Celestino Vietti finally gave his home fans the result they had been waiting for. Starting from P2 on the grid, the Beta Tools SpeedRS rider launched perfectly off the line, grabbing the holeshot into Turn 1 and never surrendering control. In front of a packed Misano crowd draped in Italian flags, Vietti produced a flawless ride to claim his first victory of the 2025 season — and his second successive triumph at this very circuit.
Behind him, the podium fight brought its own drama. Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) carved his way forward from fourth on the grid to secure a hard-earned second place, while Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) added another rostrum to his tally after his recent Barcelona success, completing the podium in third.
Lightning Start for Vietti
From the moment the lights went out, Vietti seized control. Diving into Turn 1, he outpaced polesitter Holgado and tucked in ahead of Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) and championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP). The opening lap also delivered heartbreak further back — Jake Dixon (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), who had made a solid launch, was muscled wide at Turn 6 and lost a bundle of positions, tumbling outside the top ten.
By Lap 7, the early chaos had calmed, and a rhythm began to form. Vietti was in command at the front, Holgado shadowing him in second, while Moreira fended off a feisty Gonzalez for third.
Gonzalez vs. Moreira – A Midfield Firefight
The duel for the final podium spot quickly became the story of the middle stages. On Lap 9, Gonzalez lunged aggressively at Turn 14, only to run wide and immediately lose the place back to Moreira. The Spaniard tried again at Turn 1 two laps later, but once more the Brazilian retaliated at Turn 4, forcing Gonzalez to rethink his approach.
Their infighting played perfectly into the hands of Baltus and Senna Agius (Gonzalez’s Dynavolt teammate), who joined the battle and created a four-way scrap. By Lap 11, Gonzalez finally made a move stick at Turn 11, edging ahead of Moreira — but two laps later, Baltus sensed his chance and swept through into third, pushing Gonzalez off the podium once again.
As the front group reshuffled, Moreira continued to lose ground, dropping into the clutches of Agius by Lap 15. The Australian rookie muscled through at Turn 11 to snatch fifth, showing maturity well beyond his years.
Vietti Stretches Clear
While the fights raged behind, Vietti was in his own world. By Lap 15, he had opened a gap of over a second, managing his tyres and pace with perfection. The Italian looked untouchable, feeding off the energy of his home crowd as chants of “Vietti! Vietti!” echoed around Misano.
Holgado tried to hang on but soon had problems of his own, with Baltus closing in fast. The Belgian has been one of the most consistent riders this year, and with four laps remaining, he found a way through on Holgado to take over second place.
Final Shake-Up
In the chasing pack, mistakes began to creep in. Agius slipped wide at Turn 8 on the penultimate lap, allowing Gonzalez back past and costing himself a top-five finish. Moreira, steady and smart, reclaimed fourth and held it to the line, while Gonzalez salvaged sixth — a result that only trims his championship lead slightly, but could prove critical with six rounds to go.
At the flag, Vietti resisted a late push from Baltus to seal an emotional home win — his first of 2025 and his third podium of the year. Baltus’s runner-up finish marked his fifth second-place result of the season, further underlining his consistency, while Holgado banked another solid third, backing up his breakthrough Barcelona victory.
Points and Positions
- 4th: Diogo Moreira — steady and valuable points haul.
- 5th: Senna Agius — showed great speed before a costly error.
- 6th: Manuel Gonzalez — championship leader limits the damage.
- 7th: Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) — gritty ride, still carrying Barcelona injuries.
- 8th: David Alonso (CFMOTO Inde Aspar) — gained three places from the grid.
- 9th: Tony Arbolino (Blu Cru Pramac Yamaha Moto2) — local favourite inside the top ten.
- 10th: Izan Guevara — steady weekend alongside Arbolino.
Jake Dixon, after his early off-track excursion, never fully recovered and finished a disappointing 16th, outside the points.
Championship Picture
With Vietti becoming the 10th different winner of the 2025 Moto2 season — a record — the title battle remains wide open. Gonzalez still holds the advantage, but every round now carries extra weight. For Vietti, this victory isn’t just a win at home; it’s a statement that he’s back in the hunt. For Baltus, another podium keeps him in striking distance. And for Holgado, the rookie sensation continues to prove his Barcelona triumph was no one-off.
Next stop: Motegi, Japan, where the flyaway leg begins — and the championship fight tightens further.
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