#IndonesianGP – MOTO2: Canet converts pole to P1 as Ogura extends title advantage
Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) stormed to victory on Sunday at the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia after a Mandalika masterclass. The #44 had a six-second advantage over the line, looking unstoppable throughout the Grand Prix as Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) could only take second. It was a huge day for Ogura, who took 20 vital Championship points, with closest title rival Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) crashing out. Meanwhile, Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) worked hard in the 22-lap shootout, holding onto a strong third.
Ogura made an incredible launch at the start, storming into the lead ahead of Canet and Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) at Turn 1. Canet quickly took the lead on the opening lap as Lopez began to make ground, charging into the podium places and overtaking Ogura at the end of Lap 1 – demoting the #79 to third.
It was a dramatic start to the Indonesian GP, with Jaume Masia (Preicanos Racing Team), Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) and Xavi Cardelus (Fantic Racing) all having an early end to their day after separate incidents. Dixon would also put an end to his podium hopes after a crash of his own on Lap 3 – rider OK.
Meanwhile, Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) stretched a magnificent gap in the opening stages, extending his advantage to over three seconds. Behind the #44 was Beta Tools Speed Up duo Lopez and Fermin Aldeguer, who battled for the podium positions. The #54 soon made a mistake on Lap 8, taking avoiding action and dropping down to ninth behind Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing).
A breathtaking battle for the podium began to unfold, with Ogura glued back on the back of Lopez as Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) and Darryn Binder (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) chased behind. Ogura made a firm move on Lap 13, leaping into second and pulling the pin in an effort to close Canet’s six-second advantage.
Championship drama unfolded as Garcia crashed out of 10th position. It was zero points for the #3 as Ogura’s momentum continued to build, with the Japanese star setting sights on a further 20 points.
In the closing stages, Gonzalez made his first attempt on Lap 20, unable to make it stick with Binder waiting to pounce in P5. Gonzalez tried again on Lap 21, latched on the back of the #21. Meanwhile, Aldeguer continued his recovery ride, battling to seventh before bravely overtaking Roberts at the end of Lap 19 to enter sixth position. The #54 had an incredible late-race pace, overtaking Binder for fifth on the penultimate lap.
It was an intense final lap, with Canet and Ogura comfortably ahead all eyes were on the fight for third as Aldeguer charged into fourth, demoting Gonzalez to sixth. Things went from bad to worse for the #18, who dropped to ninth at the flag. Meanwhile, Canet would storm to victory, with a 6.218s advantage over Ogura as the final spot was secured by Lopez – fending off his teammate.
Aldeguer could only manage fourth in an encouraging ride for the #54, who had a sensational rhythm to beat Binder at the flag. The South African crossed the line a further 0.300s behind, with Roberts grabbing sixth. The #16 was defending from Izan Guevara (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) at the line, with the 2022 Moto3 World Champion finishing in a solid seventh. Guevara finished in front of Elf Marc VDS Racing Team’s Tony Arbolino, with the Italian showing great pace to beat Gonzalez. The #18 finished 11 seconds adrift from Canet after a tough final lap, with Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) bagging the final spot inside a talented top 10.
Meanwhile, Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team) took 11th in a great finish for the Spaniard, who finished a mere 0.183s ahead of Barry Baltus (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP) in 12th. Round 14 winner Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was 13th at the line as Jeremy Alcoba (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) and QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™’s Albert Arenas took the final point.
However, Guevara would later be disqualified from the Indonesian Grand Prix after a technical infringement, promoting Arbolino into seventh, Gonzalez into eighth, Öncü into ninth and Ramirez inside the top 10 as the final point was handed to Filip Salac (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team).
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