Manuel Gonzalez is approaching the second half of the championship Moto2 2025 is a serious undertaking. Despite a 25-point lead in the overall standings, the championship leader isn't underestimating the threat posed by Aron Canet, who is particularly impressive as the Asian tour approaches. After his podium finish in Hungary, Gonzalez is tempering any euphoria and anticipates a significant return to form from his closest rival in the upcoming races.
In a press conference, Manuel Gonzalez didn't shy away from the challenge of the upcoming races – nor the strength of his main rival: “Aron is going through a tougher period right now, but I expect him to be there in Asia as well, because last year, in many races like Indonesia, or other circuits, he was very strong in those conditions. He showed that he knows how to manage the race and be faster on the bike.” Keen to avoid getting caught up in calculations, Gonzalez insists that his goal remains consistency: “I'm not thinking about them. I'm focused on the track and on the top three; that's always the objective. Even if it's Diogo or Aron, we push hard and aim for the front.”
The Spaniard has shown impressive consistency throughout the season, racking up wins and podium finishes, while Canet has gone through a much more difficult period, stringing together several races outside the top five. But Gonzalez remains cautious: "It's good for us to have a 25-point lead, so we can manage things a bit more, avoid crashes. We have three zero points, two of which aren't my fault, of course at Silverstone [it was mine]," he acknowledges, referring to his collision with Barry Baltus. " We still have many races, many points to score, we have to keep working, that's the key."
This realism is based on the fact that last year, Aron Canet did indeed shine during the Asian tour, even reaching the second step of the podium in Jakarta (Indonesia) and Phillip Island (Australia). These results allowed him to consolidate his runner-up position, behind Ai Ogura. The Spanish leader knows he will have to continue to "keep a cool head and fight for the podium in every race," otherwise his lead will shrink, especially if Canet rediscovers his 2024 form overseas. The fight for the title continues. Moto2 is therefore still completely open, while Diogo Moreira, another strong player in this early part of the second half of the season, is gaining consistency and becoming a threat as well.
