Deniz Öncü has claimed his maiden Moto2 World Championship victory after prevailing in a thrilling sprint to the finish line against Diogo Moreira to win the Aragon Moto2 by just 0.003s.

The second closest finish in Grand Prix racing history, Oncu had entered the final corner just adrift of Moreira but found a small gap on the outside of his rival over the kerb on the exit of the long left-hander.

Despite some rubbing as the pair dashed to the line, it was Oncu who'd nudge in front at the flag in a photo-finish. Only Toni Elias' triumph over Valentino Rossi during the 2006 Portuguese MotoGP has produced a closer finish.

In the context of the title battle, Manuel Gonzalez - recovering from 18th on the grid - and Aron Canet took home ninth and sixth respectively to bring them on level-pegging at the top of the overall standings.

In a race that built in momentum over the course of 19 laps, Oncu had seemingly looked on course for a comfortable first win in the intermediate category a year on from achieving his first Moto2 podium at the same venue.

The Turkish rider had trailed in second or third for much of the race, Oncu allowing Barry Baltus a long stint out front after the Belgian took the lead on lap two.

However, after being initially dusted up by Canet, Oncu relieved the Spaniard of second once more on lap eight before heading off in pursuit of Baltus.

He'd get the move done on lap 12 on the run to Turn 1, Oncu's easy draft by indicative of his superior pace - in particular the exit of the final corner - through the final sector all weekend.

It was a trait that would prove to come in handy as Oncu, despite quickly pulling a gap over Baltus, found himself in the clutches of a charging Moreira over the final two laps.

The Brazilian had led from his first pole position, but after being bullied down to fourth on lap two proceeded to run on the fringes of the podium battle for much of the race.

However, Moreira would find his form late on, passing Canet on lap ten before dispatching of Baltus with four to go.

Staring down a 0.8s margin to Oncu in front, Moreira was in scintillating form in clear air, posting a huge fastest lap on penultimate loop and passing for the lead at Turn 5.

Nevertheless, Oncu would stay close to the Italtrans rider around the final tour, enough to get himself into the slipstream down the back straight before putting his focus on a superior exit from the final bend.

Running out onto the kerb, though Oncu and Moreira would rub shoulders as they jostled for position, it was the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider who'd come out on top to become the first rider from Turkey to win a Moto2 race.

Though galling for Moreira, the Brazilian can still take heart from a second straight podium as he lifts to third in the overall standings, 28 points shy of the top spot.

While he didn't have the pace to go with the leaders late on, a third podium in four rounds sees Baltus also strengthen his outside title hopes, the Belgian fourth overall just a point further adrift of Moreira.

Indeed, the race had presented itself as a potential open goal for Canet to bridge the scant three-point margin to Gonzalez, who always faced an uphill task from 18th on the grid following his fall in qualifying.

Canet had run strongly early on, battling his way to second but his challenge would fade during the second-half of the race, eventually being picked off down to sixth, behind British MotoGP winner Senna Agius in fourth and Filip Salac in a season-best fifth.

By contrast, Gonzalez - despite a bad start - did make progress from his lowly grid position, meticulously getting himself to seventh at one stage.

However, cooked tyres would initiate a slight drop in the closing stages, Gonzalez demoted by the American Racing bikes of Joe Roberts and Marcos Ramirez, leaving him ninth.

Nevertheless, the modest rewards for both riders mean they are now equal on points at the top of the standings, albeit with Gonzalez ahead by virtue of his greater number of wins.

Elsewhere, Alonso Lopez rounded out the top ten having spent much of the race in fifth place, ahead of fellow Spaniards Izan Guevara and Albert Arenas.

A winner at Aragon last season, Jake Dixon's title hopes took another drubbing as he laboured to a disappointing 13th at the flag. The Marc VDS Racing rider ran at the bottom end of the points' paying positions throughout the race as he slips to fifth overall, 33 points from the lead.

Behind him, Ivan Ortola and Red Bull KTM Ajo sub Daniel Munoz notched up the final points.

Elsewhere, there was drama on the opening lap when Daniel Holgado swiped out his CFMoto Aspar team-mate David Alonso with a rash move into Turn 12. It is the second time the pair have collided in 2025 following a coming together at Jerez.

2025 Aragon Moto2 | Race Results