MotoGP Qatar: Dominant victory for Vietti in Moto2

Mooney VR46 celebrated a maiden Moto2 victory for Celestino Vietti in Qatar after a dominant performance from pole.

The second VR46 Riders Academy win of the day, alongside the recent arrival of team owner Valentino Rossi’s new daughter, meant the jubilation was clear to see for the Italian squad. Vietti crossing the line 6.154s ahead of Pons racer Aron Canet with Sam Lowes securing a hard-fought third place in the final seconds.

The second race of 2022 saw Moto3 Champion Pedro Acosta take on the intermediate class for the first time as the KTM Ajo rider lined up in tenth. VR46 rider Vietti took command as the grid prepared with Elf Marc VDS Tony Arbolino and Lowes locking out the remainder of the front row in second and third. Fellow Brit Jake Dixon sat seventh, and on the harder option rear Dunlop, as the lights prepared for the 20-lap race.

Lights out and Augusto Fernandez got the better of his former teammate off the line, Lowes dropping to eighth as the pack swallowed him up in the first corner melee. Turn one contact sending Aldeguer wide with the fall out forcing Dixon to sit his Aspar up and Acosta onto the run off as the pair dropped down the pack to 18th and 22nd respectively.

Vietti maintained control as Arbolino and Canet took second and third. Honda’s Ai Ogura overcoming Fernandez’ KTM for fourth and fifth with Filip Salac and Joe Roberts narrowly behind.

A highside at turn five saw Salac crash out on lap three, Lowes advancing to sixth over Roberts as countryman Cameron Beaubier made his way into the top ten, in ninth. The American Racing rider was on the move as the race unfolded, up to seventh two laps later and just over a second off the back of Lowes as he ran low 1’59 pace.

Vietti carved a