Moto2 Jerez : Emotional first win for dominant Di Giannantonio
Fabio Di Giannantonio collected his first intermediate class win in style, leading from a great start as soon as the lights went out to pull out a gap which held to the flag in the Moto2 Spanish Grand Prix, round four of the Championship.
The Federal Oil Gresini rider brought the team’s first Moto2 win since the passing of Fausto Gresini home while looking over his shoulder to see he was completely clear in the lead. Over two seconds ahead for much of the race, the Italian cruised home over the line by 1.722s as he eased off.
Di Giannantonio had looked race ready when he topped warm-up earlier in the day.
Marco Bezecchi saw his opportunity with six laps remaining, and after rehearsing his move on the previous laps he took advantage of Raul Fernandez running a little wide to pass, escape and give chase - crossing the line second. It is the Sky Racing Team VR46 riders first podium visit of the season, getting his championship campaign back on track.
Sam Lowes was locked in battle for the final podium spot with pole man Remy Gardner and his Red Bull KTM Ajo team-mate Fernandez.
With things not running as smooth as the beginning of the season for the British rider, Lowes wanted a return to form and points in the bag after a DNF for Elf Marc VDS in Portugal.
A window of opportunity presented itself after Gardner had an out of seat moment with four laps to go and Lowes seized the moment. With no escape the trio remained locked in battle until Lowes took the lead of the group on the penultimate lap and even tried a late chase for second placed Bezzecchi, pulling much closer to the Italian by the line.
Remy Gardner didn’t give up and kept pushing for position, but had to settle for fourth. The Australian collected enough points to take the lead in the championship standings, with a total of 69 - three ahead of Lowes.
Fernandez seemed to have his confidence knocked by the double overtake which pushed him back to fifth and faded to the finish but was the top rookie in the race.
Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) lead the battle for sixth to the flag holding off rookie Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) who was a close seventh. Joe Roberts was the last of the trio in eighth for Italtrans.
Aron Canet was almost two seconds adrift in ninth for Inde Aspar - he was the top non-Kalex rider on the Boscoscuro. There was a further wait for Marcel Schrotter who held firm to complete the top ten for Liqui Moly Intact GP.
In Andalucian green for the race, local rider Marcos Ramirez was next in eleventh for American Racing, a solid result as he continues to return to his best after picking up an injury earlier in the season.
Jorge Navarro came close to Ramirez in the run to the line but was held off in twelfth for Lightech Speed Up.
Stefano Manzi (Flexbox HP 40) was a distant 13th. Lorenzo Baldassarri battled him for position but had to settle for 14th on the MV Agusta. The final point went to SAG Team rider Bo Bendsneyder in 15th.
Celestino Vietti was lucky to have a bike to mount after his huge morning crash in warm-up. The Sky Racing VR 46 mechanics got him on track but he couldn’t make it up to the points places, he finished 18th.
Taiga Hada replaced the injured Barry Baltus at NTS RW Racing. The Japanese rider was 22nd, ahead of Tommaso Marcon, who put in a wildcard apppearance at MV Agusta in 23rd.
Cameron Beaubier had been in the points, but crashed out on the final lap at turn nine.
An early turn six spill saw Augusto Fernandez undo his early good work to run in the lead group. Nicolo Bulega had a copycat crash moments later, before he had served his long lap penalty for his actions in Portugal. Hector Garzo mirrored their efforts slipping out at the same place on lap six.
Somkiat Chantra, Albert Arenas and Simone Corsi all also failed to go the distance.
Jake Dixon was ruled out of the race after being diagnosed with concussion following his huge warm-up crash at turn seven.
