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European Moto2 and Superbike in Valencia (Spain) - Day2

Granado

Eric Granado, winner of Race1 in Moto2

Sixteen thousand fans came this Sunday to witness the opening round of the FIM CEV Repsol held today at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valencia. Although the skies were slightly overcast, the temperature was pleasant and there was no wind. With everything in their favour, Granado and Odendaal took wins in the Moto2™ European Championship and Scheib in the Superbike European Championship.

Brazilian Eric Granado (BRA-Kalex) dominated the first race in the Moto2™ European Championship to win comfortably. Accompanied initially by Steven Odendaal (RSA-Kalex), Remy Gardner (AUS-Kalex-Honda) and Alan Techer (FRA-NTS Tpro) all riding close together, the eventual winner pulled away steadily to ride alone from the eighth lap to the end. Some way back Steven Odendaal (RSA-Kalex) and Alan Techer (FRA-NTS T pro) tussled for second place, gradually leaving Remy Gardner (AUS-Kalex-Honda) trailing. A few laps from the flag, the South African rider had pulled out a gap of around five seconds over his French rival, and he crossed the line comfortably to take the second step of the podium, while Alan Techer (FRA-NTS Tpro) added 16 points to his overall total. Second place starter Tetsuta Nagashima (JPN-Kalex) fell on the first lap and lost the chance to get his first points of the new season.

At 2PM the second Moto2™ European Championship race began, once again with Eric Granado (BRA-Kalex) dominating until he fell surprisingly after just two laps. With the horizon now clear, Steven Odendaal (RSA-Kalex) set the pace for five laps until a hard-charging Remy Gardner (AUS-Kalex-Honda) took the lead until the ninth lap. With just over half the race run, the South African fought back to pass the Australian rider and then opened up a gap to leave his opponents behind. Steven Odendaal (RSA-Kalex) took the flag, notching up his first victory in the FIM CEV Repsol and winning the “Repsol free fuel cheque”, followed by Alan Techer (FRA-NTS Tpro) and Federico Fuligni (ITA-Kalex). Jacopo Cretaro (ITA-Yamaha), was first of the Superstock 600 riders, riding impressively in both races.

Scheib

Maximilian Scheib, winner in Superbike

Race Direction decided that the Superbike European Championship race would be run over 14 laps. From lights off Santiago Barragán (SPA-BMW), Alejandro Medina (SPA-Yamaha), Maximilian Scheib (CHI-BMW) and Carmelo Morales (SPA-Yamaha) charged away. These riders kept their positions until the middle of the race, when the Spanish Yamaha Laglisse rider took the lead in a brilliant manoeuvre, while Santiago Barragán (SPA-BMW) lost ground after overshooting. When everything seemed decided in favour of the current class champion, a sudden total loss of pressure in his rear tire surprised Carmelo Morales (SPA-Yamaha) and left him out of the race three laps from the end. Maximilian Scheib (CHI-BMW) took his first FIM CEV Repsol victory, in addition to the “Repsol free fuel cheque”. In second place came Alejandro Medina (SPA-Yamaha) and third, Santiago Barragán (SPA-BMW). Among the privateer riders the best time was set by Niko Mäkinen (FIN-Yamaha).