Moto2 race at the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas at the Circuits of The Americas in Austin, Texas on April 16, 2023. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)
The Moto2 race at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas was an instant classic as a two-way scrap for victory saw Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) just pip Tony Arbolino (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team) on the final lap, setting up the perfect Championship rivalry in the process. The battle for third also raged on all race long, with Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) carving his way through the group on the final lap and taking his first Moto2™ podium, also the first Dutch podium in the intermediate class since Wilco Zeelenberg in 1994!
It was drama before the lights had even turned on in Texas as Jake Dixon (GASGAS Aspar Team) crashed on the Warm Up lap, halting his chances before the race had even started. When the lights did go out though it was a perfect start from Acosta, who took a tight line at Turn 1 to defend the lead before Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) muscled his way through. Meanwhile, Arbolino made an incredible round-the-outside move through the slalom section to put himself into third.
Acosta was determined as ever as the Spaniard retook the lead on the way down to Turn 12, before a Lopez lunge at the penultimate corner attempted to take the lead but saw the Spaniard run wide and drop down to third - behind Arbolino.
With 14 laps to go Acosta attempted to stretch the field as he put the hammer down, with Lopez latched onto his coattails, but he hit a false neutral at the tricky Turn 12, allowing Lopez to take the lead as the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider dropped down to P5.
Acosta wasted no time in getting past Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) as the Spaniard put himself into 4th with his sights set on Arbolino and Lopez in front, and the three were able to escape Canet - before Lopez made a mistake and dropped down to sixth. This was it: the duel was on.
It was cat and mouse, with neither blinking, before with three to go Acosta found his way through as Arbolino ran wide at Turn 1. Further on around the lap it was then his turn, running wide to allow Arbolino back through. The Italian led across the line on the penultimate lap and it was gearing up for the perfect last lap scrap.
Once it was crunch time, Acosta couldn't get any closer to the rear wheel of Arbolino's Elf Marc VDS Kalex machine, but at Turn 12 the number 37 pounced and made it stick. That left Arbolino with one more shot at victory coming into the final two corners. Acosta ran incredibly defensively through them, allowing no way through for the Italian, but Arbolino took a wide swooping line into the final corner setting himself up for the drag to the line. It wasn't quite enough but not by much, with Acosta taking the victory by 0.146s.
With the leading duo checking out at the front, the battle for third was hotting up nicely as Canet was coming under pressure from Fermin Aldeguer (BETA Tools SpeedUp), and the two QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™ riders of Jeremy Alcoba and Filip Salač. After a charge up the order though, it was Bendsneyder who took it to make a little history for rider and nation.
Alcoba finished fourth with teammate Salač rounding out the top five, with the SpeedUp riders of Aldeguer and Lopez just behind. Canet, polesitter Celestino Vietti (Fantic Racing) and Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Master Camp) completed the top ten.
With a championship battle hotting up nicely in Moto2™, you're not going to want to miss any of the action as the paddock moves to Jerez! Join us for more at the Gran Premio MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn de España in two weeks' time! (Source MotoGP)
| Pos | Rider | Team | Bike | Time/Gap |
| 1 | Pedro Acosta | Red Bull KTM Ajo | Kalex | 34:42.9 |
| 2 | Tony Arbolino | ELF Marc VDS Racing | Kalex | 0.146 |
| 3 | Bo Bendsneyder | Pertamina Mandalika SAG | Kalex | 5.851 |
| 4 | Jeremy Alcoba | Gresini Racing Moto2 | Kalex | 6.049 |
| 5 | Filip Salac | Gresini Racing Moto2 | Kalex | 7.462 |
| 6 | Fermín Aldeguer | CAG Speed Up Racing | Boscoscuro | 7.668 |
| 7 | Alonso Lopez | CAG Speed Up Racing | Boscoscuro | 7.715 |
| 8 | Aron Canet | Pons Wegow Los40 | Kalex | 8.078 |
| 9 | Celestino Vietti | Fantic Racing | Kalex | 11.114 |
| 10 | Manuel Gonzalez | Yamaha VR46 Master Camp | Kalex | 12.561 |
| 11 | Somkiat Chantra | IDEMITSU Honda Asia | Kalex | 13.607 |
| 12 | Albert Arenas | Red Bull KTM Ajo | Kalex | 14.001 |
| 13 | Sam Lowes | ELF Marc VDS Racing | Kalex | 20.054 |
| 14 | Dennis Foggia | Italtrans Racing | Kalex | 22.99 |
| 15 | Ai Ogura | Idemitsu Honda Asia | Kalex | 28.82 |
| 16 | Joe Roberts | Italtrans Racing | Kalex | 31.893 |
| 17 | Zonta Vd Goorbergh | Fieten Olie Racing GP | Kalex | 34.734 |
| 18 | Sean Dylan Kelly | American Racing | Kalex | 34.934 |
| 19 | Rory Skinner | American Racing | Kalex | 42.54 |
| 20 | Borja Gomez | Fantic Racing | Kalex | 49.973 |
| 21 | Izan Guevara | GasGas Aspar | Kalex | 51.47 |
| 22 | David Sanchis | Fantic Racing | Kalex | 01:05.2 |
| 23 | Soichiro Minamimoto | Yamaha VR46 Master Camp | Kalex | 01:44.4 |
MotoGP
Grand Prix motorcycle racing is the oldest established motorsport world championship and the premier class of motorcycle road racing events held on road circuits sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). Grand Prix motorcycles are purpose-built racing machines that are unavailable for purchase by the general public and unable to be ridden legally on public roads. The championship is currently divided into four classes: the eponymous MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3 and MotoE.
Circuit of The Americas
Circuit of The Americas (COTA) is the premier destination for world-class motorsports and entertainment in the United States. Just outside downtown Austin, Circuit of The Americas has hosted the biggest names in racing, action sports and music. At its heart is a 3.41-mile racetrack that was designed to challenge the world's most exacting competitors while providing a thrilling spectacle for audiences.
The 20-turn, counterclockwise circuit takes advantage of the naturally undulating landscape, including an intimidating 133-foot hill at Turn 1. It has hosted the Formula 1 United States Grand Pix, MotoGP Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas, ESPN's X Games, the FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Pirelli World Challenge and more. Nestled within the track is Germania Insurance Amphitheater, the largest permanent outdoor amphitheater in Central Texas, and its 251-foot signature observation tower.
MotoGP
web | facebook | twitter | instagram
Circuit of The Americas
web | facebook | twitter | instagram
Photos by Ralph Arvesen
web | facebook | twitter | instagram
