For the first time since Casey Stoner in 2005, an Australian has won two intermediate class races on the spin after Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) expertly won the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya Moto2™ race. Gardner defeated teammate Raul Fernandez by 1.8s in another 1-2 finish for the Red Bull KTM Ajo’s riders, as Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) earns a first podium since Phillip Island 2018.
Gardner was able to get the start he would have wanted from pole position, the Australian earning the holeshot as teammate Fernandez held P2 also. Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) likewise got a great launch and troubled Raul Fernandez at Turn 5, the Dutchman making a clean move stick before Raul Fernandez was able to strike back at Turn 7.
Gardner was into a rhythm at the front but Raul Fernandez, with a bit of clear track in front, was able to slowly creep his way up to the rear of his teammate’s machine. Bendsneyder and Vierge were able to stay within touching distance of the Red Bull KTM Ajo riders, with fifth place Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46) 2.3s back from the race lead on Lap 10 of 22.
The lead then changed with 11 laps remaining. Raul Fernandez drafted Gardner down the straight, pulled alongside on the brakes and made a clean and concise move stick. Bendsneyder was still a close third, with Vierge and Bezzecchi less than a second down, as Gardner clung onto the coattails of Fernandez.
At the beginning of Lap 20, Gardner pounced. A late lunge at Turn 1 saw Gardner cut past his teammate and a 1:44.399 saw him edge out a 0.6s lead on Raul Fernandez, and heading onto the last lap, Gardner’s lead was up to 1.1s. A sensational final trio of laps saw Gardner claim a second victory in a row, extending his lead in the title race over second place Fernandez to 11 points. Phenomenal yet again from both Red Bull KTM Ajo riders, as Vierge fended off Bezzecchi to hand Petronas Sprinta Racing their maiden Moto2™ rostrum.
Bezzecchi threatened to steal a podium away from Vierge in the closing stages, P4 for the Italian, with Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) equalling his best result of the season in P5 – an important result for the Spaniard. Bendsneyder faded in the latter stages but picks up a great P6, the Dutch rider 0.3s ahead of seventh place Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team). Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP), Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) and Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) completed the top 10 in Barcelona.
Jorge Navarro (MB Conveyors Speed Up) missed out on a top 10 by less than a second in P11, with reigning Moto3™ World Champion Albert Arenas (Inde Aspar Team) having a good ride to end the day P12 on home soil. Tony Arbolino (Liqui Moly Intact GP), Celestino Vietti (SKY Racing Team VR46) and Tom Lüthi (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) were the remaining points scorers.
Aron Canet (Inde Aspar Team) crashed out in the early stages from a comfortable top 10 position, as Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Italtrans Racing Team), Marcos Ramirez (Italtrans Racing Team), and Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) – from P7 – crashed, riders ok. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) and Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP 40) went down together at Turn 1, thankfully both were ok.
So Gardner makes it two in two to stretch his overall standings advantage over rookie sensation Raul Fernandez, can anyone stop the Red Bull KTM Ajo pair in Germany?
Top 10:
1. Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo)
2. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 1.872
3. Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) + 2.866
4. Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46) + 3.207
5. Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) + 3.899
6. Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) + 4.541
7. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) + 4.875
8. Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) + 15.973
9. Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) + 17.515
10. Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) + 19.838.
GRAN PREMI MONSTER ENERGY DE CATALUNYA
Moto2 Race Classification 2021
Barcelona, Sunday, June 06, 2021
| Pos. | Points | Num. | Rider | Nation | Team | Bike | Km/h | Time/Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 | 87 | Remy GARDNER | AUS | Red Bull KTM Ajo | Kalex | 160.2 | 38’22.284 |
| 2 | 20 | 25 | Raul FERNANDEZ | SPA | Red Bull KTM Ajo | Kalex | 160.0 | +1.872 |
| 3 | 16 | 97 | Xavi VIERGE | SPA | Petronas Sprinta Racing | Kalex | 160.0 | +2.866 |
| 4 | 13 | 72 | Marco BEZZECCHI | ITA | SKY Racing Team VR46 | Kalex | 159.9 | +3.207 |
| 5 | 11 | 37 | Augusto FERNANDEZ | SPA | Elf Marc VDS Racing Team | Kalex | 159.9 | +3.899 |
| 6 | 10 | 64 | Bo BENDSNEYDER | NED | Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team | Kalex | 159.8 | +4.541 |
| 7 | 9 | 22 | Sam LOWES | GBR | Elf Marc VDS Racing Team | Kalex | 159.8 | +4.875 |
| 8 | 8 | 23 | Marcel SCHROTTER | GER | Liqui Moly Intact GP | Kalex | 159.0 | +15.973 |
| 9 | 7 | 35 | Somkiat CHANTRA | THA | IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia | Kalex | 158.9 | +17.515 |
| 10 | 6 | 16 | Joe ROBERTS | USA | Italtrans Racing Team | Kalex | 158.8 | +19.838 |
| 11 | 5 | 9 | Jorge NAVARRO | SPA | MB Conveyors Speed Up | Boscoscuro | 158.7 | +20.571 |
| 12 | 4 | 75 | Albert ARENAS | SPA | Inde Aspar Team | Boscoscuro | 158.6 | +22.512 |
| 13 | 3 | 14 | Tony ARBOLINO | ITA | Liqui Moly Intact GP | Kalex | 158.6 | +22.558 |
| 14 | 2 | 13 | Celestino VIETTI | ITA | SKY Racing Team VR46 | Kalex | 158.6 | +23.238 |
| 15 | 1 | 12 | Thomas LUTHI | SWI | Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team | Kalex | 158.5 | +23.958 |
| 16 | 24 | Simone CORSI | ITA | MV Agusta Forward Racing | MV Agusta | 158.4 | +25.099 | |
| 17 | 11 | Nicolò BULEGA | ITA | Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 | Kalex | 158.0 | +31.344 | |
| 18 | 96 | Jake DIXON | GBR | Petronas Sprinta Racing | Kalex | 157.6 | +37.129 | |
| 19 | 6 | Cameron BEAUBIER | USA | American Racing | Kalex | 157.6 | +37.895 | |
| 20 | 55 | Hafizh SYAHRIN | MAL | NTS RW Racing GP | NTS | 157.5 | +38.438 | |
| 21 | 2 | Alonso LOPEZ | SPA | MB Conveyors Speed Up | Boscoscuro | 157.4 | +40.247 | |
| 22 | 70 | Barry BALTUS | BEL | NTS RW Racing GP | NTS | 157.4 | +40.674 | |
| 23 | 7 | Lorenzo BALDASSARRI | ITA | MV Agusta Forward Racing | MV Agusta | 157.4 | +40.784 | |
| 24 | 62 | Stefano MANZI | ITA | Flexbox HP40 | Kalex | 156.8 | +48.588 | |
| 25 | 74 | Piotr BIESIEKIRSKI | POL | Pertamina Mandalika SAG Euvic | Kalex | 156.8 | +49.640 | |
| 26 | 81 | Keminth KUBO | THA | VR46 Master Camp Team | Kalex | 156.8 | +49.694 | |
| Not Classified | ||||||||
| 40 | Hector GARZO | SPA | Flexbox HP40 | Kalex | 159.1 | 2 Laps | ||
| 21 | Fabio DI GIANNANTONIO | ITA | Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 | Kalex | 159.1 | 2 Laps | ||
| 79 | Ai OGURA | JPN | IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia | Kalex | 159.8 | 3 Laps | ||
| 19 | Lorenzo DALLA PORTA | ITA | Italtrans Racing Team | Kalex | 158.8 | 4 Laps | ||
| 42 | Marcos RAMIREZ | SPA | American Racing | Kalex | 157.3 | 15 Laps | ||
| 44 | Aron CANET | SPA | Inde Aspar Team | Boscoscuro | 159.1 | 16 Laps | ||
Moto2 World Standing 2021
| Pos. | Rider | Bike | Nation | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Remy GARDNER | Kalex | AUS | 139 |
| 2 | Raul FERNANDEZ | Kalex | SPA | 128 |
| 3 | Marco BEZZECCHI | Kalex | ITA | 101 |
| 4 | Sam LOWES | Kalex | GBR | 75 |
| 5 | Fabio DI GIANNANTONIO | Kalex | ITA | 60 |
| 6 | Joe ROBERTS | Kalex | USA | 50 |
| 7 | Marcel SCHROTTER | Kalex | GER | 49 |
| 8 | Xavi VIERGE | Kalex | SPA | 42 |
| 9 | Ai OGURA | Kalex | JPN | 39 |
| 10 | Aron CANET | Boscoscuro | SPA | 35 |
| 11 | Bo BENDSNEYDER | Kalex | NED | 35 |
| 12 | Augusto FERNANDEZ | Kalex | SPA | 34 |
| 13 | Tony ARBOLINO | Kalex | ITA | 30 |
| 14 | Jorge NAVARRO | Boscoscuro | SPA | 24 |
| 15 | Cameron BEAUBIER | Kalex | USA | 20 |
| 16 | Stefano MANZI | Kalex | ITA | 17 |
| 17 | Celestino VIETTI | Kalex | ITA | 15 |
| 18 | Jake DIXON | Kalex | GBR | 11 |
| 19 | Hector GARZO | Kalex | SPA | 11 |
| 20 | Somkiat CHANTRA | Kalex | THA | 11 |
| 21 | Albert ARENAS | Boscoscuro | SPA | 10 |
| 22 | Marcos RAMIREZ | Kalex | SPA | 9 |
| 23 | Hafizh SYAHRIN | NTS | MAL | 8 |
| 24 | Simone CORSI | MV Agusta | ITA | 7 |
| 25 | Lorenzo DALLA PORTA | Kalex | ITA | 6 |
| 26 | Nicolò BULEGA | Kalex | ITA | 5 |
| 27 | Fermín ALDEGUER | Boscoscuro | SPA | 4 |
| 28 | Lorenzo BALDASSARRI | MV Agusta | ITA | 3 |
| 29 | Thomas LUTHI | Kalex | SWI | 2 |
| 30 | Barry BALTUS | NTS | BEL | |
| 31 | Yari MONTELLA | Boscoscuro | ITA | |
| 32 | Tommaso MARCON | MV Agusta | ITA | |
| 33 | Miquel PONS | MV Agusta | SPA | |
| 34 | Fraser ROGERS | NTS | GBR | |
| 35 | Alonso LOPEZ | Boscoscuro | SPA | |
| 36 | Taiga HADA | NTS | JPN | |
| 37 | Piotr BIESIEKIRSKI | Kalex | POL | |
| 38 | Keminth KUBO | Kalex | THA |
Credits : Photos and content courtesy of motogp.com
