Moto 2 Race Thailand

Gonzalez holds off Guevara after red-flag chaos to win Moto2 season opener in Thailand

The opening Moto2 race of 2026 at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram delivered high tension, multiple stoppages, and a decisive late duel between two of the class favourites. In the end, Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) emerged victorious after a fierce battle with Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2), securing victory in a dramatically shortened Grand Prix. Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) completed the podium after consistently running at the front throughout the disrupted contest.

The result marked a strong start to Gonzalez’s championship campaign and reinforced his status as one of the leading contenders after finishing runner-up in last year’s Moto2 title fight. It also continued his impressive record at Buriram, a circuit known for producing close finishes due to its heavy braking zones and long straights.

Guevara launches strongly as early incidents interrupt the race

Starting from second on the grid, Guevara made an excellent launch when the lights went out, claiming the holeshot and leading the field into the opening corners. However, his advantage was short-lived. Approaching Turn 3, both Guevara and pole-sitter Senna Agius ran wide under braking, allowing Holgado—who had started from the second row—to slip through and take the lead.

The opening laps already showed how competitive the leading group would be, with multiple riders swapping positions as tyres and fuel loads settled. But the race was soon interrupted. On lap three, a crash involving Agius, David Alonso, and Filip Salac at Turn 9 brought out the red flags. Alonso required medical evaluation for arm pain, while Agius and Salac were able to return to the pitlane. Fortunately, neither rider sustained serious injuries, but the incident forced officials to halt proceedings.

As a result, the race distance was reduced, setting up a shorter and more aggressive restart where tyre preservation would become less of a factor and outright pace more important.

Second red flag adds further tension

When the race restarted over a reduced 11-lap distance, Holgado once again made a clean getaway and led into the first corner. However, the restart barely had time to settle before more drama unfolded. At Turn 3, Sergio Garcia lost the front of his bike and crashed, leaving rookie Luca Lunetta with nowhere to escape the incident. The crash forced race control to stop the race again, bringing out a second red flag.

With time running short, officials shortened the race further to just seven laps for the final restart. This effectively turned the Grand Prix into an all-out sprint, placing enormous pressure on riders to attack immediately rather than manage tyres over a longer distance.

Multiple restarts are particularly challenging in Moto2, where riders must repeatedly manage clutch temperatures, tyre pressures, and mental focus. The stop-start nature of the event created an unpredictable scenario, favouring riders able to quickly regain rhythm.

Four-rider lead group forms in decisive restart

When the race finally resumed for the last time, Holgado again surged into the lead off the line. But Guevara responded quickly, reclaiming first place with a decisive move at Turn 3. Gonzalez, who had been steadily positioning himself just behind the leaders, soon moved past Holgado to take second and began closing on Guevara.

Behind them, Ivan Ortola remained firmly in contention, forming a leading quartet separated by less than a second. Each rider understood the importance of track position, as Buriram’s layout makes defensive riding possible but leaves little room for mistakes.

Gonzalez showed patience, shadowing Guevara closely while studying his braking points and lines through the technical middle sector. Rather than forcing an early move, he waited for the right opportunity, ensuring he remained within striking distance as the laps ticked down.

Gonzalez makes decisive move in closing stages

The decisive moment came on the penultimate lap. Approaching Turn 7, one of the circuit’s heavy braking zones, Gonzalez launched a clean and committed pass on Guevara to take the lead. The move was precise and controlled, leaving Guevara little room to respond immediately.

Guevara refused to concede, staying glued to Gonzalez’s rear wheel and attempting several counterattacks through the following corners. He looked for an opening at Turns 8, 9, and 12, hoping to regain the lead before the final lap.

As the race entered its final circulation, Gonzalez maintained a narrow advantage. Guevara made one last attempt at the final corner, sweeping around the outside in a bold move that would have given him superior drive onto the main straight. However, Gonzalez defended calmly, maintaining enough momentum to cross the finish line first.

The victory mirrored Gonzalez’s strong performances at the start of the previous season and confirmed that both rider and team had carried their form into 2026.

Holgado secures podium as leading group breaks clear

Behind the leading pair, Holgado delivered a composed ride to secure third place and his first podium of the season. Despite briefly leading earlier in the race, he was unable to match the late-race pace of Gonzalez and Guevara but comfortably held off the chasing pack.

Ortola finished fourth after remaining competitive throughout, while Collin Veijer completed the top five following a consistent performance that saw him gradually move forward during the shortened race.

Further down the order, Celestino Vietti finished sixth after running just outside podium contention, followed by Alonso Lopez, who gained positions following the earlier interruptions. Daniel Muñoz, Deniz Öncü, and Ayumu Sasaki completed the top ten, each benefiting from strong restarts and avoiding the incidents that disrupted others.

Several riders who had shown strong pace earlier in the weekend were unable to capitalise due to the repeated stoppages, highlighting how unpredictable Moto2 races can become when interrupted.

Important early statement in the championship fight

Gonzalez’s victory gives him an immediate advantage in the 2026 Moto2 standings and reinforces his reputation as one of the most complete riders in the class. His ability to remain calm through two red flags, execute a decisive overtake under pressure, and defend against a determined rival demonstrated both racecraft and composure.

For Guevara, second place represents a valuable points haul and confirmation that he has the pace to challenge for victories this season. Holgado’s podium finish also signals that he could become a regular contender after stepping up his performance in recent seasons.

With the championship now underway, the dramatic season opener in Thailand has already shown that the Moto2 field remains tightly matched. If Buriram is any indication, the battle for the 2026 title is likely to be intense, unpredictable, and decided by the smallest of margins.

Update: David Alonso

A quick update following David Alonso’s crash earlier today in Buriram. The incident initially looked extremely serious, with Alonso falling heavily during the Moto2 race and requiring immediate medical attention.

Thankfully, early reports indicate that his condition is far better than first feared. Considering the severity of the crash, the fact he has avoided major injury is being described by many in the paddock as nothing short of remarkable.

Latest via Aspar Team Moto 2 Press Release: (David) “I’m fine and fortunately I haven’t broken anything. I was very scared because it was a very heavy crash. I felt the impact and when I was in the gravel I couldn’t move. I felt like I had no control. I’m quite sore all over, especially my left foot, right leg and right shoulder, but I’m fine. Now I want to rest and recover.”