Pedro Acosta secures seventh Moto2 win at Mandalika as title race heats up
Spaniard Pedro Acosta, riding for Kalex, delivered a dominant seventh victory of the season at the Indonesian Moto2 Grand Prix held on the Mandalika circuit. The victory pushed Acosta further ahead in the standings, widening the gap to his rivals and tightening the battle for the championship. [Citation: MotoGP]
With 277 points on the board, Acosta sits atop a closely fought championship table. His nearest challenger is the Italian rider Tony Arbolino, currently 65 points behind, also riding a Kalex. That margin means the next round in Australia could decide whether Acosta clinches the title there or needs one more decisive round to seal it. [Citation: MotoGP]
The podium at Mandalika was entirely made up of Spanish riders, underscoring a strong home presence in Moto2. Acosta was joined by pole-sitter Arón Canet, who races a Kalex, and Fermín Aldeguer on a Boscoscuro. Manuel González, another Kalex rider, finished fifth. On the final lap, British rider Jake Dixon passed González after a late-race slip, completing a challenging race for several contenders. [Citation: MotoGP]
The race began with a spirited duel between Canet and Acosta, two Spaniards who led from the first corner. Early in the proceedings, Italian Alberto Surra and Spaniard Alonso López were sidelined by issues and forced to withdraw from the lead fight. The early skirmish set the tone for an intense afternoon of racing. [Citation: Career Management]
The Madrid-born Canet managed to restart in a strong position after a setback, while Acosta quickly recovered from an initial dip to reclaim the lead. By the second quarter of the race, Canet remained within striking distance, followed by Manuel González, Arbolino, Somkiat Chantra, Aldeguer, Dixon, Sergio García Dols, Joe Roberts, and Zonta Van der Goobergh, all pushing for a top result. [Citation: MotoGP]
In the meantime, Spanish rider Jeremy Alcoba faced a sanction for a collision incident involving López and Surra, receiving a long-lap penalty for reckless riding. Ai Ogura, the Japanese Kalex rider, also incurred a long-lap penalty for contact with Filip Salac. [Citation: MotoGP]
The early laps saw Acosta establish a clear lead as Canet chased the Murcian rider, aiming to prevent any gaps from opening. As the race unfolded, Canet fought to maintain pace and stay within reach of Acosta, who was attempting to break away. The group comprising Arbolino, Aldeguer, González, and Dixon remained in the mix, trading places and applying pressure whenever opportunities appeared. [Citation: MotoGP]
Acosta’s relentless form produced multiple fast laps, with the Spaniard repeatedly redefining the pace of the race. Canet kept the challenge alive through the middle stages, but the World Championship leader’s pace proved decisive as he stretched his advantage and defended second place as the field stalked him. [Citation: MotoGP]
The final stretch of the race saw Acosta extend his lead and set the fastest lap of the day, cementing his seventh win of the season. Canet crossed the line in second place, followed by Aldeguer in the podium trio. In fourth, Jake Dixon claimed a strong result, ahead of González. Arbolino sat in sixth, with Chantra, Sergio García Dols, Joe Roberts, and Lowes rounding out the top ten. [Citation: MotoGP]
Further down the order, Albert Arenas finished fifteenth, Marcos Ramírez sixteenth, Alex Escrig eighteenth, Alcoba twentieth, Izan Guevara was near the tail end, and Alonso López completed the classification in twenty-fifth position. The race showcased the depth of Spanish talent and left the title conversation poised for Australia, where Acosta’s rivals will again face a tough challenge to close the gap. [Citation: MotoGP]
Overall, the Mandalika round underscored Acosta’s consistency and speed, reinforcing his status as the top contender for the season title. The margin to Arbolino keeps the fan base engaged and signals a thrilling conclusion as the championship moves toward its finale. [Citation: MotoGP]