Moto2 Sunday Misano Round 13

Ogura climbs to Championship summit with San Marino victory

Ai Ogura Claims Third Win of 2024, Takes Moto2™ Championship Lead

Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) secured his third victory of the 2024 season, overtaking Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) by 0.6 seconds to take the lead in the Moto2™ World Championship standings. Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) completed the podium, marking his second consecutive top-three finish.

Starting from pole, Arbolino grabbed the holeshot, while Ogura swiftly moved up to P2 by passing Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) on the first lap. Title contender Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) crashed out in the final corner of the opening lap, while Canet overtook Vietti to claim P3.

The top three riders settled into a competitive rhythm, with Arbolino leading Canet by 0.4 seconds and Ogura trailing closely in P3. By Lap 5 of 22, Vietti had fallen 0.9 seconds behind in P4, with Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) closely following in P5.

With 13 laps remaining, the race dynamic shifted as Canet overtook Arbolino for the lead. Arbolino’s subsequent wide run at Turn 14 allowed Ogura to slip into P2. The trio maintained their positions for the next few laps, with Vietti still trailing by 1.2 seconds.

On Lap 18, Ogura began pressuring Canet, with Arbolino staying within striking distance, 0.6 seconds behind. The two leaders engaged in a battle at Turn 14, where Ogura briefly took the lead but ran wide, allowing Canet to reclaim P1.

However, Ogura made a decisive move at Turn 10 with four laps to go, taking the lead and holding off challenges from Arbolino and Vietti. Unfortunately, Vietti crashed unhurt at the penultimate corner, reducing the leading group to three riders.

With two laps remaining, Ogura led Canet by 0.2 seconds, while Arbolino trailed by nearly a second. On the final lap, Ogura executed a flawless performance to secure a crucial victory, ascending to the top of the Championship standings. Canet finished a close second, while Arbolino completed the podium, finishing four seconds behind Ogura.

Gonzalez achieved a solid P4 finish, and Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) impressively climbed from P14 on the grid to claim P5. Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) took P6, and Filip Salač (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) delivered his best result of the season in P7. The top 10 was rounded out by Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team), Albert Arenas (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™), and Darryn Binder (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP).

With Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) finishing in a disappointing P12, Ogura now holds the Championship lead, with 11 points separating him from his teammate as the grid heads to the Emilia-Romagna GP at Misano. The title race is set to intensify—who will emerge on top?

RESULTS

Official MotoGP Press Release