Motorland Aragon - home turf for Raul Fernandez, a good venue for Remy Gardner but it was definitely all about Sam Lowes last year.

After another statement Moto2 win at Silverstone – this one from Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Championship leader Gardner – there’s plenty to talk about heading into the Gran Premio TISSOT de Aragon. Gardner’s lead is now 44 points after teammate and closest challenger Fernandez crashed out, but we’re back on the Spaniard’s home turf.

Gardner has a solid recent record at MotorLand though, with similar positions at the track last year to the form he showed at the 2020 British GP - which turned out pretty well in 2021. Fernandez will be fired up to hit back though, and on previous occasions where that’s been true, the rookie sensation has been, well, sensational. When the chips are down, the number 25 finds a way to reply and he’ll have to start doing so soon given his deficit to the top. He does arrive at his home race with an injury, however, after a cycling accident in training left him needing surgery on his right little finger last week.

Both Red Bull KTM Ajo riders may, however, have a lot on their plates in the form of Elf Marc VDS’ Sam Lowes. The Brit was the headline act at Aragon last year, taking both wins, and both from pole. It was no flash in the pan either, with another win at MotorLand on his CV from 2016 and a podium in 2015. The Brit has been on solid form lately, and although not quite getting back to his dominant start of the season, Aragon would seem a good place to stage a comeback to the top step.

Sky Racing VR46’s Marco Bezzecchi, meanwhile, bounced back well at Silverstone from a disappointing AustrianGP, up at the front and pushing Gardner all the way. On paper he’s not got the best record at Aragon, with one Moto3 podium, but last year he was close to victory until a heartbreaker of a late, final lap, crash. That will be a bad memory, but his speed prior to it a definite positive one… will he have similar in the locker this season?

Just behind the top four, it’s tighter than ever in the fight for fifth. Aron Canet (Kipin Energy Aspar Team) holds it for now, but only on finishing positions as Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) is equal on points. Canet missed the events last year through injury but took a Moto3 win the year before, and the Boscoscuro chassis has a good record at MotorLand. Augusto Fernandez will want a step forward from his record at the track though. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) took a podium last year and is only one point behind the two, so can he leapfrog back into the top five?

Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) is also now a serious threat to the group, only five points behind Canet. The Japanese rookie continues impressing and he has good memories of MotorLand from his first Grand Prix podium in 2019 in Moto3.

There will also be a debut to watch out for too. John McPhee will make his first appearance on Petronas Sprinta Moto2 machinery at the Aragon GP, moving up to replace Jake Dixon as he continues his own promotion, in the MotoGP class for one more race.