That's a wrap for 2023 in the FIM Moto2™ World Championship and Fermin Aldeguer (CAG SpeedUp) stole the limelight yet again as he took his fifth victory of the season and fourth in a row. The Spaniard was untouchable as Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) had to settle for P2, with Alonso Lopez (CAG SpeedUp) coming out on top in the battle for the final podium spot in P3.
Aldeguer unrivalled again
The Boscoscuro rider stretched the field right from the beginning as he had Canet clinging onto his coattails in second place. With 20 laps to go they already had a substantial gap to Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing) in third as the hot pace from Aldeguer stretched out the top five.
Ramirez was out of touch to threaten the top two and had Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) for company as the Brit was desperate to find his way through with the prospect of a third overall in the Championship still tangible.
However, at the front Canet was confidently responding to Aldeguer's pace, and the two were Dixon's rivals in the fight for third overall. With 17 laps to go Canet was the fastest rider on the circuit too as he set the quickest lap of the race so far and bettered it one lap later.
The battle for 3rd then began to hot up even more as a flying Lopez caught Ramirez and Dixon as he brought Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) to join the party with him. But Lopez made his way through on Dixon with 14 laps remaining. The Spaniard was on a charge after fighting his way up from 14th on the grid to sit in fourth place with his sights set on Ramirez ahead of him.
So far, it's all about @Aldeguer54 🔥
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) November 26, 2023
This Turn 13 shot... 😎#ValenciaGP 🏁 pic.twitter.com/u45quAQoCc
12 laps to go and Aldeguer was able to extend the gap to 1.5s. The Spaniard continued to put down his relentless pace and took victory in Valencia by 3.982s, with Canet bringing home second. The fight for the final place on the podium went absolutely to the wire as Lopez got through on Ramirez but the American Racing rider then went for a lunge at the final corner on the final lap. It was a well-judged one, but Lopez got the cutback and won the drag to the line.
The points scorers
The podium fight is getting spicy 🌶️
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) November 26, 2023
Can @AlonsoLopez_21 pull away from @24Marcosramirez? 🤔#ValenciaGP 🏁 pic.twitter.com/3SZshWbDYz
🏁 #Moto2 RACE 🏁@Aldeguer54 DONE IT YET AGAIN 🥇
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) November 26, 2023
And @AlonsoLopez_21 wins the battle for 3rd! 👏#ValenciaGP 🏁 pic.twitter.com/42H54VkFgo
Behind Ramirez in P4, Chantra got the better of Dixon in the end as the Thai rider capped off his 2023 season with a 5th place as he pulled eight tenths on the Brit in P6. Dixon ends 2023 fourth overall, with his compatriot Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) completing his final Grand Prix race in seventh as he gets set for a move to the WorldSBK paddock.
Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) took eighth ahead of his teammate Dennis Foggia, with Albert Arenas (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completing the top 10. Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) claimed P11 ahead of World Champion Acosta, who ended his season with a P12 after a fraught start and tougher race. The Spaniard's attentions now turn to Tuesday's Valencia Test.
That was close! 😱@37_pedroacosta trying to get a Top 10 place but Barry Baltus says no you don't! 💥#ValenciaGP 🏁 pic.twitter.com/jXK09cWenN
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) November 26, 2023
The final point scorers were Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Mastercamp), Barry Baltus (Fieten Olie Racing GP) and Jeremy Alcoba (Gresini Racing Moto2™) who took 13th, 14th, and 15th respectively.
That's it for Moto2™ in 2023 and what a season it has been! Acosta leaves as a World Champion as Aldeguer sends a huge message to his rivals ahead of 2024… watch this space!
Top 10
1 | Fermin Aldeguer (Speed Up Racing) | |
2 | Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) | +3.986 |
3 | Alonso Lopez (CAG SpeedUp) | +6.455 |
4 | Marcos Ramirez (American Racing) | +6.476 |
5 | Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) | +7.060 |
6 | Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) | +7.864 |
7 | Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) | +8.924 |
8 | Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) | +11.842 |
9 | Dennis Foggia (Italtrans Racing Team) | +12.096 |
10 | Albert Arenas (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | +12.549 |
FULL RESULTS!
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