Diogo Moreira becomes the first Brazilian to win the motorcycle world championship – IntactGP rider Manuel Gonzalez beaten after leading the world championship for a long time
Diogo Moreira from the Italian Italtrans team is the 2025 Moto2 World Champion. With eleventh place in the season finale in Valencia, the 21-year-old became the first Brazilian in the history of the Motorcycle World Championship to be crowned champion. IntactGP rider Manuel Gonzalez had to make a pit stop and finished the race lapped.
“I’m so happy, I have no words to describe it,” said Moreira at the moment of his greatest success to date. “I can only thank all the people who supported me this year and last year. Thank you very much. Now we have to enjoy the moment and try to put everything behind us. But yes, really: just thank you to everyone, and see you next year.”
Gonzalez started the season with a victory in Thailand, followed by second place in Argentina. With his victory in the fifth race in Jerez, the Spaniard took the lead in the World Championship and remained at the top of the table for a long time.
After France, the sixth race, Gonzalez had a 61-point lead over Moreira. Moreira claimed his first victory in Assen. But even after the twelfth race in Czechia, the gap between the two riders was still 60 points.
Then Moreira started a comeback, winning in Austria and finishing on the podium in Hungary and Japan. Gonzalez, who won four races in the first half of the season, only managed one more podium finish in Hungary.
In Indonesia, Gonzalez was disqualified and lost 20 World Championship points for second place. The ECU software did not comply with the currently permitted version. In Malaysia, the IntactGP rider crashed and finished outside the World Championship points.
Moreira took the lead in the World Championship for the first time with fifth place in Malaysia and had a nine-point lead. With his fourth win of the season in Portugal, the Brazilian increased his lead to 24 points ahead of the season finale in Valencia.
In the last qualifying session of the year, Moreira had to compete in Q1, but he mastered this hurdle. Gonzalez qualified fifth and Moreira ninth. Gonzalez drove in fifth place for a long time, while Moreira drove alone in ninth place.
From lap 14 onwards, Gonzalez’s lap times dropped off because his rear tire was worn out. The Spaniard lost positions and was also overtaken by Moreira five laps before the finish. That was the final decision. At the end of that lap, Gonzalez pitted and continued one lap down after a tire change. Moreira was confirmed as world champion. He eventually finished eleventh.
After the race, Filip Salac, who was fifth, received a 16-second time penalty for violating the minimum rear tire pressure. This meant that Moreira was classified tenth. His World Championship lead was 30 points.
Next year, Moreira will compete in MotoGP with the LCR Honda team. Gonzalez will remain with the IntactGP team for another Moto2 season.
Kalex won the constructors’ championship for the 13th time. Fantic won the team championship for the first time. Daniel Holgado was named Rookie of the Year.
