Manuel Gonzalez won the Moto2 World Championship in Motegi, Japan on Sunday. Riding his QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2 Kalex on Pirelli Control tyres, the Spaniard won the 12-lap race by 2.535 seconds.
Championship leader, Ai Ogura was the runner-up for MT Helmets – MSI BOSCOSCURO.
Philippe Salac was third in the Elf Mark VDS Racing Team Calex.
American Joe Roberts finished twenty-seventh in his sole sponsor American racing team Calex. Roberts placed Japan fifth in the World Championship points standings.
Ai Ogura leaves Japan with a 60-point lead at the World Championships.
Further, from Dorna’s press release:
Manuel Gonzalez is the Grand Prix winner, beating Ai Ogura and Philippe Salah after a tough Sunday in Japan.
Manuel González (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) is the Grand Prix winner after the race at the Japanese Motocross Grand Prix, with the #18 remaining on slippery tires in difficult conditions. It was a tough Grand Prix that saw González take victory from home hero Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) as he battled through the field on a crucial day for the Moto2™ World Championship. Meanwhile, Philippe Salac (Elf Mark VDS Racing Team) finished his recovery in third after being pitted in the field from 18th.Th On the grid.
At first, it was an incredible start from the polesitter Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team), starting at the front in turn 1. # 96 Alonso Lopez leading from the opening lap (Beta Equipment SpeedUp) and Ogura as it started to rain. Fall in Japan. The red flag went out with the race to restart with the original grid position.
The race restarted for 12 laps, with different choices in terms of tires and a few riders opting for slips, including championship leader Ogura. Once the Grand Prix restarted, it was another impressive start from Dixon, who led ahead of teammate Izan Guevara (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) on wet tyres.
Meanwhile, championship leader Ogura dropped down the order to 14th in the opening round.Th On lap 1. But the home hero began to make up ground as heat built up in the Pirelli tires – dropping him to seventh on lap 2. It was a lot of fun to watch, Ogura making the most of his winning engine to take a place on the podium. later lap.
One of the key moves was at the start of Lap 4, when Ogura grabbed the lead and set the fastest lap. González also began to gain impressive speed on the slacks, battling for second with Jeremy Alcoba (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) and soon moving into the podium positions.
At the front, Gonzalez began to close in on Ogura, cutting the Japanese star’s lead to two seconds. Salak entered the stage by passing Alcoba from 18Th On the grid. It was a tough three-way battle, with Alcoba and RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP’s Zonta Van den Goorbergh in hot pursuit.
The decisive move came on lap 9, when Gonzalez ran over Ogura – dropping the #79 to second. It was incredible speed from the Spaniard when Gonzalez hit the front once – extending a one-second advantage.
In the final lap, González continued his incredible pace, unstoppable and drifting across the line to take his first Moto2™ win. It was an amazing day for Ogura to take second and crucially take a 60 point lead in the championship. After an incredible recovery, the Japanese hero stood on his home podium, defeating Salak who took the final spot on the podium.
Alcoba took the flag in fourth place, 0.137s off the podium in Japan. Xavier Artigas (KLINT Forward Factory Team) posted an impressive sixth place finish as the #52 widened the gap to van den Geerberg in fifth place. Artigas had an impressive day, finishing ahead of Celestino VTT (Red Bull KTM Ajo) for the Italian to finish seventh. Italtrans Racing Team’s Diogo Moreira was eighth at the checkered flag, 0.512s off.
Claiming the final places in the top 10 on Sunday were Alonso Lopez (Beta Equipment Speedup) and Izan Guevara (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team), with the Spaniards both opting for wet tyres. Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) scored 11.ThFermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) took 12Th. Polestar Dixon crossed the flag at 13ThWith Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) and Leaky Molly Husqvarna Intact GP Darin Binder secured the final points.
Now we head to iconic Phillip Island in two weeks time for the Australian GP, where Ogura will get his first chance to become the Moto2™ World Champion.
 is a Grand Prix winner after a showstopping race at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, with the #18 remaining on slick tyres in tricky conditions. It was an intense Grand Prix, which){kind=link}