Izán Guevara won this Sunday (the 4th) the Japanese Grand Prix, the 16th round of the 2026 Moto2 season. In the race held in the early hours at the Motegi circuit, the rider of bike number 28 started from pole position and, though heavily challenged by rivals throughout the 19 laps, he led from start to finish to remain in second place in the championship standings.
The runner-up position went to Tony Arbolino, who even attempted to mount an attack on Guevara but misjudged the exit of a corner after briefly taking the lead. Filip Salac completed the podium in third, while Iván Ortolá finished the race in fourth. The top five at the Japanese circuit also featured David Alonso.
Celestino Vietti completed the Motegi affair in sixth place, ahead of Deniz Oncu in seventh by the end of the Moto2 race. Daniel Holgado finished eighth, while Alonso López took ninth. The top-10 was completed by José Antonio Rueda.
Before the start, Manuel González, the championship leader, saw his motorcycle’s engine die as the race was about to begin, forcing him to start from the pits and dropping to last place right at the outset of the 19-lap race, eventually finishing 22nd. On lap 9, Sergio García crashed at turn 11, leaving his bike stranded in the middle of the track. In the same lap, Taiyo Furusato also crashed.
On the 12th lap of the Motegi race, Mario Aji, who had fallen during the warm-up lap, crashed again at turn 3, taking him out of the competition.
The Moto2 championship continues next Sunday, when the Indonesian Grand Prix is scheduled to take place at the Mandalika circuit.
