Arón Canet emerged victorious in the Moto2 Solidarity GP of Barcelona. This Sunday’s race featured a breathtaking final lap, with the battle for victory and podium positions going down to the wire. The Spaniard edged out Manuel González to become the rider with the most wins this season.
The race began with Canet (Fantic Racing/Kalex) stumbling at the start, while González (Gresini/Kalex) executed a flawless launch to take the lead ahead of Ai Ogura (MT Helmets-MSi/Boscoscuro) and Filip Salac (Elf Marc VDS/Kalex).
Early drama unfolded on the opening lap as Jorge Navarro (OnlyFans American Racing Team/Kalex) and Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar/Kalex) collided at Turn 5, while Roberto García (Fantic Racing/Kalex) also crashed out.
BIG tangle 👀
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) November 17, 2024
Both @jakedixonracing and @jorge_navarro9 are DOWN 💥#SolidarityGP 🏁 pic.twitter.com/sua7VohInD
A heavy crash occurred on the second lap on the way to Turn 1, when Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo/Kalex) and Zonta van den Goorbergh (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP/Kalex) collided during braking, with both riders having to be taken to the medical center. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo/Kalex) and Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team/Kalex) were also involved but were unharmed.
Medical Info 📋#Moto2 riders #13 Vietti and #84 vd Goorbergh are going to the medical centre#SolidarityGP 🏁
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) November 17, 2024
Soon after, Salac overtook Ogura to claim second, only for the Japanese rider to regain the position shortly after. By the third lap, Canet, despite his messy start, had climbed to second. Salac dropped to fifth, overtaken by Fermín Aldeguer (Sync SpeedUp/Boscoscuro). The future Gresini MotoGP rider had to serve a Long Lap penalty on lap 4, knocking him out of the top ten.
At the end of lap 4, Canet overtook González to take the lead. Meanwhile, Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP/Kalex) looked promising in fifth, poised for a potential podium fight, though he eventually lost momentum.
With nine laps to go, a fierce battle for third ensued, with Moreira pressuring Ogura. However, the season’s champion held his ground for several laps. Three laps from the finish, Moreira launched a strong challenge but Ogura managed to maintain third.
Finally Moreira gets through ⚔️
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) November 17, 2024
But @AiOgura79 overtakes him IMMEDIATELY 🔥#SolidarityGP 🏁 pic.twitter.com/0sxrd3aNgK
Meanwhile, González closed the gap on Canet, reigniting the battle for victory. With Ogura and Moreira not far behind, the fight expanded to a four-way contest.
2 LAPS TO GO ⌛
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) November 17, 2024
2 tenths. IT'S ON 🙌#SolidarityGP 🏁 pic.twitter.com/mEM9Kro1pM
At the start of the final lap, Moreira finally seized third, only for Ogura to reclaim it near the end. However, the Brazilian snatched it back for good in the last corner. Up front, Canet held off González to win by a slim margin of 0.091s. With his first Moto2 podium, Moreira also clinched the rookie of the year title. Ogura and Salac rounded out the top five.
