Aron Canet is a Moto2 race winner at long last after making the most of Alonso Lopez's crash from the lead at Portimao to secure victory in the Portuguese Moto2.

The Fantic Racing rider was in the right place at the right time when Lopez - chasing a second consecutive win after his success in Qatar earlier in the month - dropped his Speed Up Boscoscuro at Turn 10 with eleven laps to go.

His exit allowed Canet, himself a comfortable margin up on the opposition, to inherit a lead he'd protect to the chequered flag in his 70th Moto2 start and coming after a run of 20 podiums without ever stepping atop it.

Also a first win as part of the Fantic Racing team, it was a redemptive result for the Spaniard after seeing victory slip through his hands in Qatar due to tyre problems.

It also moved him to the summit of the overall standings amid slim pickings in the first European race of the 2024 Moto2 season for many of the riders who shone under the floodlights in Qatar.

Most significant of these was Lopez, who after his tussle with Speed Up Racing team-mate Fermin Aldeguer during the early laps was decided in the former’s favour when the future Ducati MotoGP rider was handed a double long lap penalty for a jump-start, proceeded to ease beyond Canet’s reach.

However, his afternoon would end abruptly with a slide off at Turn 10 at the half-way stage in the race, giving Canet his passage through to victory.

Joining him on the podium was Joe Roberts, who went some way to reprising his surprise win for Italtrans at Portimao in the wake of a huge pile-up ahead following a sudden shower.

It also ensured a first podium of the season for American Racing, with the rostrum being completed by QJMotor Gresini’s pole sitter Manuel Gonzalez.

Despite his penalty, Aldeguer produced a standout performance to pick his way up the order from a low of 12th, the Speed Up Racing rider just over a second shy of getting onto the podium, but getting good points on the board after his failure to score in Lusail.

He led a trio of Boscoscuro-equipped riders as Ai Ogura and Sergio Garcia consolidated both theirs and MT Helmets-MSI’s encouraging start to the year in fifth and sixth respectively, followed closely by Celestino Vietti - who was also forced to take a long lap penalty - Albert Arenas, Marcos Ramirez and Somkiat Chantra.

🇵🇹🏁 2024 Portuguese Moto2, Portimao | RACE Results

Sunday | Conditions - Dry