Seven laps left and there was a change of the lead for the first time as Lowes finally went past Marini. A perfect slipstream down the start-finish straight and an equally inch-perfect move into the opening corner saw the 30-year-old hit the front. But Marini wouldn’t allow Lowes to escape. As the laps ticked by and the end drew nearer, the Italian continued to apply the pressure on the number 22. Only three laps remained and again Marini was the faster of the pair, still clambering all over the back of Lowes with Marini’s eyes no doubt lighting up when the Marc VDS man suffered a huge twitch on the rear out of Turn 5.

Just two laps to go and the pressure on Lowes was incredible. The World Championship leader was swarming all over the back of him before deciding to pounce on the penultimate lap. A carbon copy of the move that saw him lose the lead, allowed him to regain it once more at Turn 1. Lowes continued to push, desperately trying to stay in touch before making the mistake that would cost him victory. He was too hot into Turn 6, running wide, losing seventh tenths and, consequently, handing the victory to Marini.

A third victory of the 2020 season for Marini would prove to be his most pivotal yet, as his World Championship lead stretched out to twenty points ahead of a weekend of recuperation. Lowes was bitterly disappointed in Parc Ferme afterwards as his four-year wait for an intermediate class win continues, but another podium finish shows the progress he’s making this year. There was progress shown too by Di Giannantonio, as the young Italian clinched his first podium of the season after what has been a difficult start to his sophomore season.

His smile will no doubt be matched in the HDR Heidrun Speed Up box by teammate Navarro after the Spaniard got the better of Roberts on the final lap to take fourth. Bastianini had to settle for sixth place, as his Championship hopes took a slight dent. The same could be said for Bezzecchi who came across the line in seventh, bringing to an end a run of three straight podium finishes. Inde Aspar Team Moto2’s Aron Canet had the pace for a top six finish and was up there challenging for one before a late mistake saw him drop back to eighth, with Marcos Ramirez (Tennor American Racing) and Marcel Schrötter rounding out the top ten.

Top 10:
1. Luca Marini (SKY Racing Team VR46)
2. Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) + 0.981
3. Fabio Di Giannantonio (HDR Heidrun Speed Up) + 4.399
4. Jorge Navarro (HDR Heidrun Speed Up) + 5.608
5. Joe Roberts (Tennor American Racing) + 5.797
6. Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) + 6.080
7. Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46) + 8.552
8. Aron Canet (Inde Aspar Team Moto2) + 9.928
9. Marcos Ramirez (Tennor American Racing) + 14.874
10. Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) + 15.058.

GRAN PREMI MONSTER ENERGY DE CATALUNYA

Moto2 Race Classification 2020.

Moto2 World Standing 2020