22/03/2026

Hard-fought podium: Gonzalez shines in Brazil

The Brazilian Grand Prix was no walk in the park for LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP. Thanks to his skill, Manuel Gonzalez secured third place on Sunday, ensuring a positive outcome to the weekend.

The shock over the loss of Roberto Lunadei, Senna Agius’s mechanic, was plain to see in the faces of every single member of the German team LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP. The second race weekend of the season was a difficult time for everyone.

Manuel Gonzalez still impressed over the weekend that proved challenging for various reasons. After a cautious start in Friday morning’s Free Practice One at a rain-soaked track, the rider from Madrid finished the subsequent Practice session in second place. In qualifying, which took place on Sunday morning due to schedule changes, he missed out on pole position because of a mistake on his fastest lap. He started the race from fourth place on the second row, initially losing a few positions but steadily making his way back up to fourth and relentlessly chasing the leading trio. As Alex Escrig in front of him fell further and further back, Gonzalez was finally able to close the gap and seize the opportunity on the final lap to pass his compatriot and secure third place on the podium.

Team mate Senna Agius, meanwhile, struggled at the return of the World Championship to the vast country in South America. The loss of his mechanic weighed heavily on him, and the constantly changing track conditions posed a major challenge for the 20-year-old Australian rider. Agius had to start Sunday’s race in good weather from the back of the field and finished 19th after 26 gruelling laps.

From South America, the action moves straight on to the north for the Grand Prix of the USA at the Circuit of the Americas on the outskirts of Austin, Texas.

#BrazilianGP Moto2™ Qualifying Results:
1 Daniel HOLGADO / SPA / CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team / KALEX / 1´20.711
2 David ALONSO / SPA / CFMoto Inde Aspar Team / KALEX / 1´20.728 +0.017
3 Alex ESCRIG / SPA / KLINT Racing Team / FORWARD / 1´20.754 +0.043
4 #18 Manuel GONZALEZ / SPA / LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP / KALEX / 1´1´20.790 +0.079
…
28 #81 Senna AGIUS / AUS / LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP / KALEX / 1´22.049 (Q1)

#BrazilianGP – Moto2™ Race Classification (26 Laps):
1 Daniel HOLGADO / SPA / CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team / KALEX / 35´46.382
2 Daniel MUÑOZ / SPA / Italtrans Racing Team / KALEX / +1.226
3 #18 Manuel GONZALEZ / SPA / LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP / KALEX / +3.916
…
19 #81 Senna AGIUS / AUS / LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP / KALEX / +27.250

Moto2™ World Standings:
1 Daniel HOLGADO / SPA / KALEX / 33
2 #18 Manuel GONZALEZ / SPA / KALEX / 28,5
3 Daniel MUÑOZ / SPA / KALEX / 24
…
#81 Senna AGIUS / AUS / KALEX

Moto2™ Team Standings:
1 CFMOTO Aspar Team 44
2 LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP 28,5
3 Italtrans Racing Team 28

Manuel Gonzalez

Race: P3 +3.916
Moto2™ World Championship 2026: P2 - 28,5 Points

«It was a really tough weekend because we were not able to get in as many laps as we needed to. As a result, the setup was not ideal for this track, and I struggled with the bike right from the first lap today. But I am super happy because I was able to adjust my riding style during the race. I was always thinking about how I could ride the bike the way the top riders did, since I knew their strengths very well. I tried to put that into practice and was able to keep up the pace. At the same time, I did not want to crash under any circumstances, since I was at the limit on every lap. So, we have to be satisfied with today’s result. That is why I have to give a big thank you to the team, because they fight just as hard as I do on track. We achieved this podium together, even though we need to keep improving, since I was lacking a bit of feel for the bike today. Now I am looking forward to Austin. If we can achieve results like this in situations like this, it will be crucial for the championship, especially mentally. We have the speed, but the mentality makes the difference.»

Senna Agius

Race: P19 +12.601
Moto2™ World Championship 2026: 0 Points

«It was a long and tough day. Qualifying did not go according to plan, but I got off to a decent start in the race and was able to make up a few positions. I worked my way up the field a bit, but then I made a mistake in the chicane, and all my progress was lost. After that, I just tried to understand the bike better, get a feel for it, and find a decent pace to finish the race strong. I did what I could, but the tyre started to fade pretty early. So, I had to deal with that. Since I did not feel comfortable on the bike, it turned into a physically demanding race. So, we need to keep our feet on the ground and pull together, because we need to understand why we had such a hard time this weekend. It gives me extra motivation for Austin to get things right from the start and do the work needed so we will be in a better situation soon. A big thank you to the team. Jürgen and all my guys are doing a really great job. Unfortunately, Brazil was a really tough weekend for us, but I am confident we will come back stronger soon. It was also strange that Roby was not here. Even though Roby’s passing is a heavy blow for all of us, we must somehow carry on and stay strong — for his sake as well. He will always be in our hearts. My deepest condolences go out to his family, his daughter, and his friends.»

Jürgen Lingg

Team manager

«We really have had a lot to deal with over the past ten days. Especially after the tragic events, it was not easy to go to Brazil. Knowing that Roby would not be with us was hard for all of us to bear. We always felt Roby’s presence. But our guys handled the situation very professionally, even if they were a bit quieter than usual. It was really tough for everyone, but Manu did an excellent job out on track. On top of that, there were difficult conditions with constantly changing track conditions. Given all these circumstances, Manu drew on all his experience and secured third place in the race. Due to limited practice time on track, it was not possible to set up his bike exactly as he would have needed. That makes it all the more satisfying when not everything is 100 percent right and we still end up on the podium. That is a good sign.»

«We had a very difficult weekend with Senna. Roby’s tragic accident really took a toll on him. On top of that, he struggled with the track right from the start. He was never relaxed enough. Still, it has to be said that the second half of his race was good. His lap times kept getting better. From that perspective, there were definitely positive aspects for him, even if the result does not reflect that. Now we have a few days to let it all sink in, and next week in Austin we will pick up where we left off. We’re already looking forward to it.»

#BrazilianGP 2026 - Sunday

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