Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) returned to winning form in a tense, red-flag-affected Moto2™ race at the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia. The British rider mastered the restart to perfection, surging into the lead on Lap 3 and never looking back as he stormed to victory ahead of David Alonso (CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team) and Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing).
It was a day that once again flipped the script in the championship chase. Title contender Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) crashed out from a strong top-five position with just three laps remaining, handing rival Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) the overall lead in the standings for the first time in 2025. The Brazilian’s steady fifth-place finish turned his two-point deficit into a nine-point advantage heading into the final two rounds.
Red Flag Drama and a Restarted Sprint to the Finish
The opening laps at Sepang were nothing short of chaotic. Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team) rocketed off the line in the original start to seize the holeshot, but disaster struck moments later when Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) crashed heavily on the exit of Turn 5. The American was fortunately unhurt, but his incident brought out the red flag, forcing officials to halt proceedings and prepare for a shortened 11-lap restart.
When the race got underway again, Holgado repeated his perfect launch to lead through the opening corners, while behind him, Jake Dixon immediately went on the attack. Locked in a fierce early battle with 2020 Moto3 World Champion Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2), Dixon wasted no time asserting himself. By Turn 14, he had cleared Arenas and set his sights on the race leader.
Dixon Takes Control
The decisive moment came at Turn 4 on Lap 3. Dixon made a precise move down the inside of Holgado, taking control of the race. Once in front, the Brit began to edge away with metronomic consistency, putting in a string of fast laps that quickly stretched his advantage.
Behind him, chaos was unfolding among the championship contenders. Gonzalez was locked in an intense fight with Barry Baltus — the Belgian determined to keep his own title hopes alive — while Moreira found himself charging through the midfield after early contact with Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) at Turn 6. Undeterred, the Brazilian steadily picked off rivals, climbing to sixth with four laps to go after dispatching a fading Arenas.
Gonzalez Falls, Title Battle Turns
Just as it looked like the front-running order might stabilize, heartbreak struck for Gonzalez. Pushing to stay within striking distance of the podium, the Spaniard lost the front at Turn 15 with only three laps remaining, sliding out of contention and out of the lead of the World Championship. It was a costly error at a crucial moment — and one that changed the entire dynamic of the season.
From there, Moreira only needed to bring his Italtrans machine home safely. With Gonzalez sidelined, the Brazilian’s fifth-place finish was enough to move him nine points clear in the title race. Meanwhile, Dixon’s victory — his third of the 2025 campaign — kept him mathematically alive in the championship, 41 points behind with 50 left to play for. Baltus’s podium keeps him in the hunt too, just 35 points adrift of the new leader.
Alonso and Holgado Impress, Arenas and Muñoz Battle On
David Alonso continued his superb late-season form with another measured ride to second — his fourth podium of 2025 and his second in consecutive rounds — as he closes in on the championship’s top five. Baltus rounded out the rostrum after a typically gritty performance, further solidifying Fantic Racing’s reputation as this year’s dark horse team.
Daniel Holgado, who led the early stages, crossed the line in fourth and further cemented his position as the top rookie of 2025, while Moreira’s fifth was enough to secure control of the title chase. Arenas finished sixth after losing pace in the final laps, just ahead of Daniel Muñoz (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who continued his solid run of top-ten results in seventh.
Further down the order, Alex Escrig (KLINT Forward Factory Team) produced one of his best rides of the season to claim eighth — his first points since Austin. Behind him, Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Tony Arbolino (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) completed the top ten.
Looking Ahead
With just two rounds remaining, the Moto2™ title fight is now finely balanced between Moreira, Gonzalez, Baltus, and an outside-chancing Dixon. The British rider’s Sepang triumph — his seventh career Moto2 win — was a reminder of his pace and resilience when it counts.
All eyes now turn to the Algarve International Circuit in Portugal, where the penultimate round promises even more fireworks. With only nine points separating the top two, and mathematical chances still open for others, the stage is set for a thrilling end to the 2025 season.
Check out the full results from the Malaysian Grand Prix and stay tuned for all the latest from Portimão.
