San Marino Moto2: Raul Fernandez survives late Gardner charge for Misano victory
Raul Fernandez fought the pain barrier as he continues to rider with a broken bone in his hand, as well as his rapidly approaching colleague Remy Gardner, to claim consecutive wins in the intermediate class after the Moto2 San Marino Grand Prix at Misano, round fourteen of the championship.
The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider looked comfortable at the front after taking over the lead from Aron Canet, who had passed early frontrunner Sam Lowes.
The advantage he had pulled out diminished disappeared as first Canet, then his team-mate gave chase.
The Australian was flat out until he hit a kink in the track on the final lap at turn eleven while he was lining up a final sector move, feeling the bike about to highside, Gardner pulled out and pulled off a great save on the Kalex.
That left rookie Fernandez clear in the final corners to cross the line 0.402s ahead of his team-mate, for his sixth win of the season. It is also the Ajo team’s sixth 1-2 of the year.
The win reduces the championship gap between the duo to 34 points, with the number 87 still leading the way.
Inde Aspar’s Canet played his part, taking over at the front initially after three small errors in quick succession for Lowes saw him run wide each time.
After being passed with eleven laps to go the Spaniard kept up the chase of his fellow countryman, swarming all over as he crept nearer, before his own struggles to keep in touch saw him unable to capitalise when Fernandez wobbled ahead. Gardner decided he could wait no longer for a shot at the win, leaving Canet third.
The top Boscoscuro rider celebrated his podium visit with a wooden bow tie.
Sam Lowes was visibly pushing himself to the limit to stay in the lead quartet for Elf Marc VDS, finishing fourth again for the fifth time in the last six races.
Marco Bezzecchi was easy to spot on track with a change of sponsor leading to a bright pink livery. The Italian saw his hopes of a home rostrum fade as he found himself battling away in the chasing group.
He came out top in his duel with Augusto Fernandez to lead the next train of riders over the line in fifth for Sky Racing Team VR46.
Marc VDS rider Fernandez was clear of Ai Ogura, with the Idemitsu Honda Team Asia rider enjoying his own gap over eighth placed Xavi Vierge. The Petronas Sprinta Racing rider had company in the form of Fabio Di Giannantonio, who was just behind in ninth for Federal Oil Gresini.
Celestino Vietti completed the top ten, his eighth consecutive points finish after recovering from a shaky run of form. He did not get to run the same pink bike and leathers as team-mate Bezzecchi after crashing out of warm-up earlier in the day.
He battled Tom Luthi ( Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) for position with the Swiss rider having to settle for eleventh.
Marcel Schrotter was next to take the chequered flag in twelfth for Liqui Moly Intact GP.
Jorge Navarro served a long lap penalty for his move which took Simone Corsi out of the race on the second lap. In 15th as he hit the penalty loop the +Ego Speed Up rider fought hard to recover and cross the finish line in 13th.
The battle for the final points saw American Racing’s Marcos Ramirez claim 14th with Tony Arbolino 15th for Liqui Moly Intact GP.
Jake Dixon returned after his MotoGP outing in Aragon, he was 19th for Petronas Sprinta Racing.
Yari Montella crashed out on his return for Speed Up. Barry Baltus, Lorenzo Dalla Porta and Somkiat Chantra also failed to go the distance.
