Italian Tony Arbolino Claims Victory in Rain-Interrupted Moto2 Race
Italy’s Tony Arbolino on a Kalex emerged victorious in a chaotic Thai Grand Prix Moto2, a race shaped by variable weather that oscillated between drizzle and downpour. The start brought uncertainty as rain began to fall, and conditions quickly grew unpredictable. Race Direction eventually halted the event twice under red flag conditions, with multiple delays as crews searched for a window to resume. After attempting to restart with merely five laps completed, officials realized the weather would not cooperate, and the race remained curtailed. Source: MotoGP
A race initially slated for 24 laps was cut short to eight, with points awarded only to those classified after two-thirds of the distance. Arbolino stood on the top step, followed by Czech rider Filip Salac and Spanish rider Aron Canet, both also aboard Kalex bikes, sealing a podium sweep for the team. Alonso López finished fifth for Boscoscuro, with Augusto Fernández on a Kalex in seventh. Several riders including Albert Arenas, Pedro Acosta, Jorge Navarro, Marcos Ramírez, and Manuel “Manugas” González completed the points positions deeper in the field. Source: MotoGP
Tension had already threaded through the pre-race moment as rain began to fall, prompting Alonso López to swap to a front tire after feeling significant axle vibration during the formation lap. As rain intensified, a wet-weather protocol was enforced for the start, turning the grid into a nervy battle over tire choice. The race, originally planned for 24 laps, was subsequently shortened to 16 rounds, and finally to just eight laps due to persistent wetness and inconsistent conditions. Source: MotoGP
Teams swapped to wet tires in an orderly transition, yet intermittent showers left some sections of asphalt slick and visibility limited. A few riders, including Manuel González and Lorenzo dalla Porta, attempted to switch to dry tires from the pit lane, only to be forced back to the field after penalties or strategic missteps, while Albert Arenas also faced a setback that relegated him to the rear of the grid. The strategy decisions proved risky as the track retained damp patches and rain continued to fall at times, impacting pace and handling across the field. Source: MotoGP
Colt Somkiat Chantra launched with intent, pushing hard to secure a home victory in the opening laps. The early moments brought crashes that claimed several contenders, including Cameron Beaubier, a reminder of the harsh reality of racing in wet conditions. Spaniard Alonso López briefly contended for control, with Aron Canet and Chantra trading positions as the field shuffled behind leaders. The paddock watched as Canet and López moved forward, while Ai Ogura, Salac, and Arbolino kept pace in the early stages. Source: MotoGP
By lap four, Canet had moved into the lead, closely pursued by Salac, López, Jake Dixon, Arbolino, and Ogura. The pace was measured as the riders sought to balance speed with control on a surface still feelable with dampness. Salac then overtook Canet in the fifth round to assume the lead, but neither Spaniard nor Arbolino could break away as rain continued to complicate the battle. Source: MotoGP
With the rain intensifying, Race Direction made the difficult decision to red-flag the race on lap eight. Only a portion of the field had completed eight laps, with Tony Arbolino in the lead ahead of Salac and Canet, followed by a cluster of riders including Dixon, López, Ogura, and Fernández. The lineup at the moment of the stoppage was effectively frozen, and the next start would have to wait for clearer conditions. Source: MotoGP
During the restart attempts, the rain persisted with visibility limited, and Race Direction once again halted proceedings. The second restart could not be executed as the weather did not improve sufficiently to guarantee safety and fair competition. In the end, the eight-lap result determined the final order, with Arbolino first, Salac second, and Canet third, representing a home podium sweep for Kalex in a race remembered for its dramatic weather-driven pivots. Source: MotoGP