez collected his debut Moto2 win last year, the duo need the championship momentum pendulum to swing back in their favour.
Barry Baltus’ (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) brilliant Misano P2 sees the Belgian lie just 15 points further back from his teammate and Moreira, so let’s not completely rule Baltus out of the equation either. That’s now five P2 results in 2025, surely that maiden win is around the corner?
After his Catalan GP podium, 2024 Japanese GP polesitter Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) failed to score points in Misano, which allowed race winner Celestino Vietti (Beta Tools SpeedRS Team) to close the gap between the two leading Boscoscuro riders to 11 points. While both look out of realistic title contention, those are two riders who could have a serious say in how the rest of the year plays out – and that goes for star rookie Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) also. The #27 has three podiums in his last four, and looks set to clinch Rookie of the Year honours.
So here we go then. Japan, Indonesia, Australia, and Malaysia, before returning to Europe for the final two. Will Gonzalez remain in charge over the coming weeks, or will Moreira, Canet, and maybe even Baltus reel in the Spaniard?
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