Home hero Celestino Vietti took a stunning win in Moto2, outdragging Fantic’s Aron Canet to the line to record his second win of the season at Misano.
The home favourites Tony Arbolino and Vietti got fantastic starts from third and fourth on the grid, with the MarcVDS rider leading the KTM Ajo rider into Turn 1 ahead of Canet and American Racing’s Joe Roberts.
Canet continued to follow Vietti as the Italian set a new race lap record in a bid to break away from the Spaniard and challenge Arbolino out front.
Sergio Garcia, who was looking to recover from his nightmare weekend last time around, crashed out at Turn 1 as his championship aspirations looked to be slipping away.
Another contender in Jake Dixon also crashed out the corner after Garcia, potentially putting an end to his momentum in the title fight.
Out front, the gap continued to close between the leading three as championship leader Ai Ogura continued to fend off SpeedUp’s Fermin Aldeguer for fourth.
Vietti looked the fastest of the leading trio and attempted a move on Arbolino into Turn 2, but a mistake cost him as he lost a place to Canet.
Arbolino looked to regain control out front but a mistake caused him to run wide and allowed Canet and Vietti through.
Just as Vietti looked as he was going to take the lead, his bike got out of shape going into the final corner – he was able to recover, although he’d lost touch with Canet and Arbolino.
A block pass by Arbolino allowed him to reclaim the lead, but he went wide to give Canet a chance to overtake him, but he was able to cover the Spanish rider off.
The fighting between the leading pair allowed Vietti back into the fight as it looked to be a three-way fight going into the last lap.
Arbolino seemed to have it covered, but a mistake ran him wide – losing the chance of a win and allowing Canet and Vietti back through.
Canet looked to have it covered, but ran a defensive line into the final corner which allowed Vietti to outdrag him to take the chequered flag ahead of the Spaniard, with Arbolino eventually coming home in third.
Ogura was able to fend off Aldeguer for fourth, while Roberts crossed the line in sixth.
IntactGP’s Senna Agius came home in seventh ahead of American Racing’s Marcos Ramirez in eighth and SpeedUp’s Alonso Lopez in ninth.
MarcVDS’ Filip Salac rounded out the top 10 ahead of Gresini’s Manuel Gonzalez in 11th.
Italtrans’ Dennis Foggia crossed the line 12th ahead of Aspar’s Izan Guevara in 13th.
Honda Team Asia’s Somkiat Chantra came home in 14th as Jeremy Alcoba rounded out the point scorers in 15th.
