Brazilian Diogo Moreira will step up to MotoGP in 2026 with the Moto2 world championship to his name.
The 21-year-old confirmed his title victory over Manuel Gonzalez with a cautious ride to 11th place in the final round at Valencia.
The newly-crowned Moto2 champion will graduate to the premier world championship class with the independent LCR Honda team next season – a move that was an open secret for several weeks before finally being confirmed by the Japanese manufacturer last month.
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Gonzalez was only ever a long shot to snatch the Moto2 title from Moreira at Valencia, given that he arrived at the finale 24 points behind the Italtrans Kalex rider. The challenger would not only have to win the race but also have to hope for Moreira to finish outside the top 14 spots.
It was advantage Gonzalez after qualifying, with the 23-year-old claiming fifth spot on the grid. One row behind him, Moreira lined up ninth. Despite the lowly grid slot, Moreira knew that just staying out of trouble would almost certainly be enough to seal the title.
Diogo Moreira, Italtrans Racing Team, Manuel Gonzalez, Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Moreira did exactly that, keeping well clear of any danger as the pack jockeyed through the first two corners. He settled into an early 10th place, then ran most of the race in ninth before dropping back to 11th at the flag.
By that stage, he already knew that Gonzalez had no chance of pulling off the victory he needed. The Intact GP Kalex had spent most of the race in fifth and sixth spots – close to the leaders but never able to seriously challenge them.
Gonzalez had given it everything, however, appearing to have asked too much of the bike or the tyres as the race progressed into its final third. He dropped rapidly through the field at that point, with Moreira passing him as he plummeted out of the top 10. He pitted in evident despair with four laps to go, but rejoined to register a disappointing 22nd place.
The race was won by Izan Guevara, who led the whole way and survived a last-lap challenge from Daniel Holgado. Ivan Ortola trailed the pair home to claim third place.
Moto2 Valencia GP - results
RACE
All Stats
Rider
Bike
Laps
Time
Interval
km/h
Retirement
Points
I. Guevara BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2
Boscoscuro B-21
34'19.229
D. Holgado CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team
Kalex
+0.717
34'19.946
0.717
I. Ortola QJMOTOR - FRINSA - MSI
Boscoscuro B-21
+2.327
34'21.556
1.610
C. Veijer Ajo Motorsport
Kalex
+2.888
34'22.117
0.561
F. Salač Elf Marc VDS Racing Team
Boscoscuro B-21
+5.714
34'24.943
2.826
A. Arenas ITALJET Gresini Moto2
Kalex
+7.867
34'27.096
2.153
J. Dixon Elf Marc VDS Racing Team
Boscoscuro B-21
+8.595
34'27.824
0.728
S. Agius Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP
Kalex
+8.944
34'28.173
0.349
C. Vietti Sync SpeedRS Team
Boscoscuro B-21
+11.075
34'30.304
2.131
T. Arbolino BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2
Boscoscuro B-21
+11.520
34'30.749
0.445
D. Moreira Italtrans Racing Team
Kalex
+12.019
34'31.248
0.499
A. López Sync SpeedRS Team
Boscoscuro B-21
+14.100
34'33.329
2.081
M. Ramirez OnlyFans American Racing Team
Kalex
+15.715
34'34.944
1.615
A. Escrig KLINT Forward Factory Team
Forward F2
+15.985
34'35.214
0.270
A. Canet Fantic Racing
Kalex
+21.975
34'41.204
5.990
Z. van den Goorbergh RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP
Kalex
+22.099
34'41.328
0.124
M. Aji Honda Team Asia
Kalex
+22.800
34'42.029
0.701
D. Alonso CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team
Kalex
+23.925
34'43.154
1.125
J. Navarro KLINT Forward Factory Team
Forward F2
+31.723
34'50.952
7.798
Y. Kunii Honda Team Asia
Kalex
+31.778
34'51.007
0.055
X. Zurutuza OnlyFans American Racing Team
Kalex
+33.805
34'53.034
2.027
M. Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP
Kalex
+1 Lap
35'01.505
1 Lap
D. Muñoz Ajo Motorsport
Kalex
+1 Lap
35'37.014
35.509
E. Fernández QJMOTOR - FRINSA - MSI
Boscoscuro B-21
+14 Laps
13'46.659
13 Laps
Retirement
H. Garzo RW NTS Idrofoglia
+15 Laps
11'45.798
1 Lap
Retirement
S. García ITALJET Gresini Moto2
Kalex
+17 Laps
8'07.190
2 Laps
Retirement
B. Baltus Fantic Racing
Kalex
+22 Laps
18.164
5 Laps
Retirement
View full results
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