Moto2 – Gran Premio Red Bull De Espana. Jerez. 1st May 2022.
Qualification:
Recent on form Ai Ogura took the pole in Jerez. Tony Arbolino was P2 and Sam Lowes P3. The scene was set for a blazing start. Aron Canet was P4, riding with a pinned radius, having undergone an operation just the Monday before the race!
The Race:
Ai Ogura took his resplendent white, red and gold Idemitsu Honda Team Asia Kalex off the line to lead into the first corner, with Aron Canet placing himself in P2 and the young rookie Fermin Aldeguer in P3. Sam Lowes had a poor start being overtaken by Somkiat Chantra and Celestino Vietti on the first lap. Pedro Acosta low-sided out on lap two, although able to re-start, not much chance to work his way through as the pace of the field was fast and furious, and lucky not to take Fermin Aldeguer with him.
With seventeen laps to go Sam Lowes crashed out in his own fault low sider. Sometimes it is hard to understand how these DNFs happen, as they seem to happen a lot. This left Ai Ogura in the lead with Aron Canet P2, doing so well with his injured arm, and Tony Arbolino P3. Sixteen laps to go and Somkiat Chantra, a recent winner, hit the kitty litter and was out in his own fault incident.
Fourteen laps to go and as Jake Dixon came to overtake Fermin Aldeguer, he lost the front end and as he was on the inside, slid out and took the luckless Fermin with him. Once again, a British rider crashed out and this time ruining another rider’s race. Why? It just seems to happen too much, too often. Meanwhile, at the business end of the race, Ai Ogura was in the lead with Aron Canet and Tony Arbolino on his case, but not quite able to pull him in.
This will not rank as one of the most exciting races, but it was a masterclass by Ai Ogura, who took pole, led the race from start to finish and did so with his usual style, his first win in the class. Aron Canet has to be applauded for his P2, riding under difficult circumstances with a radius pinned in the recent operation.
The Result:
Ai Ogura, Idemitsu Honda Team Asia, Kalex, P1. Aron Canet, Flexbox HP40, Kalex, P2. Tony Arbolino, ELF Marc VDS Racing Team, Kalex, P3.
Author: Martin Northern
Founder of Bike Directory
