The Moto2 Championship hangs in the balance leading into Phillip Island, with Senna Agius looking to repeat last year’s breakthrough podium on home soil

PODIUM CONTENDERS

1 – Manuel Gonzalez

Gonzalez has big pressure on his shoulders. As well as defending a considerable lead in Moto2 entering the overseas races, he feels he is representing a different career choice. Unlike those he’s fighting week in-week out, the Spaniard found access to Moto3 blocked by a lack of funding, which forced him into an alternative route. That proved successful, as he won the World Supersport 300 title in 2019 before transitioning seamlessly to a 600 (seventh in 2020, third in 2021). Then came the brave step over to Moto2.

Since then, he’s performed with distinction and improved year-on-year – not easy when getting accustomed to a prototype chassis and learning a host of new tracks. Third overall in 2024, he immediately clicked with the IntactGP squad, a new Kalex chassis and WP frame last November. And while he’s not always been the fastest name in 2025, he’s been the most consistent.

Nine podiums and four wins from the first 16 rounds were enough to lead the championship by more than a race’s worth – but not to earn a call up to MotoGP for 2026. To his credit, Gonzalez didn’t let that affect him. Unlike his title rivals, he’s limited the damage on his bad days, saving precarious situations in Germany (fourth) and Barcelona (fourth) with mature comebacks. Expect a podium push here.

2 – Aron Canet

Season 2025 was meant to herald a new Canet era. The Spaniard’s speed has always been without question yet consistency let him down in title fights in 2022 and 2023.

That looked to have changed in the first part of 2025. Even when attempting to recapture the sweet feeling from the second half of the previous season with Kalex’s new frame, he was never lower than seventh in each of the first 11 races. For a change, he was finishing fourth on his bad days, all the while insisting he’d clean up when he regained his best feeling.

Yet Canet’s form has tailed off since the European summer. Whether he’s been carrying an injury from one of a number of fast falls, has lost faith in his current team’s ability to perfect his setting, or has been distracted by a move to Marc VDS and a Boscoscuro chassis in 2026, we’re still waiting to see the best of Aron this term.

He crashed out of races in Brno and Barcelona and has looked well off it in the ones he finished. Only misfortune for Gonzalez has kept him in it. Phillip Island could offer a reprieve. He’s finished second in each of his past two visits here and counts the track among his favourites. Definitely one to watch.

3 – Diogo Moreira

Few could have predicted just how far the Brazilian has come in 2025. Yes, he was Moto2 Rookie of the Year last year. But a single podium finish across a 20-race season did little to indicate a title challenge and two MotoGP factory offers would be forthcoming.

From the first race, Moreira showed the consistency needed to be one of the top names in the class. And he’s generally gone from strength to strength. He won his first Moto2 race at Assen after a tight, late scrap with Canet before another in Austria.

However, it was his comeback from 25th on the grid at the Sachsenring to a potential victory that really caught the eye. It ended in disaster – Moreira was hit from behind after running off track – but few riders, past or present, could have mustered such a showing, indicating just how far his natural ability runs.

Both Honda and Yamaha were soon after him over the summer break, with both believed to have offered him a three-year MotoGP deal. In the end he plumped for a spot at LCR in 2027. And performances in recent weeks suggest the 21-year-old could still step up as world champion.

DARK HORSES

1 – David Alonso

It was never going to be easy, going from 14 wins across the Moto3 season to scrambling and fighting in Moto2. Alonso has performed in fits and starts in 2025. But there has been enough in those starts to get excited. Like his maiden Moto2 podium in a hectic last-lap fight at Silverstone. And his wild comeback from 11th to win in Hungary. Alonso’s still mastering the art of qualifying and starting. Work that out and he’ll be more than formidable here. He won last year’s Moto3 race in dominant fashion. Expect him to be strong at PI.

2 – Jake Dixon

Season 2025 was supposed to be Jake’s successful swansong in grand prix racing before switching across to WorldSBK next year – an impression that was backed up by him winning two of the first three races. Yet there have been a few dips from there. Podiums at the likes of the Sachsenring and Barcelona were punctured by erratic showings at Mugello (17th) and the Red Bull Ring (20th) as he’s struggled to get the mercurial Boscoscuro chassis to stop as he wants. The Briton has still shown he can be a match for anyone on his day. And his Moto2 podium here in 2022 is evidence that he can be fast at PI.

GREEN AND GOLD HOPE

Senna Agius

It’s been an up and down year. The highs have been unforgettable: a maiden GP win at Silverstone, as well as podiums in Thailand and Spain. But there have been a few more inconsistencies than Agius would have envisioned. Yet it’s worth remembering he’s still only 20 in just his second full season in grand prix. His current squad saw enough in his talents to hand him a contract for 2026 back in July. And he comes to Phillip Island knowing what it’s like to score a podium after last year’s heroics. Should be a strong podium contender.