Gonzalez Admits Silverstone Blunder: Celebrated Win Before Race Ended

Manuel Gonzalez admitted confusion as he celebrated victory at Moto2 Silverstone on Sunday (11/8/2026). The Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP rider thought the race was over a lap early, but there was still one lap remaining. Consequently, he lost momentum and finished 14th.

Gonzalez started the race targeting a front-running fight but struggled early on as he adapted to group racing. Manuel Gonzalez admitted his pace wasn't sharp enough when following other riders, unlike when he rode alone throughout the weekend.

“The race went as expected, but honestly I thought I'd be faster at the start. The first few laps were tough when following other riders. This weekend I only rode alone, so being in a group felt completely different,” he said.

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As the race progressed, Gonzalez found his rhythm. He grew more comfortable and was able to compete at the front in the closing laps. However, confusion arose when he tried to read the lap board on the straight. He couldn't see it, then relied on his dashboard, which proved misleading.

“I thought it was the last lap, so I passed Dani (Holgado) in the final sector with very late braking. He was fighting hard too,” Gonzalez said.

As he crossed the start-finish line, Gonzalez began celebrating even though he wasn't sure the race was over. He kept the throttle open, but that moment allowed rivals to overtake. Daniel Holgado made contact with his bike, damaging the rear sprocket area and exhaust of his Kalex.

“Unfortunately, Dani hit the sprocket and exhaust. On the last lap I couldn't fight anymore,” Gonzalez explained.

Despite the disappointment, Gonzalez tried to look at the positives. He felt the team and himself had performed strongly, even having a chance to win. “I'm not disappointed, I'm proud of our overall performance. But I feel bad for the team for making a mistake at the finish,” he concluded.