American and European Moto2 Roundup: Ogura Seals Second Win of the Season in a Dramatic Spielberg Showdown
Ai Ogura and Somkiat Chantra led a high-stakes Moto2 fight that stretched across a pair of circuits and delivered a surprising late surge. After his victory at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit for Kalex, Ogura extended his 2024 campaign with a second win at the Austrian round, taking the interim lead in the world championship ahead of teammates and rivals alike. British rider Jake Dixon held a strong third overall, guiding Kalex-represented entries through the field with poise. At Spielberg, Spanish rider Augusto Fernández battled hard on a Kalex to finish in fifth place, narrowly missing a podium by a razor-thin margin.
Ogura burst off the lines when the lights went out, immediately disputing first with the field and setting a brisk pace into the first corner. Alonso López (Boscoscuro) and Augusto Fernández (Kalex) joined him, while British rider Dixon clung to fourth, with Somkiat Chantra following closely behind. The initial phases highlighted the tight pressure from the Thai rider Chantra, who clung to a front-running position before finishing in the lead pack alongside Pedro Acosta (Kalex). The round marked a standout return for Ogura after a femur fracture, as he demonstrated consistency and speed that kept him in the title hunt.
Early in the second sprint, López seized the initiative and reeled Ogura in, attempting to break away from the pack. López surged ahead as the group stretched, even as championship leader Augusto Fernández showed moments of vulnerability in the early laps. Within a few laps, eight riders surfaced with competitive advantages, creating a visibly shifting order as the race unfolded. López led, followed by Ogura, Chantra, Dixon, Acosta, Celestino Vietti, Aron Canet, and Fernández in quick succession.
Ogura gradually found his rhythm, distancing his challengers while keeping the field close behind. His closest contenders remained his own teammates Chantra and Vietti, who stayed within striking distance as the race progressed. A dramatic moment occurred when Italy’s rivals pushed hard to overtake Asia’s speed, resulting in Vietti slipping to third as the laps dwindled. Despite efforts to continue, Vietti ultimately retired from the contest, narrowing the competition to Ogura and Chantra with a second group containing Acosta, Canet, Fernández, and Dixon a few seconds adrift. López remained a solitary figure at seventh, attempting to mount a late push.
The leading duel between Ogura and Chantra became a pointed display of teamwork and raw speed. While the top two spared no effort in their duel, the chasing group, led by Acosta and Dixon, relentlessly pursued the podium. Acosta, Dixon, Fernández, and Canet staged a late rally to close in and hunt for the remaining step, with López and Arenas in sight of the action.
In the final stages, Ogura kept his focus, and a swift late move from Chantra intensified the pressure. Chantra briefly challenged but Ogura managed to respond just two corners from the end, reclaiming the victory in a bid for the season’s second win. The result left the British rider Dixon leading a quartet of Spaniards—Acosta, Fernández, Canet, and López—hot on the heels, while Arenas and Hollow plus Navarro rode Kalex bikes in a tightly bunched pursuit. The outcome reinforced the strength and depth of Kalex machinery and the sharpened competitive edge of Ogura’s program. His victory solidified the Japanese rider’s position at the front of the standings as the championship moved deeper into the season. The race also featured notable appearances from veterans and newcomers who added spice to a season that has already delivered several dramatic twists. Mark Ramirez on an MV Agusta finished nineteenth, while Manuel “Manugas” Gonzalez retired from the day’s action.
Overall, the Spielberg event underscored the evolving rivalry within Moto2, where the balance between raw speed and strategic race craft continually reshapes the championship picture. The competition remains fierce, with Ogura and Chantra delivering a compelling pairing that keeps the title race lively for fans across Canada and the United States and beyond. The class continues to showcase a blend of emerging talent and seasoned riders pushing for every possible advantage on a circuit-by-circuit basis—each race a chapter in a broader, season-long narrative. [Citation: MotoGP]