Here's the thing about late-race pace: when a machine is hooked up just right, nobody is catching it. MotoGP-bound Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team) and his #96 bike put on an absolute masterclass at the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar, checking out to win by 2.2s. It is his second victory of the season, following up on a P2 finish last weekend in Malaysia with a stunning drive that left the rest to fight for the scraps.
Behind the leader, a fierce battle for P2 erupted between Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – MSI)—who had charged all the way from P14 on the grid—and polesitter Alex Escrig (KLINT Racing Team). Ortola managed to pip Escrig in a thrilling drag race to the line after getting a brilliant launch out of the final corner.
Meanwhile, the championship picture was completely upended. Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2), sitting second in the title race, made a solid start from 10th on the grid to run as high as P7, but began drifting backward. Then came heartbreak on Lap 14. A sudden problem with the Spaniard's bike going into Turn 1 forced him out of the race, handing him his first DNF since the 2025 Japanese GP. Cruel in the extreme for the #28.
While Guevara tumbled down the order before his retirement, his championship rival Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) was having his own struggles to stay near the front. Gonzalez launched well from the middle of the second row to grab P3 initially, but a chaotic opening lap saw Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) tag Celestino Vietti’s (BETA Tools SpeedRS Team) Boscoscuro and crash out of the top six. Gonzalez was soon pushed back by Daniel Muñoz (Italtrans Racing Team) and David Alonso (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team), eventually slipping down to P6 by the chequered flag.
Up front, the race belonged to Holgado. Once he stole P1 from Escrig, he instantly gapped the field by 1.2s and then 1.6s, leaving no doubt about who had the best package on track. Alonso crossed the line 1.8s behind the Ortola-Escrig scrap to take P4, with Muñoz rounding out the top five in his Triumph-Kalex.
Behind Gonzalez in P6, Senna Agius finished 0.6s away from his teammate in P7, and Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) equalled his career-best Moto2 finish in P8. Filip Salač (OnlyFans American Racing Team) and Vietti—who salvaged a top-ten finish despite his early collision—rounded out the top 10.
When the dust settles on the desert, Gonzalez holds a 13.5-point advantage over Guevara with just two rounds remaining. Match point awaits Manuel Gonzalez in Portimao next time out, where outscoring his rival by 12 points will seal the 2026 crown.
Moto2
