Manuel Gonzalez Fights Through the Field for Fourth Victory of the 2025 Moto2 Season

Winning from the third row is never a simple task, but Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) made it look effortless on Sunday at Mugello. Starting from eighth on the grid, the Spanish rider delivered a composed and commanding ride to claim his fourth win of the 2025 Moto2 campaign — solidifying his position at the top of the championship standings.

Gonzalez’s victory didn’t come easy, though. He was made to work for it by a resurgent Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2), who pushed him all the way to the chequered flag. Arenas ultimately secured his first podium of the season with a well-earned second place, while Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) edged out Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) in a bruising battle for third.

At lights out, polesitter Moreira got off the line cleanly and led into the opening corners — but the real fireworks came from Gonzalez. He charged through the field with razor-sharp intent, making up five positions in the first lap alone to slot into third. That became fourth just moments later, however, as Canet dived up the inside at Turn 10 in one of many aggressive early moves.

From the outset, the front of the race was a pressure cooker. By Lap 3, the top nine riders were packed within just over a second, with the main chasing group less than a second further back. Mugello was delivering another classic.

By Lap 7 of 19, Arenas had taken the lead with Gonzalez and Canet breathing down his neck, and Moreira sitting just behind in fourth. A small breakaway had formed — the lead quartet beginning to distance themselves from Filip Salač (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and a charging pack that included Izan Guevara (BLUCRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo).

Gonzalez briefly snatched the lead mid-race, only for Arenas to respond immediately, reclaiming the top spot. But Gonzalez wasn’t finished. By Lap 11, he was back at the front — and this time, it looked like he meant to stay there. Lap after lap, he increased his pace and began to stretch the gap to Arenas. By the time there were six laps remaining, the lead had crept above half a second. Two laps later, it was over a full second, and the rest of the field had no answer.

While Gonzalez cruised toward victory, the real drama unfolded behind. Canet and Moreira were engaged in a relentless scrap for the final podium position, trading paint and positions through several sectors. The fight was intense but fair, with elbows out and fairings brushing through the faster corners.

As that brawl raged, Italian fan favourite Celestino Vietti (Beta Tools SpeedUp Racing) sensed an opportunity. With the home crowd behind him, Vietti closed the gap to the dueling pair in the final stages, looking for a way through. In the end, though, Canet held strong, defending his line to claim third after an exhausting showdown. He crossed the line just ahead of Moreira, who managed to keep Vietti at bay for fourth.

Vietti had to settle for fifth at his home Grand Prix, while Öncü and Guevara followed closely in sixth and seventh, respectively. Reigning Moto3 World Champion David Alonso (CFMOTO European Privilege Aspar Team) rode a consistent race to finish eighth, continuing his steady adaptation to Moto2.

Rounding out the top ten were Joe Roberts and Marcos Ramirez, both representing the OnlyFans American Racing Team. Roberts had shown flashes of strong pace throughout the weekend but wasn’t quite able to challenge the front group on Sunday.

Gonzalez’s win — by a comfortable 1.4 seconds over Arenas — further cements his position as the rider to beat this season. His ability to work through the grid, manage pressure, and control the pace once in front is making him look more like a champion with every round.

Official MotoGP Press Release