IntactGP riders strong in Moto2: But only one ahead of MotoGP promotion

– IntactGP has started the 2026 Moto2 season very successfully. The German team won four of the first six races. Manuel Gonzalez won in Buriram and Barcelona. Senna Agius celebrated two consecutive victories in Austin and Jerez. Overall, IntactGP has already collected seven trophies for podium finishes.

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“If someone had told me before that we would win four of six Grands Prix, and overall there have already been seven podiums. That is really brutal,” says team boss Jürgen Lingg in an interview with Motorsport-Total.com.

“I am very satisfied and sometimes I really have to pinch myself and ask: Is this really happening right now? It is nice to see how the team works. Everyone keeps both feet on the ground.”

“You can also tell that everyone is trying even harder to avoid even the smallest mistakes. That simply nothing else happens, like last year. It’s not just the riders, the whole team is growing.”

This is also shown by the world championship standings after the first six race weekends. Gonzalez leads and Agius is fourth. IntactGP leads the team standings ahead of the CFMoto Aspar team.

The two Aspar riders Daniel Holgado (one season win) and David Alonso (no podium yet) will move up to MotoGP in 2027 and will race for Gresini (Holgado) and Honda (Alonso), respectively.

Tech3 could give Agius a chance

It is becoming increasingly clear in the MotoGP paddock that a rider from IntactGP will also move up to the premier class next year: Agius. The Tech3 team is interested in the 20-year-old Australian.

Günther Steiner did not name any names in Mugello but described his idea for one of the two seats: “I am open to giving a Moto2 rider a chance. That is an option for us.”

“You can mix experience with someone who could be the next star.” Tech3 and Agius are said to be close to an agreement. He could thus become the teammate of Maverick Vinales, who would be the experienced rider.

Agius is currently in his third Moto2 season with IntactGP and has been able to improve every year so far. In the first year, he achieved his first podium, in the second year more podiums followed as well as his first two wins.

Now Agius has already won four Moto2 races, while Alonso, for example, has only won once in the middle class so far. Lingg can understand why there is interest in Agius.

“For me, that is understandable because he is the youngest of the possible promotees. He has incredible potential when it comes to fast motorcycles.” By that, Lingg means more powerful engines than the Triumph triple of Moto2.

“I am quite convinced that Senna can handle more power even better. We see that in the data. Maybe others have already discovered that too. For me, it is not illogical that he is on the list.”

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Lingg does not understand why Gonzalez is not in demand

On the other hand, Gonzalez is still fighting for his MotoGP chance. Last year, the tenor was that there are too many Spaniards in the premier class and he can only move up if he dominates and there is no way past him.

After the narrow world championship defeat last season, Gonzalez has stamped his mark on the current season so far. His results in the first six races were: win, third, fifth, second, second, win.

Nevertheless, MotoGP teams were interested in Holgado, Alonso, Izan Guevara (Pramac-Yamaha), and Agius. “I don’t understand it either,” shakes Lingg his head. “We keep asking ourselves in the team why that is.”

“One thing is clear: Manu is the most complete Moto2 rider. He is young. He gets good results even when he stumbles. Even when it doesn’t feel like it should, he has the ability to adapt and still get top-5 results.”

“Very few or probably no one else can do that. Barcelona was a tactical and riding masterpiece. Sometimes I wonder why others don’t notice that.”

“I think it is obvious that he is the most complete rider. If I were in the position to need a young rider for MotoGP next year, it would be Manu.”

Because his management of the Pirelli tires in Barcelona showed his qualities. “The DNA will be closer to Moto2,” Lingg believes about the new MotoGP prototypes with Pirelli tires in 2027.

“There will be a mix of MotoGP and Moto2. From my point of view, it is always good to have an experienced rider and a rookie from Moto2. But as I said, that is not my area and not my responsibility.”

Still a MotoGP chance for Gonzalez?

Possibly, a MotoGP chance could still arise for Gonzalez. Enea Bastianini will race for Trackhouse-Aprilia as soon as KTM does not exercise the option on him and thus releases him from the contract.

Who will be the second Trackhouse rider is open. Raul Fernandez’s stay is not yet secured. There have recently been contacts with Gonzalez again. It remains to be seen what decision Justin Marks, the Trackhouse boss, will make.

Fernandez won the sprint in Mugello and then said about his future at Trackhouse: “I am doing my best, and I will continue to do my best. I will not think about what happens next year.”

“I had a very good conversation with Justin. I don’t know – I am very professional. Until 2026 I am a Trackhouse rider, and I will give my best for them. Because they make all the decisions.”

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