CEV Repsol Moto2 European Championship and Hawkers European Talent Cup:
time for MotorLand Aragon
After a month on the side lines the Moto2™ European Championship and Hawkers European Talent Cup riders hit the ground at MotorLand Aragon for another double race day weekend.
The undefeated streak was finally stopped in the Moto2™ ECh race 1 as Alessandro Zaccone (Promoracing) getting the better of Yari Montella (Team Ciatti – Speed Up) after a thrilling four-way scrap. An eventful encounter saw mistakes aplenty with Niki Tuuli (Team Stylobike) enjoying a long spell at the front while Keminth Kubo (VR46 Master Camp Team) kept himself in the mix for the podium with his entertaining and aggressive style. In the end, Zaccone held on with the fastest lap on the last lap, with Montella second for the first time this season while Tuuli won a photo finish with Kubo for the final spot on the podium. A new face also stepped forward in the Superstock 600 class with Alex Toledo (EasyRace Team) on top for the first time this season, finishing eighth overall.
In race 2 rain started to fall in the build-up to Race 1 with drama striking championship leader Yari Montella (Team Ciatti – Speed Up) on the warm-up lap. A collision with Alejandro Medina (Apex – Cardoso Racing) eliminated both riders before the race had even started. A thrilling scrap followed between Alessandro Zaccone (Promoracing) and Niki Tuuli (Team Stylobike), including contact between the two at Turn 1 which almost unseated the Finn. Zaccone would snatch victory in the end with Tuuli 0.059s adrift. Xavi Cardelus (Team Stylobike) took advantage of the pre-race drama to claim his first podium on 2020 with Alex Toledo (EasyRace Team) the leading Superstock 600 runner after a crash on Lap 1 for Fermin Aldeguer (Fau 55 Tey Racing).
Race 2 brought more drama with the championship protagonists going head-to-head at the front, trading fastest laps in a tense finale. Once again, the final corner settled matters with Montella sneaking up the inside of Tuuli to take a hugely significant victory, bouncing back from his Race 1 disappointment and extending his championship lead to 23 points. Zaccone completed the podium in third with a crash involving Cardelus and Taiga Hada (AGR Team) promoting top Superstock 600 rider Alex Toledo to sixth.
In the HETC, Zonta van den Goorbergh (Super-B) had a perfect day 1 with two victories in a row as drama struck the series leader. In Race 1, van den Goorbergh proved too strong for surprise challenger Alvaro Carpe (Hawkers Finetwork Junior Team) who secured his maiden HETC podium. Harrison Voight (SIC58 Squadra Corse) won a fierce battle for third which saw Marco Morelli (Talent Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) and Adrian Cruces (Cuna de Campeones) crash at the final corner, while David Alonso (Openbank Aspar Team) was already eliminated following a crash at Turn 13, his first DNF of the season. The Colombian responded in Race 2 although he was still unable to deny van den Goorbergh, who triumphed again. Alonso was embroiled in a battle for second with team-mate Ivan Ortola (Openbank Aspar Team) and Marco Morelli, which he was successful in by just 0.093s.
The HETC title was up for grabs on Sunday but Zonta van den Goorbergh (Super-B) ensured the battle will continue to Valencia with a fourth victory in succession. The Dutch rider was pushed all the way in a nine-lap sprint following a delay due to a brief rain shower. David Alonso (Openbank Aspar Team) ensured he will take a 28-point lead to the final weekend after seeing off his team-mate Ivan Ortola (Openbank Aspar Team) for second with Alberto Ferrandez slipping out of title contention after finishing fourth.
