MotoGP Catalunya: Vietti back on winning form in Moto2

Mooney VR46’s Celestino Vietti was back on the Moto2 top step at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya after an intense battle on Sunday.

Flexbox HP40’s Aron Canet put up a fight to the end for his maiden victory before settling for second in his home GP with Red Bull KTM Ajo’ Augusto Fernandez stealing the final podium position from Inde GasGas Aspar’s Jake Dixon in the concluding corners.

Championship leader Vietti headed the grid as the 22-lap Moto2 race prepared. Mugello challengers Canet and Joe Roberts lining up alongside the Mooney VR46 man with an Aspar/British lockout behind as Dixon led teammate Albert Arenas and countryman Sam Lowes on row two. Last race winner Pedro Acosta starting a disappointing 12th.

Dixon took charge as the lights released the pack. Roberts and Canet swapping places for podium contention as Vietti slotted in ahead of Arenas in fourth and fifth. Lowes dumped down the field and just outside the top ten after a disappointing start.

Roberts was in the lead through turn five as Arenas bettered the VR46 just adrift of the podium battle. Joint series leader Ai Ogura trailing his rival in sixth with Marcel Schrotter, Augusto Fernandez, Alonso Lopez and Manuel Gonzales heading Lowes in eleventh.

Ogura was through on Vietti as lap three fired up. Roberts pulling away out front with Canet doing likewise from the likeable Brit. Alex Toledo crashed out at turn ten as his replacement ride for Gabriel Rodrigo on the Pertamina SAG came to an early end.

The American held a half-second advantage by lap five. Filip Salac crashing the Gresini out of the points at turn 13 as Lowes set a personal best lap then ran wide at turn one next time around. Ogura doing similar as he liked to gain ground on Arenas for fourth.