Thrilling third for Moreira as he Claims Madien Moto2™ Podium in Barcelona
The Triumph powered Moto2 field returned to Montmeló for the second time this year for the season grand finale, as the championship raced this weekend for Valencia at the Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona. Saturday’s qualifying session saw Aron Canet qualify on pole ahead of Manuel Gonzalez and Zonta van Den Goorbergh with the 2024 Moto2 Champion, Ai Ogura, lining up in fifth.
The final 21-lap race of the season got underway at 12.15 (local time) with blazing autumnal sunshine over the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, and as soon as the lights went out it was set to be a thrilling finale.
On the opening lap however it was heartbreak for Jake Dixon, who crashed out after a tangle at turn five with American Racing’s Jorge Navarro; Dixon was hoping to have a solid finish to the year and his final race with the Aspar Team. Van Den Goorbergh’s hopes of a podium also disappeared as he crashed out with Celestino Vietti in a dramatic first lap.
At the start of the second rotation Ogura was running at the front of the pack hoping to end his successful 2024 campaign on the podium. Defending third place for the majority of the race, Ogura had his work cut out from a determined Diogo Moreira who was looking to secure his first-ever Moto2 podium.
Engrossed in a battle for the third-place spot for most of the race, Moreira was on Ogura’s heels lap by lap, waiting to make his move to slot into third. Up ahead it was Aron Canet and Manuel Gonzalez leading the way, having broken free from the pack behind.
With ten laps to go Ogura still had his hands full with Moreira, while his MT Helmets teammate Sergio Garcia had moved through the pack from 14th into sixth and scored the fastest lap of the race (1'43.299).
Ogura continued to resist the hard charging Brazilian behind, keeping Moreira at bay with some phenomenal braking into corners and despite their hard battle for third, in the final laps of the race the duo had closed the gap to Canet and Gonzalez at the front.
On the first corner of the final lap, Moreira outbroke the World Champion however Ogura quickly fought back to reclaim the third-place spot. The battle between the pair was far from over, and on the last corner Moreira made his final move grabbing third place from Ogura to claim his maiden Moto2 podium, and the first Brazilian podium in the intermediate class since Adu Celso Santos in 1973. He becomes the 40th different podium sitter in the Triumph Moto2 era. Moreira also took the Rookie of the Year award after an incredible first season in Moto2.
Canet had already sealed second in the championship and with second in the race, Gonzalez secured third in the 2024 Moto2 world championship.
Ai Ogura ends his Moto2 career as the 2024 world champion before stepping up to MotoGP in 2025. The Japanese rider also won the Triumph Triple Trophy and was the first winner of the competition to be voted for by the fans. He was presented with his prize bike, a unique Street Triple 765, in Barcelona this weekend.
