Manuel Gonzalez had another perfect weekend at the French Moto2 Grand Prix at the Bugatti circuit in Le Mans. By winning for the third time this season, he confirmed his status as the favorite in the category. From qualifying onwards, the Spaniard was unstoppable, securing another pole position, his fifth of the year, with a record time that once again underscored his dominance on a fast lap..
In the race, Gonzalez faced stiff competition, particularly from Diogo Moreira, who took the lead at the start. But the championship leader wasted no time in regaining the lead on lap four, showing complete control despite tricky track conditions.. Barry Baltus, who had a difficult start, quickly got back into Gonzalez's wheel, maintaining the suspense until the final laps.
Despite the threat from the Belgian, Gonzalez managed to extend the gap in the last five laps to finally cross the finish line 1,8 seconds ahead of the number 7 and thus pocket 25 precious points for the championship..
“It’s a great feeling, because it was the hardest win of the season so far, confesses Manuel Gonzalez at the finish. I didn't feel as good as yesterday, but I tried to adapt my behavior and negotiate the corners as I always do. Another point was not to go beyond the limit, because it was easy to fall from the front in some places. But now I'm very happy, because at least we achieved our goal, which was victory. The third victory of the season is incredible. But it's the reward for the good work we're doing as a team."
© Intact GP
This success, obtained in sometimes tricky conditions with light rain at the end of the race, was not easy. “Winning here at Le Mans is something special because I really enjoy racing here, even though it was difficult because other drivers were closer, He continues. So in two weeks at Silverstone, we'll continue working like this. Sometimes I expected Baltus to overtake me, because in some corners I could hear his bike. In cooler conditions like today, it's easier to follow a rider because of the tire temperature."
"My tires were a little too cold, though. But in the last five laps, I had that little extra to open up a little gap and enjoy the race. In addition, it started to rain lightly in the last sector of the last lap. So it was also a little dangerous, but I handled it well. Finally, a big thank you to the team." concludes Manuel Gonzalez.
With this third victory of 2025, Manuel Gonzalez solidifies his position as leader of the Moto2 World Championship, extending his lead to 16 points over his closest rival, Aron Canet, who also finished on the podium at Le Mans. The date is already set for Silverstone, where Gonzalez will attempt to continue this momentum and further assert his ambitions for the world title.
