Catalunya Moto2: Back to back wins for Gardener after victory in Spain
Remy Gardner completed a successful weekend with an intelligent race win in the Moto2 Catalan Grand Prix, round seven of the championship.
Confidence high coming to Montmelo leading the championship, the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider put his Kalex on pole ahead of race day.
The Australian lead the first few laps before team-mate Raul Fernandez decided to take over at the front of the race.
Able to watch his rookie colleague while managing his tyres, Gardner pulled out his race winning move with three laps to run, showing a lot of speed at turn one to re-take the position.
Once in front Gardner set about pulling away, finishing 1.872 seconds ahead at the chequered flag. It is the number 87’s second win in a row and his sixth podium appearance in seven races.
It also marks the first time an Australian rider has taken back-to-back wins in the intermediate class since Casey Stoner last completed the feat back in 2005.
The win extends his championship lead, with a total of 139, eleven ahead of Raul Fernandez.
The Spaniard tried to stay in touch but was happy to take a first rostrum appearance on home soil.
Third went to Xavi Vierge, back on the podium for the first time since 2018, who fought past Bo Bendsneyder for the position and then held firm for Petronas Sprinta Racing, but unable to bridge the gap to the lead duo.
The Dutchman was also passed by Marco Bezzecchi as he continues to search for an answer as to why he cannot run at the front with a solid points scoring performance in fourth for Sky Racing Team VR46.
Augusto Fernandez extended his stronger performance this weekend into the race. Coming off the back of three DNF’s for Elf Marc VDS his fifth was a welcome boost for both him and his team.
Bendsneyder held on to sixth for SAG Team, just keeping the rapidly approaching Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS) at bay and in seventh. The Briton was running a similar pace to the race leaders.
A late fall after Fabio Di Giannantonio ran his line in front of Hector Garzo, who was left with nowhere to go, saw all the rider behind able to pick up places.
Marcel Schrotter was the first rider to benefit, moving up to eighth for Liqui Moly Intact GP.
Somkiat Chantra was almost two seconds behind but was able to claim ninth for Idemitsu Honda Team Asia.
Italtrans rider Joe Roberts claimed the final top ten position, putting his earlier crashes this weekend behind him.
Jorge Navarro was the best of the non Kalex riders for MB Conveyors Speed Up on the Boscoscuro in eleventh, ahead of reigning Moto3 champion Albert Arenas on the same machinery for Inde Aspar in twelfth.
Tony Arbolino was close behind in 13th on the second Liqui Moly Entry.
The remaining points on offer went to Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) in 14th and Tom Luthi, who made the difficult decision to ride after last week’s events in 15th for SAG Team.
Jake Dixon crashed in qualifying and in warm-up but made it around the track in 18th for Petronas Sprinta Racing.
Alonso Lopez replaces Yari Montella at Speed Up. The Spaniard crossed the line in 21st.
Wildards Piotr Biesiekirski at SAG Team and Keminth Kubo (VR46 Master Camp Team) were 25th and 26th respectively.
Aron Canet was the first rider to exit, leaving the battle for sixth with seven laps run. Marcos Ramirez only lasted a little longer, overshooting and launching into the gravel on the next lap.
Lorenzo Baldassarri saw his chance of points vanish when he was handed a long lap penalty for exceeding track limits. The Italian was running in 22nd at the time.
Ai Ogura and Lorenzo Dalla Porta also failed to finish.
