It was a day that could define a career. Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) produced a near-flawless performance at Portimão to seize control of the 2025 Moto2™ title fight, storming to victory in a race full of tension, precision, and poise. The Brazilian crossed the line first with authority, extending his lead in the standings to 24 points ahead of rival Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP), who could only manage sixth. The stage is now perfectly set for a winner-takes-all finale next weekend in Valencia.
Joining Moreira on the podium were two standout rookies: Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who celebrated his first-ever Moto2™ podium with a brilliant second place, and the ever-impressive David Alonso (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team), who made it three consecutive top-three finishes to round out a youthful and dynamic rostrum.
Lightning Start from Moreira as Title Pressure Mounts
From pole position, Moreira knew exactly what was required — a win or second place would be enough to give him breathing room heading into the finale. And he made no mistake. When the lights went out, the Brazilian launched perfectly, snatching the holeshot into Turn 1 ahead of Veijer. Behind them, Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) slipped into third, while Gonzalez found himself in a less-than-ideal sixth after the opening lap.
It was a chaotic start further back. Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing), third in the overall standings, had to sit up to avoid contact at Turn 1 and tumbled down the order to 11th. The Belgian’s early misfortune left his hopes of keeping the title fight alive hanging by a thread.
By Lap 3, the leading group had settled — though “settled” was perhaps too strong a word. The top six riders, including both title contenders, were locked nose-to-tail. On Lap 4, Veijer showed no fear, diving past Moreira into Turn 1 to briefly take the lead — a bold move from the Dutchman in just his first Moto2 season.
Mid-Race Mayhem and a Title Challenger on the Edge
Lap 5 brought drama for Gonzalez. On the exit of Turn 5, he had a heart-stopping moment — his rear tyre letting go just enough to throw him out of the seat and cost him momentum. Before he could recover, Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) slipped past at Turn 8, demoting the Spaniard to seventh.
Meanwhile, Moreira stayed calm in second, shadowing Veijer’s every move. A one-second buffer began to form between the leading quartet and the chasing group, giving the front-runners some breathing space.
By Lap 8, Gonzalez regrouped and launched a tidy move on Celestino Vietti (Beta Tools SpeedRS Team) to reclaim sixth. One lap later, he dispatched Dixon to move into fifth. But Baltus was the man on a mission — charging from 11th to 5th with aggressive passes on Vietti, Dixon, and even Gonzalez. Despite the recovery, the Fantic duo still faced a mountain to climb as the laps ticked down.
Moreira Makes His Move
As the race entered its closing stages, the tension in the Italtrans garage was palpable. With five laps to go, Moreira began to tighten the screws on Veijer. Alonso hovered half a second behind, while Canet was closing in fast. Every point counted now — if Moreira could take the win, the title would all but be his.
Two and a half laps from the flag, the decisive move came. Into Turn 11, Moreira dived neatly up the inside of Veijer, making it stick with championship-level composure. From that moment, he didn’t look back. The rookie pair of Veijer and Alonso were left scrapping over second and third, while Canet lurked, ready to capitalize on any error.
With the win in sight, Moreira displayed the cool-headed maturity of a seasoned veteran — despite being just one race away from MotoGP promotion.
Final Lap: One Hand on the Trophy
The white flag waved, and four riders remained within striking distance. Dixon, running seventh, suffered a heartbreaking crash on the last lap, ending his title hopes and confirming the Fantic duo and the Brit are officially out of championship contention.
Up front, Moreira kept it clean. Corner after corner, he hit his marks perfectly, crossing the finish line to claim a monumental victory — one that puts him on the brink of Moto2 glory.
Veijer followed just behind, celebrating his maiden podium with visible emotion, while Alonso’s third place ensured two rookies shared the rostrum alongside the title favourite. Canet and Baltus completed the top five with a strong team showing that secured Fantic Racing the Moto2™ Teams’ Championship — a well-deserved reward for their consistency across the season.
Gonzalez’s sixth-place finish keeps his slim title hopes alive, though it’s now a must-win scenario in Valencia. One position further back, Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) finished seventh — a result that clinched him the Moto2 Rookie of the Year title, rounding off a standout debut campaign.
All Roads Lead to Valencia
And so, it comes down to this. After months of relentless racing, the 2025 Moto2™ Championship will be decided under the Spanish sun at Circuit Ricardo Tormo. Moreira holds a commanding 24-point advantage — meaning he only needs to finish inside the top 14 to seal the deal. For Gonzalez, it’s all or nothing: victory or bust.
A weekend of tension, drama, and destiny awaits. One race. One crown. One step away from MotoGP.
