Gonzalez overcomes grid penalty to take fourth win of the season

Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) and Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) arrived in Mugello for the Brembo Grand Prix of Italy – and the ninth round of the season – level on points at the top of the championship. Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team), who finished on the podium last time out in Aragon, claimed pole position ahead of Canet and Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2). Marcos Ramirez (Onlyfans American Racing Team), Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo), and Celestino Vietti (Beta Tools SpeedRS Team) lined up on row two of the grid. Manuel Gonzalez had qualified in 5^th but had to start from the third row in 8^th following a grid penalty for slow riding and disrupting Öncü during qualifying.

Moreira led Öncü into the first corner as the lights went out, with Gonzalez making a great start to follow them into turn one in 3^rd place. There was a lot of jostling for position over the first few laps, with Öncü, Moreira, Canet, and Arenas all leading the race in the early stages. Gonzalez made his way into the lead on lap nine, and he immediately began to pull a gap on Arenas in 2^nd, eventually taking his fourth win of the season by 1.4 seconds ahead of Arenas who takes his second podium in the class.

Aragon race winner Deniz Öncü dropped back into the chasing pack and battled with Celestino Vietti, Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego), and Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2), but it was the battle over the last few laps of the race between Aron Canet and Diogo Moreira that was the most exciting of the race. They had dropped back from the leading duo of Gonzalez and Arenas, leaving them to battle it out for the final spot on the podium. The battle was fierce, and allowed Vietti to close in on them – the Italian was ready to pounce should Canet and Moreira make any kind of mistake.

Despite Moreira’s best efforts, Canet was able to hold the Brazilian off with some excellent defensive riding to take 3^rd place in the race. Moreira was 4^th, with Vietti crossing the line in 5^th after a strong end to the race. Öncü, Guevara, David Alonso (CFMOTO European Privilege Aspar Team), and Onlyfans American Racing Team duo of Joe Roberts and Marcos Ramirez completed the top ten.

Victory for Gonzalez means he moves nine points clear of Canet in the championship fight, with Moreira a further 31 points back in 3^rd.

Moto 2 returns to action next weekend (27^th – 29^th June) for the Motul Grand Prix of the Netherlands.

Featured Image: IntactGP