MotoGP Aragon: Acosta celebrates home Moto2 victory

Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Pedro Acosta bounced back from injury to claim his second Moto2 victory of his rookie season at Motorland Aragon.

Launching from sixth, the reigning Moto3 Champion was quickly in the fight before dispatching teammate Augusto Fernandez and Flexbox HP40’s Aron Canet to carve out a three-second lead. The remaining duo switching positions in the closing stages to complete the Aragon Grand Prix podium from Honda’s title-challenger Ai Ogura in fourth.

Jake Dixon lined up from the edge of the front row following a high speed turn two crash in morning warm-up. The Brit trailing Shinto GasGas Aspar teammate Albert Arenas and pole-sitter Fernandez, as the KTM rider looked to consolidate his advantage in the championship standings ahead of a move to MotoGP. Mooney VR46’s Celestino Vietti forced to start from 17th on the grid after a disastrous Saturday.

Lights out for 21-laps and Dixon was through to second as Canet took his own advantage over Arenas before the Aspar rider struck back. Misano winner Alonso Lopez crashing out at turn two with Liqui Moly’s Marcel Schrotter following suit one corner later. Keminth Kubo, Sean Dylan Kelly, Niccolo Antonelli and Zonta Van Den Goorbergh off track and collected in the chaos before the quartet were able to continue.

Fernandez held a half-second lead as lap two kicked off, Dixon and Canet in hot pursuit with the second KTM of Acosta through on Arenas. The latter Spaniard crashing out mid-way through the second lap as he slid out at turn 12 with Intact GP’s Jeremy Alcoba and VR46 Master Camp’s Manuel Gonzales following him into the gravel trap moments later.

Acosta and Canet battled for the final podium position as the race continued before the KTM rookie took a look at