MANUEL GONZALEZ STILL WAITING FOR A MOTOGP CALL-UP DESPITE DOMINATING MOTO2

Moto2 championship leader Manuel Gonzalez remains one of the biggest unanswered questions in the MotoGP rider market. Despite what Speedweek describes as a “complete” profile and a dominant run in the class, the Spaniard has not been promoted to the premier category—an outcome that has surprised many observers, especially given how the available MotoGP seats were handled.

Speedweek points out that the debate around Gonzalez’s MotoGP future has been simmering for more than a year. Even when it became clear that he would not make the step up, the Moto2 title picture still looked like it should have translated into a call-up. With the same number of wins and podiums, Diogo Moreira ultimately received the only MotoGP ticket available at the time, while Gonzalez’s situation did not change. In the lead-up to the 2025 season, Speedweek notes that multiple riders were given opportunities—Ogura, Aldeguer and Chantra among them—whereas for the current cycle, MotoGP team bosses held back and leaned toward experienced names. The outlet cites veterans such as Franco Morbidelli and Jack Miller signing one-year deals as part of that broader strategy.

For Gonzalez himself, Speedweek says the situation was met with a pragmatic approach rather than public complaint. The article frames his mindset as “sweep it under the rug, then it’s 2026,” emphasizing that he “never” expressed negativity about his circumstances and instead kept pushing hard.

On track, the results have been difficult to ignore. In the first half of the 2026 Moto2 season, Gonzalez built a gap of more than 50 points over the first chaser. He finished every race, including the Silverstone Grand Prix, with only four races not ending on the podium. Speedweek also highlights the kind of racecraft that has defined his campaign—particularly under pressure in England, where Gonzalez reportedly managed the race perfectly, dissected the field, and was leading at the end.

Yet even that performance contained a rare miscalculation. Speedweek describes a “rare mistake” in which Gonzalez believed he was on the final lap, but an entire lap was missing before the next “25-point package” could be secured. The outlet presents this as an example of how Gonzalez has repeatedly studied rivals during races, worn them down, and then found the decisive reserve to fight for victory.

The article uses Barcelona as a “parade example” of Gonzalez’s quality. It describes his win there as, in his own words, the best race of his career—an “ideal” victory that extended his championship lead during a crucial phase of the year.

Speedweek then shifts from performance to the contract negotiations that, in its view, should have favored Gonzalez. It argues that during the hot phase of talks, any rational MotoGP team manager with a free seat should have sent Gonzalez’s camp a signed blank contract immediately. The outlet claims that arguments against him could be countered, but the key point remains: the promotion did not happen.

To address common criticisms, Speedweek rejects the idea that Gonzalez is a late starter, noting his early debut in the Red Bull Rookies Cup at age 14, followed by a European Talent Cup title and further success after moving into the 600cc category. It also points to his Moto2 progression: first podium in his second year, first win in his third, and championship leadership after joining Intact GP. Now 24 and described as a nine-time GP winner and world champion, Gonzalez’s age and trajectory are presented as consistent with the kind of riders who typically earn MotoGP opportunities.

The outlet also dismisses the notion that he lacks team-player qualities, describing him as composed and a respected teammate with “humor and common sense.” It adds that nationality should not be a deciding factor either, given that multiple Spanish riders are already expected to be in MotoGP in the coming years.

Finally, Speedweek broadens the picture by discussing the broader promotion landscape. It suggests that the riders expected to move up for 2027 include Guevara, Agius, Holgado and Alonso, while Gonzalez—despite being the clear Moto2 leader—may remain in Moto2. The article also claims that even in the Superbike World Championship, Gonzalez would not be placed there, and that the pattern of giving preference to veterans could repeat again, citing Morbidelli, Miller and Binder.

In its conclusion, Speedweek frames Gonzalez’s MotoGP absence as a continuation of attempts to build a route to the premier class—something it says has only been achieved by Johann Zarco so far, who entered MotoGP at 26 after finally getting his chance. Speedweek’s overall message is that, based on its assessment, Gonzalez remains the most complete Moto2 rider, yet the decision-making around MotoGP seats has not matched that view.