Izan Guevara Tightens Moto2 Title Race with Fortunate Indonesian GP Win

Izan Guevara blew the 2026 Moto2 title fight wide open after securing his third consecutive victory and fourth of the season at the Indonesian Grand Prix.

The Spaniard's triumph at Mandalika was undeniably fortunate, handed to him after a late mechanical heartbreak for his main rival. Alex Escrig looked in complete control on Lombok island, and while Guevara was hunting him down, a head-to-head battle never materialized as Escrig slowed with a technical issue and retired on the penultimate lap.

The race was initially red-flagged at the end of the opening lap following a major multi-rider crash at Turn 1. David Alonso, Dani Holgado, Collin Veijer, and Joe Roberts were caught up in the melee, with Alonso and Roberts unable to make the restart due to heavy damage on their machinery.

When the race resumed for a shortened 14-lap sprint, Escrig surged from second on the grid to pass polesitter Guevara into the lead. The Klint rider maintained a composed and flawless pace at the front, only for a cruel mechanical failure to rob him of a thoroughly deserved maiden Moto2 victory.

Victory instead fell into Guevara's lap ahead of championship leader Manuel Gonzalez, who produced one of his best rides of the season to charge from tenth on the grid to second. The Intact GP rider's recovery drive successfully minimized the points damage against Guevara in the intermediate-class title hunt.

Dani Holgado rounded out the podium in third, having taken the restart thanks to an incredible effort by the Aspar mechanics. Following the race, the Spaniard apologized to his crew and teammate Alonso for the initial contact that triggered the opening-lap pile-up.

Senna Agius crossed the line in fourth, with Dani Muñoz completing the top five at Mandalika. Ivan Ortola, Filip Salac, Alonso Lopez, Tony Arbolino, and Jose Antonio Rueda rounded out the top ten, while Veijer, Luca Lunetta, Ayumu Sasaki, Taiyo Furusato, and Zonta van den Goorbergh also secured points.

In the championship standings, Gonzalez remains at the top with 265.5 points, but his lead over Guevara has been slashed to just 5.5 points heading into the final five rounds. Ortola sits third, 74 points off the summit.

The Moto2 season resumes in a fortnight (October 23-25) for the Australian Grand Prix, which will mark the championship's farewell appearance at Phillip Island before moving to the Adelaide street circuit next year.