A dramatic Moto2™ encounter saw Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) claim Moto2™ honours at Sepang in a red-flagged Grand Prix of Malaysia. Dixon managed to hit the front on Lap 3 of the restart and never looked back, finishing ahead of David Alonso (CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team) and Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing). The pendulum swung again in the title race too, as Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) fell from a top five place with just a few laps to go; chief title rival Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) finished fifth and thus leads the Championship for the first time in 2025 with his two-point deficit converted into a nine-point advantage.
Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team) got the dream launch in the original start but further back, there was drama for Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team), who fell on the exit of Turn 5. This brought out the red flag and whilst the American was able to walk away, everyone would need to go again in a shortened 11-lap scrap for honours. On the second restart, it was a carbon copy as Holgado again grabbed the holeshot whilst Dixon battled intensely behind with 2020 Moto3 World Champion and arch-rival Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2). By Turn 14, the #96 was through and began hunting down Holgado.
At Turn 4 on Lap 3, the British star made his move into the lead, getting the job done and then setting a relentless pace to break away. The scrap was further behind as Gonzalez had his hands full with Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing), with the Belgian still in title contention and thus not giving an inch to the #18. Behind, Moreira was fighting his way through. Having previously had contact with Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) at Turn 6 whilst fighting for P9, he’d moved up to P6 with just four laps to go, passing a fading Arenas.
With just one place between the two title heavyweights, it all came to a crashing halt for Gonzalez who fell at Turn 15 with just three to go. The long-time Championship leader dropped the ball at the wrong time and with a clear view of it, Moreira knew this was his chance. Inheriting fifth, all he had to do was get to the finish, whilst Gonzalez’s crash had also brought Baltus and Dixon back into mathematical contention.
Across the line, it was a seventh Moto2™ victory and a third of the season for the Brit, who is now 41 behind new Championship leader Moreira with 50 remaining. Alonso took his fourth podium of the season and his second in as many rounds, ahead of Baltus who, like Dixon, remains in mathematical contention and is 35 points from the lead. Holgado strengthened his grasp on finishing 2025 as top rookie with fourth, whilst Moreira leads the way after his P5.
Arenas took the chequered flag in sixth place whilst Daniel Muñoz (Red Bull KTM Ajo) finished seventh. Alex Escrig (KLINT Forward Factory Team) was magnificent in P8 for his first points since Austin, whilst Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Tony Arbolino (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) rounded out the top ten.