Moto2 ends its European season at Misano, where the next two rounds of the world championship will be contested. While Jake Dixon and Alonso Lopez are making a dazzling comeback on the leaders in the Riders’ standings, the latter must wake up if they do not want to lose the benefit of their lead in the championship.
Even if you already know the result of this session, come and relive it with us! Before starting, Here is a table that summarizes the known facts :
| Moto2™ San Marino, Misano | 2022 | 2024 |
| FP | 1’36.488 Pedro Acosta | 1’35.775. Tony Arbolino |
| P1 | 1’35.921 Pedro Acosta | 1’35.561 Aron Canet |
| P2 | 1’36.078 Celestine Vietti | 1’35.185 Aron Canet |
| Q1 | 1’36.676 Bo Bendsneyder | 1’35.446 Alonso Lopez |
| Q2 | 1’36.201 Celestine Vietti | 1’35.229 Tony Arbolino |
| Course | Acosta, Vietti, López (See here) | Ogura, Canet, Arbolino |
| Record | 1’35.271 Luca Marini 2020 | 1’35.229 Tony Arbolino |
Starting from pole position, Tony Arbolino closed the door on his rivals as he left his position, to keep the lead at the first corner. Behind, Celestino Vietti was forced to give up his second position to Ai Ogura, who had a better start.
Alonso Lopez will not complete the first lap of the race. Victim of a fall after an approximation at turn 16, the Spaniard ruins his chances of returning to the lead of the championship this weekend. The respective teams of each of his competitors will also be quick to communicate the news to them by radio communication.
Aron Canet took advantage of the start of the race to pass Celestino Vietti in turn. Slightly missed out on his Qualification after a sparkling start to the weekend, the #44 then came back at high speed on Ai Ogura. At the same time, Tony Arbolino lost pace, and a three-way fight for the lead was emerging.
The Fantic driver will take the advantage over the Japanese in turn 14. 420 thousandths then separate him from the lead, but the first three are moving at the same times.
Behind four riders are fighting for seventh position, including Fermin Aldeguer and Jake Dixon. While the future rider Gresini leads the group completed by Albert Arenas and Diogo Moreira, the Briton brings up the rear. Their pace, however, does not allow them to catch up with Manuel Gonzalez and Celestino Vietti.
The start of the tenth lap will be marked by a sublime maneuver from Aron Canet. After trying the outside at turn 1, the Spaniard takes the best line in the second bend of the circuit, and seizes the lead with authority over the local driver of the stage, Tony Arbolino. He will put six tenths in his sight before crossing the start/finish line again. The n°14 will then be passed by Ai Ogura, almost at the same place.
Aron Canet manages his race, keeping Ai Ogura and Tony Arbolino in his wake. The gaps are however slightly widening, and the action is decreasing in intensity at the front.
Behind, Sergio Garcia seems to be suffering less from his shoulders, and is finally finding his rhythm this weekend. The number 3 is moving up towards the points at high speed, with the aim of limiting the damage to the championship, as he prepares to lose the lead to Ogura.
Fermin Aldeguer and Jake Dixon defend the 6th and 7th positions with six laps to go. Still three seconds behind Gonzalez and Vietti, who are back in the top-3.
As Gonzalez loses pace, Vietti continues his climb back into the top three. The fight for victory will be four-way! After showing sufficient patience, Ai Ogura attacks Aron Canet and passes him. He thus becomes the third different leader in Moto2 on Sunday. Behind, the KTM Ajo rider gets into the exhausts of Arbolino’s Marc VDS, but falls at turn 16, like Alonso Lopez at the start of the race.
Canet still believes in it, and gives a turn to catch up with Ogura before starting the last lap. The two men are preparing to offer us a suspenseful finale, from which Ai Ogura emerges victorious. The Japanese rider crosses the finish line with a 5 tenths lead, to win the Moto2 Grand Prix of San Marino. He thus takes the lead of the championship at the expense of Sergio Garcia, who finishes a complicated weekend in twelfth position.
After dropping out in the final loops, Tony Arbolino takes a second consecutive podium in the intermediate class.
Manuel González maintains his fourth position. Jake Dixon and Fermín Aldeguer limit the damage with a top-6.
Belgian Barry Baltus finished the race in 18th position, after making a good comeback to follow a group of drivers who could have put him in the points.
2024 Moto2 San Marino Grand Prix Race Result at Misano:
Ranking credit: MotoGP.com
