A lights to flag victory and extending his Championship lead, Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) once again showed why he’s a favourite for the title in 2026. The Spaniard bagged a third win of the year and a sixth podium in seven GPs ahead of a heroic fight back from Celestino Vietti (MB Conveyors SpeedRS Team) saw him take a home podium in second whilst Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) rounded out the order.
Lights out and it was a mega start from polesitter Gonzalez, easing into the lead to grab the holeshot. As the field sorted themselves out, there were some early fallers with Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) crashing out before a separate incident involving Aron Canet (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and Xabi Zurutuza (KLINT Racing Team) fell at Turn 7 seeing both riders crash out. A lap later and front row-starter Alex Escrig (KLINT Factory Racing) was taken out by Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) on the exit of Turn 3 for which the latter received a Long Lap Penalty.
At the front, Ortola had charged up the order; after a brilliant start saw him in the top four on the opening lap, the Spaniard was now on the rear wheel of fellow countryman and Grand Prix leader Gonzalez from tenth on the grid. Just over three seconds back, Filip Salac (OnlyFans American Racing Team) was in a head-to-head with Holgado a battle for the final podium place. However, it was as the Grand Prix entered the second half that Ortola’s pace dropped off and Gonzalez’s lead was now over 1.5s. Behind, Holgado got P3 ahead of Salac with the Czech now being closed down by Senna Agius (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) behind.
Into the closing stages and there were changes in the top six; Agius finally caught and passed Salac and half a lap later, the #12 had been dispatched by Vietti. Ahead, Ortola had been usurped out of P2 by Holgado before heartbreak for the #4, who suffered a technical problem and was out less than 10km from the finish. Vietti was on a mission as he sniffed a podium, grabbing P3 from Agius with a lap and a half to go before pouncing at Scarperia on the final lap to bag P2 from Holgado. At the final corner, Agius got underneath the Spaniard too but it’d be a big run to the line to sort it all out for good.
At the front, nobody could keep up with Gonzalez who cruised to victory at the Italian GP for a second consecutive season. Vietti’s comeback was complete: 16th to P2 at the chequered flag, a mighty performance by the Italian at home to secure a third rostrum of the year and a second on the spin. Holgado managed to slipstream his way back into third on the run to the line, edging out Agius by 0.017s. A third top ten in a row and a best finish of the year for Salac, who bagged a first top five since Aragon last season.
Despite his Long Lap Penalty, Lopez was valiant to take sixth place ahead of Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2), the #28 holding on to second place in the standings but now more than 30 points adrift of Gonzalez at the top of the standings. From 19th to P8, Barry Baltus (REDS Fantic Racing) got his second top ten of the season whilst Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Deniz Öncü (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) rounded out the top ten.
Onto Hungary then with a trip to central Europe in the next days for next weekend! See you there!
Moto2 Italian GP full results!