Spaniard Manuel ‘Manugas’ González heads into the Moto2 Malaysian Grand Prix with the goal of halting the charge of his compatriot, Izan Guevara. The two are separated by just 5.5 points in the world championship standings ahead of this weekend’s event at the Sepang International Circuit.

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González, riding for Kalex, leads the intermediate-class world championship, while Guevara—on a Boscoscuro—has emerged as his primary rival following a high-performing second half of the season.

Over the last seven races, Guevara has collected 132 points compared to González’s 80, closing the gap by 52 points and keeping the title race wide open.

The rider from Madrid had a chance to extend his lead in Australia, where he secured pole position for the race at Phillip Island. However, poor weather conditions forced the cancellation of the Grand Prix, preventing González from checking Guevara’s momentum.

The Malaysian Grand Prix, held at the Sepang circuit, offers a fresh opportunity for both championship contenders. González will look to extend his lead, while Guevara could narrow the margin—or even take the lead—depending on the race outcome.

Weather conditions could once again play a role, given the frequent tropical rains in the region. This factor is particularly significant for González, who, according to available information, does not excel on wet asphalt.

Make sure to save this for the weekend! 📲

Here’s the #MalaysianGP schedule 🇲🇾#MotoGP pic.twitter.com/pOnjkq86fy

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 28, 2026

While the spotlight is on the title battle, several other riders are also in contention for the win at Sepang. These include Spaniards Iván Ortolá, Daniel Holgado, Alonso López, and Daniel Muñoz—all on Kalex machines—as well as Alex Escrig (Forward), José Antonio Rueda (Kalex), and Adrián Huertas (Kalex).

Spanish-Colombian rider David Alonso, the 2024 Moto3 world champion, remains near the top of the championship standings, with a slim 0.5-point margin in the title race. His primary objective should be to secure more victories before his planned move up to MotoGP.

Also aiming for strong results are Australian Senna Agius, Czech rider Filip Salac, Italians Celestino Vietti and Tony Arbolino, Dutchman Collin Veijer, and Belgian rider Barry Baltus—all of whom have demonstrated their competitiveness throughout the season.

In Moto3, the world title has already been decided in favor of Spaniard Máximo Quiles (KTM), who clinched the championship at the Indonesian Grand Prix. Attention now shifts to the battle for the runner-up spot.

David Almansa (KTM) is currently the best-placed rider, followed by his compatriots Brian Uriarte (KTM), Álvaro Carpe (KTM), and Adrián Fernández (Honda), as well as Spanish-Argentine riders Marco Morelli (KTM) and Valentín Perrone (KTM).

As the already-crowned champion, Quiles has stated his intention to secure as many victories as possible before the season ends, adding an extra layer of competition for his rivals in the upcoming races.

📌 French driver Doriane Pin, 22, completed a day of private testing with the #Mercedes team at Silverstone Circuit. At the wheel of the W12 race car, Pin covered a total of 200 kilometers over 76 laps, becoming the first F1 Academy champion to drive a Formula 1 car. This session… pic.twitter.com/QtP1ynaLTT

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) April 20, 2026

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