Italian rider Tony Arbolino wins dramatic Moto2 race at Phillip Island amid rain and wind
Tony Arbolino, riding a Kalex, topped a highly eventful Moto2 race at the Australian Grand Prix. The dramatic event was halted when heavy rain and strong gusts forced Race Direction to wave a red flag with 14 laps remaining, leaving several riders out of contention. The podium was completed by Spaniards Aron Canet and Fermin Aldeguer, both on Kalex and Boscoscuro machines respectively.
Arbolino, who started eighth on the grid at Phillip Island, capitalized on a 15 second advantage in the final moments to secure victory once the red flag paused the action. The interruption came after a chaotic sequence that left around ten riders unable to continue, with Spaniards Alonso Lopez on a Boscoscuro and Sergio Garcia Dols on a Kalex among those affected by the stoppage.
This outcome meant the race did not complete two thirds of its distance, and Arbolino earned half of the usual points, totaling 12.5. The result moved him up in the standings and placed him more firmly within reach of the leaders in the middle tier, with Pedro Acosta leading the class on a Kalex and a total tally reaching 280.5 points in the championship frame.
On the day, the championship took another twist as Mazarrón native and title contender Sergio Garcia Dols crashed on the warm-up lap and had to start from the back of the grid, ultimately finishing in ninth place. The setback did not derail his title hopes, as he remains a factor going into the next round in Thailand, where the race schedule promises more high-stakes action. English rider Jake Dixon, also on a Kalex and among those affected by Sunday’s issues, finished down in a lower position while remaining third in the standings but with a reduced margin after accumulating fewer points this round.
Among the other Spaniards, Jeremy Alcoba moved up impressively to finish fourth after climbing from 19th on the grid. Izan Guevara, the rookie who began the race from 23rd, delivered his best Moto2 result to date by crossing the line in sixth place. The day also saw Marcos Ramirez finish tenth, Manu Gonzalez placing thirteenth, and Albert Arenas ending in fourteenth. Alex Escrig, aboard a Forward bike, completed the field in nineteenth position, adding to the overall narrative of a tense Australian round.