Moto2 Europe: Victory for dominant Bezzecchi as Lowes tumbles
Marco Bezzecchi took a hold of the race after early leader Joe Roberts crashed out of contention and then dominated proceedings as the championship battle played out behind him in the Moto2 European Grand Prix.
The Sky Racing Team VR46 rider could not be caught by his nearest rival Jorge Martin, leading over the line for the first time for his second win of the season - his first coming after Martin was demoted a position in the Styria Grand Prix.
The Italian managed a late bike issue to the line after failing to finish in the last two rounds.
Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Martin was safely in second as Remy Gardner (Onexox TKKR SAG Team) took third, soaking up the pressure of being chased down by the riders involved in the battle for fourth to complete an all Kalex podium.
That was won by Enea Bastianini after he made his late lunge aboard the Italtrans stick to finish ahead of Lorenzo Baldassarri and re-take the championship lead.
The Italian is six points ahead of Sam Lowes, who fell from second with ten laps remaining while chasing down Bezzecchi who was pulling away at the front at the time.
The race winner remains in contention himself, with a 29 point defecit, with his team-mate Luca Marini also back in the mix as his late moves saw him climb to sixth for Sky Racing Team VR46 - now nineteen points short of Bastianini’s total.
Flexbox Hp 40’s Baldasarri gave best to Bastianini but kept Marini at bay - a much improved performance in fifth and his best result since he was second in the opening round at Qatar.
Hector Garzo was in the same group, he was top rookie in seventh on the second Flexbox entry.
Nicolo Bulega pick up the pace late on to climb to eighth for Federal Oil Gresini, as pole man Xavi Vierge faded in the race to ninth for Petronas Sprinta, a brave performance following his foot injuries.
Jorge Navarro was the pole man and a podium finisher at Valencia last season, but his first visit this season saw him just do enough to complete the top ten for HDR Heidrun Speed Up.
Aron Canet had to battle hard to secure eleventh for Inde Aspar, with Tetsuta making a late run for the points positions, pulling him up to twelfth for Red Bull KTM Ajo.
Marcel Schrotter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) took the chequered flag 13th, ahead of Bo Bendsneyder (NTS RW Racing) who was back in the points for the first time since Losail in 14th.
One point went to Stefano Manzi, who recovered to 15th for MV Agusta, his team mate Simone Corsi was one of several to crash out of the race.
Fabio Di Giannantonio was one of those experiencing an early exit. Somkiat Chantra and Hafizh Syahrin both also fell and looked battered and bruised following big crashes earlier in the weekend.
Jake Dixon and Augusto Fernandez both missed the race following injuries picked up in practice.
