Remy Gardner (AUS-Kalex) in Moto2™, and Carmelo Morales (SPA-Yamaha) in Superbike (respectively in photo 1 and 2) notched up victories in their respective categories in the fourth round of the FIM CEV Repsol this weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
In Moto2™, Ricky Cardús (SPA-Transfiormers) won an eventful Moto2™ European Championship race. Right from the lights Remy Gardner (AUS-Kalex), who was a wildcard rider in last weekend’s Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, took the lead and pulled clear in the first lap. Dimas Ekky (INA-Kalex) and Alan Techer (FRA-NTS NH-6) were involved in a fall, while Ricky Cardús, Eric Granado (BRA-Kalex), Steven Odendaal (RSA-Kalex) and Tetsuta Nagashima (JPN-Kalex) formed the chasing group.
Remy Gardner was forced out by a mechanical problem while he was clear leader and Ricky Cardús took over the front. Steven Odendaal also had to abandon the race with a puncture. Eric Granado finally ended up second followed by the Japanese Ajo Motorsport Academy rider.
Along with earning his Transfiormers team’s first victory in the Moto2™ European Championship, Ricky Cardús also won a Repsol free fuel cheque. In the 600 class a Honda won for the first time as Rafid Topan (INA-Honda) took victory.
In the second Moto2™ European Championship race, Remy Gardner redeemed himself by achieving his first win. The Australian took the lead from the start and held it to the flag, followed by Ricky Cardús and Steven Odendaal, whose position in the rankings improved today as Alan Techer’s first race fall meant he did not contest the second. Remy Gardner was awarded the Repsol free fuel cheque while Rafid Topan repeated his victory in Superstock 600.
Steven Odendaal is clear leader in Moto2™ with 111 points, followed by Alan Techer on 72, while Eric Granado is now third with 66 points, one more than Tetsuta Nagashima.
Carmelo Morales (SPA-Yamaha) achieved his third consecutive victory in a Superbike race which had to be suspended when Niko Mäkinen (FIN-Yamaha) had to leap from his bike at the end of the straight after it suffered a mechanical problem. In the first race, Ángel Rodriguez (SPA-Kawasaki) took the lead from the lights and pulled clear when Carmelo Morales had a poor start and Santiago Barragán (SPA-BMW) had to retire with mechanical problems.
The race was reduced to seven laps and this time Carmelo Morales started well, with Ángel Rodríguez sliding off on at the first corner. Maximilian Scheib (CHI-BMW), seemed to have made a slow start, but recovered to reach and overtake Alejandro Medina (SPA-Yamaha), who was in second place behind Carmelo Morales.
The Laglisse and Targobank Easyrace SBK Team riders pulled away but began to play cat and mouse just before the start of the final lap, neither wanting to be in first position at the start of the last lap. Alejandro Medina came past and Carmelo Morales was pushed back to second. Then in the braking section at the end of the main straight the Catalan rider took back the lead and Maximilian Scheib finally managed to pass Medina, who was recovering from an injured left foot, on the last chicane.
The reigning Superbike European Championship champion was awarded the Repsol free fuel cheque. Óscar Climent (SPA-Yamaha) came in fourth just after the Leopard Yamaha Stratos rider and was the first privateer rider past the flag. Carmelo Morales took his third consecutive victory which makes up for the zero points he earned in Valencia after a puncture. He is now six points behind leader Maximilian Scheib.
