Öncü victorious in drama-filled Moto2 encounter

Baltus and Dixon join the Turk on the Sachsenring podium as Moriera’s phenomenal comeback ends with a controversial crash

Talking points aplenty surfaced from a dramatic Moto2 Liqui Moly Grand Prix of Germany, and one of them is Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) becoming a winner for the second time in 2025 after the Turkish star fended off Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) before the red flags brought a premature end to the race. Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) crossed the line in P3 to bag his 19th podium, with the British rider involved in a couple of talking points through no fault of his own…

As dark clouds loomed, the Moto2 Grand Prix fired off in dramatic fashion as fourth on the grid Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) jumped the start, and then there was contact between the Australian and polesitter Dixon, which cost the Briton plenty of places. Dixon was down to P6 on the opening lap, with Tony Arbolino (BLUCRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) leading the way from Öncü and Baltus.

Further back, Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) was enjoying a storming start. The Brazilian was up to P10 on Lap 4 from P25 on the grid, with Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) P9 and title chase leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) P13.

That was soon P8 as Moreira continued to carve his way through the pack like a hot knife through butter. At the end of Lap 6, the #10 was P7. That became P6 on the next lap, but that was because Arbolino crashed from P2 down at T12, which meant Dixon was promoted to P3.

On Lap 12 of 25, Moreira passed Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) to climb into P4 and he now had Dixon 0.7s ahead – in other words, a podium position. And that podium fight was beginning to bunch up before drama unfolded.

Moreira was trying to overtake Dixon at Turn 3 on Lap 16 but it was too impatient. There wasn’t really much of a gap there and having made contact with the rear wheel of Dixon, Moreira was off track. Then, coming back onto the circuit, Moriera was on the racing line and it left the helpless David Alonso (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) with nowhere to go. The Colombian collided with the Brazilian as both riders crashed out at Turn 4, but thankfully both were at least back up on their feet and able to walk away from the crash. A fantastic comeback ride from Moriera ends in disaster.

That left Öncü and Baltus as the duo fighting for the victory, 1.1s up the road from Arenas, Dixon and Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team). And in that battle, more drama. Ramirez, out of control into Turn 1 at the start of Lap 21, slammed into Arenas. The two Spaniards were out of the Grand Prix and because of that incident, the red flags were shown because of the Turn 1 air fence needing to be redeployed.

And that meant Öncü, who led over the line on the previous full lap ahead of Baltus, clinched his second Moto2 win, with Dixon passing Arenas a lap earlier to return to the podium since his Austin win.

Gonzalez salvaged a very important P4 to extend his championship lead, with Celestino Vietti (Folladore SpeedRS Team) rounding out the top five. Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) was P6 ahead of Canet, who collects a decent tally of points considering his big qualifying crash. Izan Guevara (BLUCRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) was P8, Ayumu Sasaki (RW – Idrofoglia Racing Team) earned a first Moto2 top 10 with a P9, as Filip Salač (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) now turns his attentions to his home Grand Prix at Brno next weekend following a P10 result.

Drama to say the least then on Sunday at the Sachsenring, as a trip back to the legendary Brno awaits the next round of this fascinating Moto2 championship chase. 

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