Agius Charges to Thai Moto2 Podium After Penalty Drama

Gonzalez leads from start to finish, Canet fights back to second after poor start

Manuel Gonzales delivered a dominant performance to win the Thai Grand Prix, controlling the race from the front as drama unfolded behind him. The intense Thai heat and grueling track conditions tested the riders, but Gonzales remained composed and untouchable, eventually winning by over three seconds.

The race began with Senna Agius making a lightning start, surging into third place. Meanwhile, both Brad Binder and Izan Guevara were handed double long lap penalties for a jump start, giving Agius a comfortable gap back to fourth as the leaders traded places ahead. Celestino Vietti and Gonzales engaged in a fierce battle for the lead, allowing Agius to close in and create a three-rider fight at the front.

As the laps ticked by, Gonzales proved to have electric pace, slowly stretching out a gap to Vietti, while Agius fought to stay in touch. Further back, Aron Canet struggled off the line but was working hard to recover, though he couldn’t break free from Diogo Moreira, who looked to have better pace at this stage.

On Lap 11, the race took a dramatic turn when Agius ran into the back of Vietti, sending the Italian crashing out. Agius was forced wide, allowing both Canet and Moreira to slip past as the stewards swiftly handed him a long lap penalty. With a significant gap back to fifth, Agius managed to serve his penalty without losing fourth place, returning to the race behind Moreira as Gonzales extended his lead to 3.5 seconds.

What followed was a stunning fightback. With seven laps remaining, Agius put the hammer down, slashing Moreira’s advantage from 2.6 seconds down to just 1 second within a handful of laps. Setting some of the fastest laps of the race, he closed in on Moreira at blistering speed, forcing a thrilling battle for the final podium position.

The showdown came in the final stages, with Agius making his move into Turn 12, only for Moreira to fight back immediately. A relentless duel ensued, with Moreira throwing everything at it, but in the final laps, Agius managed to hold onto third despite intense pressure.

Gonzales crossed the line three seconds clear, with Canet recovering superbly to take second, while Agius claimed a remarkable podium—a brilliant comeback despite his collision with Vietti and subsequent long lap penalty.

Thai Moto2 Race