Emilia Romagna Moto2: Lowes Victorious in 1-2 as Fernandez falls
Sam Lowes return to Misano saw him able to convert pole to a win in the Moto2 Emilia Romangna Grand Prix at the World Circuit MArco Simoncelli, round sixteen of the championship.
The Elf Marc VDS rider started from a record 17th pole in the class but despite topping warm-up, he took a while to work his way back to the front with Aron Canet leading the early laps of the race.
The British rider was then chased down by Raul Fernandez as he looked to take charge of the championship.
The title fight and the race result were flipped on their head on lap eleven, with Remy Gardner handed a long lap penalty for causing Somkiat Chantra to fall away, as Fernandez suffered a huge crash out front - a locked front and contact with the white paint saw both rider and bike barrel rolling through the gravel at turn eight.
Lowes then endured a battle with Canet, taking the lead back while losing the front again and holding on as he passed the Spaniard.
Second went to an equally incredible performance from his team-mate Augusto Fernandez. The number 37 was handed a long lap penalty overnight for irresponsible riding in Q2 where he was slow on the racing line. Taking the penalty as soon as possible he soon recovered to chase down the leaders.
After working his way back to the front, he slipped past into second as Canet’s bike spluttered out of fuel right before the line. It is his first podium appearance since the Aragon round.
Canet made his feelings clear as he crossed the line, arms waving behind the Kalex pair. The Aspar Boscoscuro rider was back in bow tie mode by the time of the podium celebrations.
Augusto Fernandez caught and then brought Celestino Vietti with him in the battle for the final rostum slot. The Sky Racing VR46 rider, in special neon yellow ‘Grazie Vale!’ livery and leathers came close to a first podium, but fourth still marks his best result in his rookie year.
They passed one-time race leader Jorge Navarro who slipped back to fifth for +Ego Speed Up in the closing stages.
Stefano Manzi claimed his best result of the season, crossing the line in sixth for Flexbox HP40.
Remy Gardner was next to take the chequered flag. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider had amassed enough of a gap to come out of the penalty loop in the same position on the timesheets. He picked up an additional place late on when under pressure, Marco Bezzecchi crashed out ahead of him.
The result sees the Australian, who when Fernandez was leading the race looked to be set to drop to second overall, instead extend his championship lead to 18 points.
Federal Oil Gresini’s Fabio Di Giannantonio spent the early part of the race out of the points before picking off his rivals to climb to eighth, with rookie Ai Ogura following him through for ninth for Idemitsu Honda Team Asia.
Marcos Ramirez returned to the top ten after holding off a late surge from Albert Arenas on the second Aspar entry.
Bo Bendsneyder also picked up the places late on for twelfth, while Jake Dixon recovered from his trip around the long lap for crashing under yellow flags in qualifying to claim 13th.
The last points on offer went to class veteran Tom Luthi in 14th (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) and Marcel Schrotter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) in 15th.
Mv Agusta Forward Racing’s Simone Corsi completed his 300th grand prix - just the fifth rider to reach the milestone - in 19th after his long lap penalty for crashing under yellow flags in Q1.
Xavi Vierge, Mattia Casadei (replacing Lorenzo Dalla Porta at Italtrans), Tony Arbolino, Hector Garzo , Tommaso Marcon (replacing NTS RW Racing's Hafizh Syahrin) and Cameron Beaubier all also fell during the duration of the race.
Syahrin missed the round on compassionate leave to be with a family member in Malaysia ill with Covid-19.
Joe Roberts was absent from the race after fracturing his collarbone in FP2.
