The title race hots up as Gonzalez fails to score in Japan

The Motability Resort Motegi played host to the first race of the 2026 tour of Asia and Oceania as we head into the flyaway races. Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) – race winner last time out – claimed pole position for the Japanese GP, and was joined on the front row of the grid by Filip Salac (OnlyFans American Racing Team) and Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP).

Dani Holgado (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team), Tony Arbolino (REDS Fantic Racing), and David Alonso (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team) lined up on the second row, while Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – JP Financial – MSI), Adrian Huertas (Italtrans Racing Team), and Celestino Vietti (BETA Tools SpeedRS Team) made up the third row of the grid.

Gonzalez saw his race ruined before it had even begun as he stalled his bike and had to be wheeled off the grid and start the race from pit lane. As the lights went out – following a brief delay to allow Gonzalez to leave the grid – Guevara leapt into the lead of the race with Salac, Arbolino, Holgado, Ortola, and Alonso close behind to form an early leading group.

Alonso was soon through on teammate Holgado for 5^th place, while Deniz Öncü (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was making moves further back – passing Huertas for 8^th place, before Huertas was further demoted by Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2).

The lead group settled into a rhythm for a few laps before splitting into smaller groups, with Guevara, Arbolino, and Salac pulling away a little from Ortola and Alonso, who in turn were pulling away from Holgado and Vietti.

There was an unfortunate end to the race for Sergio Garcia (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) who crashed out of the race on lap eight and the marshals did an excellent job to remove Garcia’s stranded bike from the middle of the track. It was a disappointing race for the Idemitsu Honda Team Asia with both Taiyo Furusato and Mario Aji crashing out on laps nine and twelve respectively – Aji had also crashed his bike on the sighting lap on the way to the grid.

Lap seventeen saw Arbolino briefly take the lead of the race only to run slightly wide and allow Guevara straight back into the lead. Guevara upped his pace once more to ensure that he remained ahead of Arbolino for the final few laps of the race, and he took the chequered flag to claim his third victory of the season and – perhaps more importantly – claim 25 points while Gonzalez failed to score.

Arbolino followed Guevara across the line for 2^nd, with Salac claiming his fifth podium of the season in 3^rd. Ortola held off Alonso as they finished in 4^th and 5^th, with Vietti, Öncü, Holgado, Lopez, and Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) rounding out the top ten.

Following his non-score this weekend, Gonzalez has seen his championship lead slashed to just 10.5 points ahead of Guevara, with Ortola a further 53.5 points further back in 3^rd.

Moto2 returns to action for the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia next weekend – 9^th to 11^th October.

Featured Image: yamahamoto2