Moto2 and Moto3 from Aragon
Words and images courtesy MGP
MOTO2
It was another Moto2 showstopper at the Gran Premio GoPro de Aragon, with Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) storming to a second victory of the season, holding off Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) as the Italian got back on the podium for the first time in 2024. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) topped off a weekend to remember in his rookie Moto2 season, becoming the first Turkish rider to finish on the podium in the intermediate class since Kenan Sofuoglu in 2011.
Polesitter Dixon claimed the holeshot at the start, but Arbolino hit the front on Lap 4 in a big group battle. A couple of laps later though, the Brit made the decisive move to take back the lead and start pushing to break the group.
Meanwhile, there would soon be drama for Fermin Aldeguer (Sync SpeedUp), who suffered a crash on Lap 7 after contact with Öncü – leaving the #54 with zero points on Sunday. He wouldn’t be the only key name to fail to score either, with points leader Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) battling outside the points, getting an LLP and then pulling in.
Meanwhile, Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) was on the verge of points as he returns form injury, entering the top 15 at the end of Lap 7. Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) soon dropped back towards Ogura too after contact with OnlyFans American Racing Team’s Joe Roberts on the entry to Turn 16. Roberts was later handed a Long Lap for the incident, dropping the American to eighth… and on the very final lap he then became another key Championship contender to take nil points, sliding off.
As Öncü fought back following the contact with Aldeguer that had sent him wide, Alonso Lopez (Sync SpeedUp) became the final hurdle before a podium position for the Turkish rider. Once past, Öncü was able to make enough of a cushion to secure that maiden Moto2™ podium.
Up ahead, Dixon was able to hold Arbolino at bay and then find some margin in the latter stages to pull out 1.7 seconds by the flag. That puts him 43 points off the top now, in fifth behind Roberts. Arbolino’s second was still a first rostrum of 2024, and for Öncü it was a stunner too.
Lopez, meanwhile, missed out on the podium but that P4 is a valuable haul as only Dixon, in the top five in the title fight, outscored him. The #21 is now third overall. Ogura managed to charge up to eighth, however, closing teammate Garcia’s lead down to just 12 points and staying ahead of Lopez.
Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™), Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) and Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team) were next up, ahead of Ogura in P8. Darryn Binder (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) and Vietti took the final spots inside the top 10.
It’s now just 12 points in it, so join us in Misano as the Championship battle begins to heat up at the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini in just one week!
MOTO3
The Gran Premio GoPro de Aragon saw Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) make a little history, taking his own maiden win and in doing so becoming the 400th different winner in Grand Prix history. After David Alonso (CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team) shot off into an early lead and made a gap, Rueda managed was one of those able to hunt him down, get past and then take his own turn leading from the front, able to hold off and then pull away in the latter laps.
Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) came home second after leading the charge for the chasing pack, with Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) the final rider able to arrive at and overhaul Alonso in the latter stages. For the Italian it’s a maiden Grand Prix podium rewarding an impressive season so far.
Alonso shot off the line and had impressive pace in the opening stages, earning some clear space on track before Veijer was able to cut three seconds back to nothing and pounce on Lap 12, demoting Alonso as Rueda and Lunetta also began to edge closer.
In a four-way fight at the front, Rueda then took over in the lead on Lap 13. Entering the final lap, Veijer was less than one second behind but the #99 pushed on to open up some breathing space and secure his first win. Lunetta caught and passed Alonso, demoting the Colombian to fourth.
Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) rounded out the top five, just ahead of Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia). The #72 showed a strong pace in the opening stages on Sunday, and finished ahead of David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports).
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Xabi Zurutuza was eighth, taking his best Grand Prix finish in an incredible result for the rookie. Meanwhile, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) was down in ninth as Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team’s Matteo Bertelle took the final spot inside the top 10. Further back, Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) had a tough Grand Prix, finishing P12 and dropping to third in the Championship as Veijer takes over in second.