From Q1 to a nose bleed on the grid, Alonso defies the odds to win in Sepang

One week on from the cancelled Australian GP, the Moto2 paddock rolled on to the Sepang International Circuit for the Malaysian GP. No race at Phillip Island means that the gap at the top of the championship between Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) and the chasing Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) was still just 5.5 points at the beginning of this weekend.

Gonzalez suffered a crash during FP1 on Friday, and was seen around the paddock on crutches ahead of qualifying on Saturday. He was only able to qualify in 9^th place – six places behind title rival Guevara in 3^rd.

Dani Holgado (CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team) claimed his first pole position since the Brazilian GP – which he went on to win – and was joined on the front row by rookie Angel Piqueras (QJMOTOR – MSI), and Guevara. David Alonso (CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team), Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2), and Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) lined up on row two, with Alex Escrig (KLINT Racing Team) and Dani Muñoz (Italtrans Racing Team) ahead of Gonzalez on the third row.

It was hot and humid as the Moto2 riders lined up on the grid – and there were some pre-race grid issues for David Alonso who was receiving help from his team to stem a nose bleed. The Colombian put that behind him though as the race got underway and made up a position straight away as he followed Holgado and Piqueras into turn one.

There was almost contact between Alonso and Guevara as the latter considered a move, but Alonso held strong and kept Guevara at bay before making his own move on Piqueras to make it an Aspar 1-2 at the head of the race.

As Mario Aji (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) crashed out of the race at the end of the second lap, the lead trio of Holgado, Alonso and Piqueras were beginning to pull away from Guevara in 4^th. Gonzalez meanwhile was making progress from his 9^th place grid position, and was up to 5^th place by lap four – just one position behind the man second in the championship.

Lap six saw Alonso pass his teammate to lead the race, and he quickly got his head down to work on building a gap to Holgado and Piqueras. Several riders crashed out throughout the course of the race – Deniz Öncü (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), Luca Lunetta (BETA Tools SpeedRS Team), Taiyo Furusato (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), and Ayumu Sasaki (Momoven Idrofoglia RW Racing Team) all saw their races end in the gravel trap, but all riders were up and walking away from their respective incidents.

Towards the end of the race, a battle was raging for 7^th place, with Veijer eventually coming out on top ahead of Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – MSI) and Celestino Vietti (BETA Tools SpeedRS Team). Adrian Huertas (Italtrans Racing Team) was ahead of them in 6^th, marking the best result so far in the class for the former World Supersport champion.

Alonso had built up a lead of 1.5 seconds to Holgado only to find Holgado right on his tail following a massive moment where Alonso was very nearly launched from his bike in a near high side with under four laps to go. Luckily, Alonso landed back on his bike and was able to not only hold on to the lead, but to regroup and rebuild the lead over his teammate.

Alonso crossed the line to win his second race of the season, with Holgado in 2^nd, and Piqueras securing his first Moto2 podium in 3^rd place. Guevara was 4^th, with Gonzalez finishing in a lonely 5^th place.

Guevara’s 4^th place finish sees him once again close the gap in the championship – he is now 3.5 points behind Gonzalez with three races remaining.

Moto2 returns to action for the Qatar Grand Prix next weekend – 6^th to 8^th November.

Featured Image: motogp.com