Tony Arbolino proved once again to be a trusted hand in wet conditions as he collected victory in difficult conditions in the Moto2 race at Termas de Rio Hondo.

The Italian - who started ninth - stalked his way into contention to break away in a three-strong group comprising Alonso Lopez and Jake Dixon.

Indeed, Dixon using all of his wet weather nous from having raced in the UK to ascend from fourth to first on the GasGas Aspar, but he’d soon be displaced by pole sitter Alonso Lopez, the Speed Up rider making up ground after a poor getaway from the lights.

While Lopez looked on course for victory, Arbolino’s cautious pressure on the Spaniard told with three laps to go when he ran wide at Turn 5 to invite Arbolino to pounce into a lead he’d protect to the flag.

A fourth career win in Moto2, to go with his successes in the United States, Thailand - where he also triumphed in the wet - and Malaysia too, together with his third place finish in the Portimao opener, he assumes the championship lead after two rounds.

Though his long wait for a maiden Moto2 win continues, Dixon was third for his seventh podium in the intermediate class.

His podium cause was aided by Aron Canet receiving a double long lap penalty for a jump start, though the Pons Wegow 40 rider recovered to fourth at the flag, ahead of team-mate Sergio Garcia, the 2022 Moto3 runner-up scoring a strong top five result in only his second start.

Another rider with wet weather credentials, Darryn Binder landed a sixth place finish on the Husqvarna Intact GP bike, ahead of Filip Salac on the QJmotor Gresini and sole Honda Team Asia rider Somkiat Chantra.

Albert Arenas and Sam Lowes rounded out the top ten on their respective KTM Ajo and Marc VDS machines, heading off the remaining points’ finishers Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp), Pedro Acosta - the KTM Ajo rider playing it safe in the wet - in 12th, 2022 Argentina Moto2 winner Celestino Vietti, Joe Roberts and Fermin Aldeguer.

2023 Argentina Moto2 | RACE Results | Termas de Rio Hondo | Round 2 / 21