Salac claims first win as Gonzalez has a disaster

Moto2 was back in action this weekend following a three-week summer break, with Silverstone hosting the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Great Britain. The weather – often a talking point at the British GP – was much warmer than riders have experienced in recent years at the Silverstone circuit, and the Moto2 riders produced a thrilling race.

There was a surprise in qualifying on Saturday as David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) failed to make it through to Q2 for the first time this season – the Colombian started from 19^th on the grid. It was a hectic Q2 session with a red flag brought out following contact and a crash between Zonta VD Goorbergh (Momoven Idrofoglia RW Racing Team) and Mario Aji (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia). Both riders were able to walk into the back of the waiting ambulance, but having not set banker laps before the crash would be starting from 17^th and 18^th on the grid, with VD Goorbergh being handed a long lap penalty for causing the crash.

The session restarted with 8 minutes to go, and it was Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) who claimed his third pole position of the season, with Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) and Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – Biolec – MSI) joining him on the front row. Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) lined up in fourth, with Dani Muñoz (Italtrans Racing Team) and Filip Salac (OnlyFans American Racing Team) alongside, while Dani Holgado (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), Alex Escrig (KLINT Racing Team), and Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) on the third row.

The race order was switched around as it often is in the UK, and Moto2 was the first race up on Sunday morning. The weather was warm and sunny as the riders lined up on the grid, and as the lights went out it was Guevara who was ahead of the pack into turn one. Hot on his heels were Lopez and Ortola, and Lopez was soon into the lead, only for Guevara to claim it back a few corners later.

It wasn’t the best of starts for Gonzalez who ran wide on the first lap and dropped to 7^th, while teammate Agius (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) had made his way up to 9^th from 11^th on the grid. There was an early crash for Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) which ended his race, and Alonso was handed a long lap penalty having been deemed the cause of the crash. Alonso took his penalty and capped off a difficult weekend with a 21^st place finish. He will no doubt be looking to regroup and come back stronger at Aragon.

Back at the front of the race, Guevara was leading ahead of Lopez, Ortola, Muñoz, Holgado, Tony Arbolino (REDS Fantic Racing), Gonzalez, Escrig, and Agius. There were passes aplenty between the top nine riders in the early stages of the 17-lap race, which allowed Guevara to pull a small gap at the front of the race. Agius plummeted down the order to 18^th place – he continued the race, but eventually finished outside of the points in 20^th.

On lap five Gonzalez put in a mighty effort to pass Arbolino for 5^th, before pouncing on Lopez to claim 4^th place. Gonzalez ran wide a lap later allowing Lopez back through. Lopez though was soon dropping down the order as he was passed by Gonzalez, Arbolino, and Salac in quick succession. Dani Holgado moved into the lead of the race on lap nine, before Aron Canet (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) crashed out of the race at turn 15.

As Escrig and Lopez engaged in a ding-dong battle for 7^th place, Arbolino made his way into 4^th place at the expense of Gonzalez. Ortola passed Guevara for second place on lap 11, before Arbolino dropped Guevara back to 4^th. Ortola did move ahead of Holgado to lead the race into the final turn of lap 11, but Holgado was able to power back past him on the straight.

Tony Arbolino was having his best race in a while, and on lap 12 he took the lead from Holgado. Gonzalez rode around the outside of Ortola to move into 3^rd place, before Holgado reclaimed the lead from Arbolino. Arbolino’s race ended with a crash from 2^nd place at turn 16 on the 13^th lap.

Salac passed Ortola to take 3^rd place, while Gonzalez was trying to pass Holgado for the lead, but the Aspar rider was able to hold him off. They had some back and forth over the penultimate lap, and Gonzalez led over the line to start the last lap.

Disaster struck for Gonzalez though as he slowed after the line to celebrate what he thought was the race win – a lap early. Holgado had nowhere to go and collided with the exhaust of Gonzalez’ bike. Luckily both riders stayed on board, but they did both lose positions. Salac and Ortola found themselves at the front of the race and Holgado had managed to hold on to third place, but a big moment for him saw him run wide and allow Escrig through into the podium positions.

Ortola made a last-gasp move to try and claim the win, but Salac held him off to claim his first GP win. Ortola took second place, with Escrig taking his first Moto2 podium in 3^rd place. Holgado finished in 4^th with Guevara, Lopez, Muñoz, Deniz Öncü (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), Barry Baltus (REDS Fantic Racing), and Sergio Garcia (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) rounding out the top ten. Gonzalez crossed the line in 14^th place.

Gonzalez does hold on to the championship lead, but Guevara has closed the gap down to 42.5 points. Agius is a further 19 points back in 3^rd, with Ortola and Holgado 2.5 and 5.5 points behind in 4^th and 5^th respectively.

Moto2 returns to action for the Michelin Grand Prix of Aragon from 28^th to 30^th of August 2026.

Featured Image: motogp.com