CEV Repsol Moto2 European Championship and European Talen Cup:
Pons and Guevara ruler in Barcelona
Third round for the CEV Repsol Moto2 European Championship and the ETC – European Talen Cup at Barcelona Circuit, Spain.
The first Moto2™ ECh race was interrupted by a red flag when Leon Orgis (Redding – Pinamoto RS) fell on the second lap while Edgar Pons and Héctor Garzó (CNS Motorsport) were out clear in front. The accident left liquid on the track forcing officials to temporarily suspend the race. The second race was set at 11 laps. Pons went straight back into the lead, followed by Yari Montella (Team Ciatti – Speed Up), Niki Tuuli (Team Stylobike), Héctor Garzó, Alessandro Zaccone (Promoracing) and Anupab Sarmoon (VR46 Master Camp Academy).
Pons gradually pulled further away, followed by Montella and Garzó. Behind, Zaccone went down as he fought with Tuuli. Meanwhile, Garzó passed Montella in the duel for second place. Pons crossed the line alone to win his second race in a row ahead of the CNS Motorsport rider while Montella finished third, earning his first podium of the season. Tuuli was fourth ahead of Sarmoon. Alessandro Zetti (FAU55 El Señor de las bolsas) ended up as the best classified in Superstock 600. Pons took the Repsol free fuel cheque, in addition to consolidating his leadership with a new victory.
In the second Moto2™ ECh race Pons dealt another decisive blow to his rivals by adding his second victory of the day, the third in a row, crossing the finish line once again alone ahead of Tuuli and Zaccone. The leader of the category repeated the script of the first race, pulling clear followed by Tuuli with Garzó further back. With 11 laps to go, Garzó overtook Tuuli but three laps later Montella crashed out in a braking maneuver taking Héctor Garzó down with him. Pons took the flag, Tuuli came second and Zaccone finished third. However, Zaccone was penalized for exceeding track limits and Tomaso Marcon, who finished fourth, became the third rider on the podium, followed by Andi Farid (Astra Honda Racing Team), Marcel Brenner (Kiefer Racing) and Miquel Pons (H43 Team Nobby Talasur-Blumaq).
Pons was awarded the Repsol free fuel cheque and left the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with an even stronger hold on Moto2™ ECh. He has 111 points compared with the 78 of Tulli, Marcon’s 59 and Zaccone’s 57 points.
In the ETC, Izan Guevara chalked up his third consecutive victory after starring in a thrilling duel with Fermín Aldeguer (Bester Capital Dubai). Guevara pulled away alone from the start but was chased down by Aldeguer who took with him Daijiro Sako (Cuna de Campeones), Lorenzo Fellon (ZF Grand Prix School), Alex Millán (Aro Racing) and José Antonio Rueda (Talent Team Estrella Galicia 0,0).
With eight laps to go, Aldeguer caught Guevara and they waged an intense struggle while behind them the chasing group fought for the last place on the podium. In the end Guevara held off Aldeguer, who added his second consecutive second place finish, and Daijiro Sako took the podium for the first time this season. The Repsol free fuel cheque went to Guevara, now 29 points ahead of Aldeguer and 33 clear of Ivan Ortolá (Sama Qatar Ángel Nieto Team), third in the general classification of the ETC.
Next round will take place at the MotorLand Aragón on 14th July.
