CEV Repsol Moto2 European Championship and Hawkers European Talent Cup:
last round at Valencia
The 2020 FIM CEV Repsol season’s penultimate and last day of racing saw breath-taking action and phenomenal twists and turns as the Championship battle lit up the spectacle at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia.
With the title on the line, the Moto2 European Championship battle in race 1 was electric from the start. Montella grabbed an early advantage over Nikki Tuuli (Team Stylobike) and Alessandro Zaccone, who burst through early on. He was soon under pressure from Zaccone and in the closing stages, Zaccone hit the front and the Kalex rider broke clear from Montella’s Speed Up and the two finished in that order ahead of debutant Dominque Aegerter (Liqui Moly Intact SIC Junior Team) – Montella taking the title. Despite a long lap penalty, Andorra’s Xavi Cardelus (Team Stylobike) caught and passed Nikki Tuuli on the final lap as the two completed the top five in that order. There was also late race drama in STK600 as Alex Toledo (EasyRace Team) crashed at Turn 6 and took out title rival Fermin Aldeguer (FAU 55 Tey Racing), meaning Aldeguer’s debutant teammate Fenton Harrison Seabright took the class victory.
Race 2 saw a masterful performance from Champion Montella, although he did have to fight for it. A bright start for Dominique Aegerter (Liqui Moly Intact SIC Junior Team) saw the Swiss rider in the fight for victory as he hit the front in the closing stages. Alessandro Zaccone (PromoRacing) was a solid third throughout as he aimed to finish runner-up in the title. In the closing laps, Montella hit the front again and the 2020 Champion ended his year as he started it with a win. Aegerter was a high-flying second whilst Zaccone was third. Fourth went to Nikki Tuuli (Team Stylobike), enough to give the Finn second in the title overall, ahead of Zaccone overall in third. In STK600, a last corner showdown saw tensions sore as Alex Toledo (EasyRace Team) took victory on the road but after a collision with Fermin Aldeguer (FAU55 Tey Racing), he was sanctioned so Aldeguer was eventual Champion with one final win.
The HETC race 1 offered great racing from the off with a six-rider group throughout. Constant swapping and changing between Marcos Ruda (Team Honda Laglisse) and Marco Tapia (Leopard Impala Junior Team) let the likes of David Alonso come through to be in the mix. Alonso hit the front in the closing stages, taking victory in a final run to the line by 0.021s – the second-closest finish of the HETC season. Second went to Tapia whilst Alberto Ferrandez (Cuna De Campeones) was able to complete the podium for his fifth rostrum of the year. Poleman Ruda secured fourth ahead of Zonta Van Der Goorbergh (Super-B) in fifth and Alvaro Carpe (Hawkers Finetwork ARO Team) in sixth. Alonso and Van Der Goorbergh can’t be caught in their positions.
Race 2 provided its drama right from the start and with David Alonso already Champion from Saturday’s races and Zonta Van Den Goorbergh (Super B) locked into second, the main battle was for third between Alberto Ferrandez (Cuna de Campeones) and Ivan Ortola (Openbank Aspar Team). As the race wore on though, there were numerous big battles and Alonso and teammate Ortola collided on the front straight, adding to the drama. Coming out on top however for the first time from a career-first pole, Marcos Ruda (Team Honda Laglisse) beat battling teammates Alonso and Ortola, with Ferrandez in fifth, enough to give him third overall.
