Qualifying
Quali resulted in a strong front row with Sam Lowes Elf Marc VDS Racing Team P1, Remy Gardner Red Bull KTM Ajo P2 and Xavi Vierge Petronas Sprinta Racing P3. Raul Fernandez the Moto3 winner last time out in Portimao was 10th.
The Race
Making a clean start from the front row was Remy Gardner with Marco Bezzecchi and Xavier Vierge in close pursuit. The shocker was Sam Lowes who catapulted off the bike in a nasty high side at the first corner, it looked like he had too much rear brake and it was zero laps and zero points for the championship leader.
A couple of laps in and Bezzecchi took the lead with Ramy Gardner and Joe Roberts now a little bit behind. Then crash, Stefano Manzi and Yari Montella somehow coming together, dust flying and bikes on fire, it all looked very dramatic, riders ok, but for sure they were out. Ai Ogura and Somkiat Chantra also crashed, Chantra restarting. Raul Fernandez had made up five places from tenth on the grid and was looking strong.
Sixteen laps to go and it was Bezzecchi in P1 with a 1.052 gap to Remy and now Aron Canet, and Raul a close 4th. Fourteen to go and Raul Fernandez and Remy Gardner (teammates) got a little scrappy at the same time placing them in 4th and 5th, which allowed Joe Roberts to take P3 with Canet and Bezzecchi ahead when Canet then took P1, then Joe Roberts, then Canet. (this was getting like Moto3!) then Roberts! Another crash took out Celestino Vietti and Nicolo Bulega, Vietti giving Bulega a bit of push and shove, watch out Celestino!
Ten laps to go and there was a tight group of seven riders in a group, nice to see in Moto2, with Joe Roberts P1, Aron Canet P2 and Remy Gardner P3, Raul Fernandez was lurking in P6, and looking feisty, with the Elf Marc VS rider Augusto Fernandez in P7, not Raul’s brother that’s Adrian in Moto3! At this time Jake Dixon low sided out on his own, his wrist still giving him a lot of pain.
Four laps to go and the feisty Raul Fernandez slid past Aron Canet for P1, with Joe Roberts a close P3, Remy P4. Raul then gapped Canet by half a second, giving himself a buffer for the final laps.
Last lap and Raul had gapped Canet by 1.230, Remy Gardner pulling up to the back of Joe Roberts, then Roberts took Canet who immediately took him back, Remy pulled a hard but fair move on an unsuspecting Roberts and took P3.
The Result
Over the line, it was a class win by Raul Fernandez, Aron Canet second and a pushy but well deserved third for Remy Gardner. First, in only his third Moto2 race for Raul Fernandez, they say Red Bull “gives you wings”, and considering his Red Bull Ajo buddy in Moto3, the sensational Pedro Acosta, it looks that way for sure.
This was an exciting classy race in Moto2, just what we wished for after Qatar, sometimes wishes do come true.
See you in Jerez.
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Author: Martin Northern
Founder of Bike Directory
