Aragon Race 2: Masia Triumphs as Debise Finishes Eighth Again — Championship Battle Intensifies

The sun set on MotorLand Aragon on Sunday evening with a familiar sight — Albert Arenas on the podium — but not on a familiar step. Jaume Masia, the 2023 Moto3 world champion turned WorldSSP contender, produced a stunning last-lap overtake to deny Arenas his second win of the weekend, claiming victory in Race 2 and reigniting his own championship challenge.

For ZXMOTO and Valentin Debise, Sunday's Race 2 was a mirror of Saturday: a gritty, determined ride from the midfield to another eighth-place finish, yielding eight more championship points and preserving second place in the riders' standings at a critical juncture of the season.

Race 2: The Story

Sunday's grid was set by the fastest lap times from Race 1, placing Debise in 10th — a more challenging starting position than Saturday's front-row slot. The Frenchman's teammate, Federico Caricasulo, lined up 15th aboard the second ZXMOTO 820RR.

The opening lap was chaotic as expected, with riders jostling for position through Aragon's tight opening complex. Debise initially gained one position, only to lose it again a lap later. By lap four, finding himself boxed in the midfield melee, he had dropped as far as 12th before mounting his recovery.

In characteristic fashion, Debise chipped away at the deficit. Lap by lap, he picked off riders: first to 11th, then back into the top 10 by the halfway point. With six laps remaining, he set his fastest sector of the race and climbed to ninth. Three laps from the flag, he claimed eighth, where he would ultimately remain.

His fastest lap of the race — a 1:53.300 — demonstrated the underlying pace the ZXMOTO package possessed, even if circumstances had conspired against a podium challenge this weekend.

Masia's Masterstroke

At the front, a classic Aragon duel was unfolding. Arenas, as he had done in Race 1, controlled proceedings from the front for most of the 15-lap contest. But behind him, Masia — who had endured a DNF in Race 1 — was stalking with intent.

Joined by Roberto Garcia in the closing stages, the leading trio engaged in a nail-biting three-way battle over the final two laps. As they entered the last corner, Masia pulled alongside Arenas on the exit, his Ducati finding fractionally better drive onto the main straight. The Spaniard held on to beat his compatriot by a tenth of a second, with Matteo Ferrari completing the podium after a similarly decisive move on Garcia.

"I needed this," Masia said, his relief palpable. "Yesterday was terrible — I made a mistake and that was it. Today, everything came together. The bike was perfect."

Championship State of Play After Round 6

The Aragon weekend reshaped the 2026 WorldSSP championship landscape. Albert Arenas strengthened his grip on the title lead with two second-place finishes, extending his tally to 206 points — 43 clear of Debise at 163.

But the bigger story was Masia's resurgence. His Race 2 victory, coupled with the DNF in Race 1 from a podium position, underscored both his speed and his vulnerability. With 155 points in third, he is only eight behind Debise — close enough to apply real pressure with six rounds remaining.

Debise, for his part, was philosophical about the weekend. "I don't look at the gap, I look at the next race," he said. "The team has been working so hard to give me a competitive bike every weekend. We know the speed is there. Sometimes racing gives you P1, sometimes it gives you P8. The important thing is that we never stop fighting."

Looking Ahead

The WorldSSP paddock now has a two-week break before reconvening at the Misano World Circuit in Italy for Round 7 on June 12-14. Misano's flowing layout, with its combination of fast sweepers and tight hairpins, is expected to suit the ZXMOTO 820RR's chassis characteristics.

"Misano will be different," Debise said with a grin, already looking forward. "Different track, different story. We'll be ready."