French Moto2: Lowes storms to incredible Le Mans victory
Sam Lowes took his first win since 2016 in style as he managed the tricky drying Le Mans track in the closing stages of the Moto2 Grand Prix after his race rival Jake Dixon slipped out of contention.
The race soon became a battle of the Brits at the front with EG 0,0 Marc VDS rider Lowes leading the way until he locked the front, handing advantage to his compatriot.
The number 22 held the gap at around the second to manage his tyres behind Dixon, who has been improving in leaps and bounds in recent weeks with Petronas Sprinta. His patience paid off as Lowes stalked behind, with just four laps remaining Dixon lost the front and slid away.
Lowes then only needed to maintain his lead, riding sensibly at the front to lead over the line by 3.822s for his fourth Moto2 win.
The three-way battle for the remaining podium spots raged behind. It was Remy Gardner (Onexox TKKR SAG Racing) who claimed second with his last minute lunge coming into the final two corners on the final lap.
That ousted Marco Bezzecchi who crossed the line third for Sky Racing VR46, with the unlucky Augusto Fernandez the one to miss out on a rostrum finish on the second Marc VDS entry.
Tom Luthi (Liqui Moly Intact GP) once again gave everything on Sunday, improving to fifth, securing his equal best result of the season so far.
Joe Roberts came into the race with his third pole of the year under his belt but he couldn’t convert it into a return - there was drama before the race even started when the Tennor American Racing rider was forced to start from the back of the grid after the race was declared wet and the team tried to make their tyre change too late.
It got worse for the American when the race lights went green before he’d even made it around the final corner of the track after the sighting lap, stating his race behind the still touring safety car.
The number 16 refused to give up and channelled everything he had into gaining the best result possible. Often overtaking multiple riders in one move, his pace matching the leaders, he reached sixth by the chequered flag.
Fabio Di Giannantonio has been using crutches in the pits following his practice fall. He managed to finish seventh as he battle the pain barrier for Termozeta Speed Up and was the first non-Kalex rider over the line.
Lorenzo Baldassarri picked up places late in the race to climb to eighth for Flexbox HP40.
Enea Bastianini finished the race ninth, but took a shortcut over one of the corners on the last lap. The Italian was handed a three second penalty, which dropped him to eleventh.
The Italtrans rider still made gains in the title hunt - an injuered Luca Marini could only manage 17th for Sky Racing VR46 as he fought the pain left over from his huge practice crash, cutting the difference in the standings to thirteen, with Lowes and Bezzecchi closing in too.
That elevated Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) to ninth equalling his best ever race finish.
Marcel Schrotter also gained a position, completing the top ten on the second Dynavolt entry.
Hector Garzo continued his run of points finishes in twelfth for Flexbox HP 40, keeping Marcos Ramirez (Tennor American Racing) at bay.
Stefano Manzi was 14th for Mv Agusta Forward Racing, with Hafizh Syahrin (Inde Aspar) collecting the final point on offer.
Jorge Navarro’s race was essentially over before it had begun after being handed a double long lap penalty for crashing in the same corner as Jorge Martin as the yellow flags waved. He later fell.
Jorge Martin, Xavi Vierge and Andi Farid Izdhar all also failed to finish. Nicolo Bulega retired to the pits.
Aron Canet missed the race after being declared unfit to race shortly before the start.
