But the first three Grands Prix were a mixture of bad luck and trouble, a run he put to an end at Jerez on home turf, and in some style. After stunning duel with Manuel Gonzalez (QJMotor Gresini Moto2™) in the early stages, he was able to put the hammer down at the front and take that win. Behind, a charge from Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing) saw the American slice up the order to duel Gonzalez over the final laps, coming out on top and those 20 points for second putting him in the Championship lead as the #18 was forced to settle for third.
It’s the first time an American has led a World Championship since Nicky Hayden in 2006, the first time an American has taken three podiums in a row since the very same campaign, and Roberts’ score at the top of the table is 69 points.
Once the lights went out, Gonzalez pounced to steal the lead, setting the fastest lap early on and holding off Aldeguer on the opening lap. Americas GP winner Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) also had a strong start, looking like he’d defend or extend his Championship lead coming into the race.
It was a dramatic start further down the field for Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), however, as he and Zonta Van Den Goorbergh (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP) collided, the Dutchman then handed a LLP for the incident.
Back at the front, as the race progressed there were fireworks, with Aldeguer executing a heroic overtake on lap four only to be met with Gonzalez’s response to fight back immediately, kicking off a stunning early race duel. However, once Aldeguer had a clear track in the third sector, the #54 began to build a gap and the Gresini didn’t have an answer.
Roberts was the rider with the pace in the middle stage of the race, stealing the fastest lap after setting a 1:41.020 on lap 10. The American had worked his way up and pulled off an unbelievable move to steal third from Garcia, who had no response as Roberts continued to lap in the low 1:41 bracket.
On the final lap of the race, Aldeguer had even time in hand to celebrate with the crowd throughout the last lap. However, the battle for second continued, with Roberts having arrived at Gonzalez and attacked, then able to just hold on.
Further down the order, Garcia held onto fourth – losing time in the latter stages of the race but staying ahead of Albert Arenas, who capped off a great weekend for the QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™ squad in the top five. Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) was sixth, ending the Spanish GP with a solid point-scoring finish after a charge up the order, ahead of Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), who claimed his best finish of the season so far in seventh. Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team’s Jeremey Alcoba was eighth a further 0.143 after a tense battle against the #14. Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was ninth ahead of Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia), who rounded out the top 10.
Turn 13 claimed a handful of victims in the opening stages of the race, including Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika GAS UP Team), Xavier Artigas (KLINT Forward Factory Team), and Dennis Foggia (Italtrans Racing Team), and Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) and Jake Dixon (CFMoto Aspar Team) were two high profile additions to the DNF list later in the race, too.
After that twist in the tale, the French GP will surely write another. Next up is Le Mans in two weeks where Aldeguer will aim to steal the Championship lead from Roberts… but with everything still to play for, make sure you tune in for more!
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