Manuel Gonzalez Claims First Moto2™ Victory of 2025 in Thailand

The first Moto2™ Grand Prix of 2025 took place in boiling Buriram, Thailand, Friday 28 February to Sunday 2 March. The British manufacturer held a press conference on Friday 28 February revealing details of a new race gearshift sequence moving neutral to the top of the order, and this weekend was the competitive debut of the gearbox update which received positive feedback from the Moto2 riders and teams.

Spaniard Manuel Gonzalez made his debut for the IntactGP team and started off strong, setting a new all-time lap record of 1m 34.591. He continued this form into Saturday’s qualifying session as he became the first pole-sitter of 2025 ahead of Celestino Vietti, who also changed teams to the SpeedUp team. It was Aron Canet who rounded out the front row of the grid ahead of Senna Agius.

The Triumph-powered Moto2 field lined up for Sunday’s race in sweltering conditions. Vietti got the better of Gonzalez off the line as Agius and Darryn Binder swallowed up Canet on the start pushing him back to fifth. Binder would later be served a double long lap penalty along with Izan Guevarra as both riders had jumped the start, promoting Canet back up to fourth with Diogo Moreira on his tail in a brilliant battle for fourth.

Back at the front Gonzalez and Vietti battled for the lead, the pole-sitter eventually getting the better of the Italian and he started to pull a small gap. Teammate Agius tried to make a move on Vietti, but there was contact that ended Vietti’s race seeing Canet promoted once again, this time into second with Brazilian Moreira still right behind him. Agius was handed a long lap penalty for the crash. The Australian retained fourth as he ended the long lap penalty, but found himself three seconds back of the leading trio.

He was by no means out of the race and set about closing the gap to Canet and Moreira while Gonzalez was running his own race out the front with all the drama unfolding behind him. Agius was the fastest rider on track and did close the gap to Moreira and a brilliant battle ensued, Agius eventually getting the better of Moreia to take the final podium spot behind Canet and Gonzalez who became the first victor of the season.

Marcos Ramirez was fifth, ahead of Barry Baltus and Jake Dixon. Behind them, having qualified as the top rookie in 15th, Daniel Holgado had made impressive progress to cross the line in eighth.