Recapping the Moto2 and Moto3 contests from Mugello

Mugello Moto2 Race

Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) delivered a masterclass in racecraft at Mugello, charging from eighth on the grid to claim his fourth victory of the season and extend his lead in the Moto2 World Championship.

The Spaniard’s assured performance saw him fend off a strong challenge from fellow countryman Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2), who celebrated his first podium finish of the year in second. Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) completed the podium after a fierce late-race scrap with Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team).

Although polesitter Moreira got the holeshot, it was Gonzalez who made the early headlines—blasting from P8 to P3 on the opening lap. However, Canet soon snatched that third position at Turn 10 as a tight nine-rider train formed at the front, all separated by just 1.3 seconds.

By Lap 7, Arenas had hit the front, with Gonzalez and Canet in tow. Moreira was running fourth, with a small gap forming behind the lead quartet to Filip Salač (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team).

Gonzalez briefly took the lead for the first time that same lap, but Arenas immediately responded, setting the stage for a tactical duel up front.

Once Gonzalez regained control at the front, his pace proved unmatchable. Only Arenas was able to cling on as Canet and Moreira dropped over a second adrift. With six laps remaining, Gonzalez’s margin had grown to over half a second, and by the time the final four laps began, he had stretched the lead to more than one second—effectively sealing the win, his fourth of the season, with a display of consistency and composure.

Manuel Gonzalez – P1

“After our last victory in Le Mans, we are now back on top of the podium. I’m very happy about that. But we are always in a position to fight for victory, even if luck wasn’t always on our side, which we sometimes needed. Today, however, it was a more difficult race and I’m glad it went the way it did because it allowed me to show what I’m capable of on a really difficult track and in difficult physical conditions. I was struggling physically because after Aragón it was a busy time for me with the MotoGP test followed by our Moto2 test in Barcelona. So, I wasn’t able to recover as well as I would have liked. But this win at this track is super important for us because it’s like starting from zero, like in Thailand and now we are leading the championship again. Nevertheless, we have to use our head, even if we are the strongest in terms of speed today. We go into the next race with the same goals. Thanks to the team for their great job.”

While the top two positions were settled, the battle for third was anything but. Canet and Moreira engaged in a thrilling, elbow-to-elbow fight for the final podium spot. The intense duel even drew local favourite Celestino Vietti (Beta Tools SpeedUp) into contention on the final lap. Ultimately, Canet held firm to secure P3 by a narrow margin, with Gonzalez taking the win by 1.4s over Arenas.

Moreira crossed the line fourth, just ahead of Vietti. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Izan Guevara (BLUCRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) finished sixth and seventh respectively, while reigning Moto3 World Champion David Alonso (CFMOTO European Privilege Aspar Team) took eighth.

The top 10 was rounded out by Joe Roberts and Marcos Ramirez of the OnlyFans American Racing Team, capping a fiercely competitive Moto2 contest at Mugello.

Senna Agius bagged three points for his 13th place finish to retain his sixth place ranking in the championship standings.

Senna Agius – P13

“My race began with a really bad start and then I was pushed wide by another rider. So, I dropped back to P23 or P24 on the first lap. Then I just tried to make up as many positions as possible until the end. Our pace wasn’t bad, but the position doesn’t reflect the step we made today. We have to work on qualifying, that was the big problem this weekend and it cost us a better result today. I can be a little bit satisfied with the pace at Mugello, but we will start again at Assen where we will try to get back to a normal position.”

Mugello Moto2 Results

Moto2 Championship Standings

Mugello Moto3 Race

Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team) delivered a stunning come-from-behind performance to take his maiden Moto3 Grand Prix victory at Mugello, leading home a sensational rookie 1-2 ahead of Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and teammate Dennis Foggia in a thrilling final lap shootout.

Polesitter Carpe grabbed the holeshot and led early, with the front row trio settling into the lead group. Championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power) made early contact as the pack jostled behind.

The second lap saw drama with a crash at Turn 5 that eliminated Vicente Perez (GRYD MLav Racing Team), Ricardo Rossi (Rivacold Snipers Team), and Ruche Moodley (DENSSI – Racing Boe).

Just one lap later, David Almansa (Leopard Racing) was forced out of the top six following contact with Ogden. Jacob Roulstone was forced to take evasive action and lost a lot of ground as a result after briefly holding the lead at one stage early in the race.

By Lap 6, Quiles had surged to the front and began trading positions with Rueda in a fast-moving lead group.

Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP) impressed by charging from P20 to P4 within six laps, engaging in a spirited battle with local favourite Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse).

Meanwhile, David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP) and Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) nearly collided at Turn 10, while Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), returning from injury, briefly led by the end of Lap 7.

However, a double blow for the home crowd followed as Fernandez and Lunetta crashed out under braking at Turn 1, and just moments later, Pini’s podium hopes ended after contact with Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) at Turn 12.

As the final lap began, Foggia led into Turn 1, but was swiftly challenged by Carpe at Arrabbiata 1 and 2. That scrap allowed Quiles to rejoin the fray, and by Turn 12 he had moved into second. He seized the lead into the final corner and defended superbly in the drag to the line, taking his first career victory—on the same circuit where Marc Marquez claimed his maiden Grand Prix win in 2010.

Carpe settled for second, while Foggia delighted the Italian fans with a return to the podium for the first time since Buriram 2022. Rueda came home fourth after a gritty ride from as far back as 15th, extending his points lead in the process.

Muñoz secured fifth, ahead of Japan’s Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), who was shuffled back late in the lap. Angel Piqueras (MT Helmets – MSI) finished seventh ahead of Perrone

David Muñoz – P5

“I’m happy because we did a very good job today. It was a difficult race because of the big group and all the many overtaking. But we showed again that we are on the right way. We will continue like this to catch up with the front runners soon. The most important thing is the points we have collected for the championship. In a week’s time in Assen we will of course try to achieve more. But before that, I would like to thank the team for their hard work this weekend in these hot conditions.”

Joel Kelso finished ninth and was within a second of the winner at the flag after remaining with the leading group throughout the 89 kilometres of the 17-lap contest.  

Joel Kelso – P9

“It’s been a couple of tough races. The last two didn’t go the way we wanted, we’re in a bit of a dip right now. but when your ‘bad results’ are a seventh and a ninth place, it’s not a disaster. We know we’ll bounce back soon. It’s only two races, and it’s important to stay focussed and sharp so we can turn things around. You can’t let a bad couple of results drag you down. The team and I gave it everything this weekend, and honestly, in the end it felt like a bit of a lottery, but that’s Moto3 at Mugello. Now we head to tracks I enjoy a bit more, like Sachsenring, definitely more than this one or Assen, for example. Let’s take the positives, keep our heads high and keep pushing.”

Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) rounded out the top ten, narrowly beating Nicola Carraro (Rivacold Snipers Team).  Kelso dropped from third to fourth in the championship standings.

Despite briefly holding the lead at one point of the race, Jacob Roulstone then had to evade some incidents which saw him pushed well back in the pack, where he remained mired for the rest of the contest before taking the chequered flag in 13th place.

Jacob Roulstone – P13

“To be honest, I think I would have more luck winning the lottery than in that race! I got caught up with two incidents which I had to avoid, so I lost a lot of positions. I am very disappointed of course, because I had once again taken a good start and I was up there with the front group in the first laps. Anyway, we have a lot of positives to take away from this weekend, the pace has been there, the confidence is back, so I just need to keep trying. Luckily, we already have another round coming next week in Assen, so I am just already focused on that one, and hopefully we can finally get a strong finish.”

Young Kiwi Cormac Buchanan bagged a point for his 15th place finish.

Cormac Buchanan – P15

“I’ve finished the weekend in Mugello a bit dissatisfied to be honest as the final result doesn’t reflect our true work done. We worked really hard on riding alone all weekend, even if we knew it wouldn’t be ideal for qualifying with the track layout and windy conditions. This left me down in 23rd position. Despite being far down the grid, honestly I wasn’t too worried as in FP2 where we concentrate on race pace and things like this, I was able to stay super-fast and consistent which I knew would help me come Sunday’s race.  In the race I was able to again execute a strong start and managed to go up to P18 in two corners, latching onto the front group and moving my way forward into the battle for the win. It was a lot of fun,” he recalled. Adopting a similar strategy to the one which paid off in Aragon, I stayed patient and calm, waiting for around eight laps to go to make my charge forward. I started this advance being less than a second from the leader, but then a rider crashed in front of me and I had to take avoiding action. This separated me from the leading group and with it went my podium aspirations. A shame as I was feeling really comfortable and overtaking felt like it was coming easy. I had to work my way back through the group and finally managed P15 in the end which, when you consider our grid position, is still a solid effort and retains my run of scoring points in every race I’ve finished this season. These things happen in racing, but I know much more was possible today. I’m glad I showed two races in a row I belong battling in that lead pack. In Assen this weekend the goal remains the same and I am looking forward to showing my true potential.”

Mugello Moto3 Results

Moto3 Championship Standings

2025 MotoGP Calendar