Senna Agius (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) delivered a landmark performance at Phillip Island, becoming the first Australian in Moto2™ history to win on home soil. Exactly one year after earning his maiden World Championship podium, the 19-year-old went one better — converting local pride and sheer pace into a career-defining victory in front of an ecstatic Australian crowd.
Behind him, the battle for the podium and the championship was fierce. David Alonso (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team) produced a superb comeback to take second, while Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) claimed third — trimming seven valuable points from the championship lead of Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP). With Gonzalez finishing seventh after a bruising midfield fight, just two points now separate the title rivals with three rounds remaining.
When the lights went out, the atmosphere was electric. Agius rocketed off the line from the front row, storming into the lead at Turn 1 ahead of polesitter Moreira and championship leader Gonzalez. Alonso slotted into fourth, just ahead of Ayumu Sasaki (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP), forming a tightly bunched top five.
The early laps were tense. On Lap 3, Agius ran slightly deep into Turn 1 but managed to hold the lead as Moreira dropped to fourth behind Gonzalez and Alonso. Sasaki tried to pounce on the Brazilian at Miller Corner but couldn’t make it stick. The front group jostled lap after lap, with barely a bike length between them.
By Lap 8, Alonso muscled his way past Gonzalez into second, while Moreira shadowed the pair, clearly hunting a way through. One lap later, the Brazilian slipped up the inside at Turn 4 to take third from the Spaniard — but Alonso soon ran wide at Turn 10, handing both rivals back their positions. That mistake allowed Agius to stretch his advantage to over two seconds, and the home hero began to break free.
The halfway mark saw the action intensify. Gonzalez drafted past Moreira down the straight to reclaim second, but the Brazilian immediately responded, retaking the spot at Turn 2. Behind them, Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) launched an ambitious charge, battling Alonso and Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) in a physical mid-race scrap that had fans on their feet.
The title contenders were locked in a duel of their own. On Lap 13, Moreira briefly took second from Gonzalez, only for the Spaniard to snatch it back moments later. But the relentless pressure began to tell. By Lap 15, Moreira again muscled ahead, while Alonso loomed large behind. One lap later, the reigning Moto3™ World Champion forced his way into third — and then into second with a bold move at Turn 1. Gonzalez, struggling for grip, dropped behind Dixon and was soon bumped wide by teammate Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team), who surged into fourth on Lap 20.
With three laps to go, the fight for the podium was still wide open. Holgado’s charge faltered after a mistake at Turn 2, while Moreira clung to third and Gonzalez slipped to fifth. At that stage, the provisional points difference between the two title rivals had shrunk to just four. Moments later, Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing) compounded Gonzalez’s woes by stealing sixth — and a crucial extra championship point.
As the final lap began, Agius was untouchable. Smooth, consistent, and unflustered, the young Australian cruised through the final corners to take a historic home victory — the first for an Aussie in the Moto2™ era. The Phillip Island grandstands erupted as Alonso crossed the line in second, and Moreira sealed third to slash Gonzalez’s championship lead even further.
Holgado’s late charge earned him fourth ahead of Dixon, while Baltus finished sixth — just ahead of the dejected championship leader Gonzalez. Arenas, Aron Canet (Fantic Racing), and Sasaki completed the top ten, with Adrian Huertas (Italtrans Racing Team) narrowly missing out in eleventh.
For Agius, it was a fairytale result — a moment of redemption and reward after a season of flashes and frustration. For the championship, it was a game-changer: with just two points between Gonzalez and Moreira, the Moto2™ crown is now wide open as the paddock heads to Sepang for another crucial showdown next week.
