Moto2 European Championship and European Talent Cup: thrilling start in Portugal
The Moto2 European Championship and European Talent Cup got off to a thrilling start at Circuito do Estoril, Portugal.
Moto2 European Championship
It was a busy day for the Moto2™ ECh, with both races disrupted by red flags. Race 1 first saw the red flag waved for Tommaso Marcon (MMR), after he collided with Roberto Garcia (SKX Cardoso Racing) going to Turn 1 on the first lap. On the restart, Lukas Tulovic pulled away from Senna Agius (Promoracing), before the red flag was waved again during the 12-lap restart. This time, for a crash involving Piotr Biesiekirski (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Euvic Racing Team) and Xavi Cardelus (Promoracing). Therefore, the podium saw Tulovic take a first win ahead of Agius and Alex Escrig (Yamaha Philippines Stylobike Racing Team), the latter two taking their first podiums in the class. Race 2 saw a red flag in the early stages for a crash involving Sam Wilford (AGR Team), whilst on the restart, Tulovic again dominated, ahead of Agius and Mattia Rato (MMR), who was elated with a first podium in a tight finish with Alex Toledo (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Euvic Racing Team). In the Stock class, Alex Ruiz (FAU55 Tey Racing) took honours in both races.
European Talent Cup
In the Hawkers European Talent Cup, reigning Champion Maximo Martinez (Team Honda Laglisse) crashed out of both races with spectacular highsides; thankfully he was OK. Race 1 wasn’t short of drama as Alberto Ferrandez (Finetwork Mir Junior Team) tangled with Brian Uriarte (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) into Turn 1 with three to go, ending their races. Out front, Joel Esteban was in a class of his own, breaking clear early on to take a first ever win by over 13 seconds ahead of teammate Dodo Boggio and Italian Guido Pini (AC Racing Team), both taking a first rostrum. Esteban again dominated in Race 2 whilst Casey O’Gorman (MLav VisionTrack Academy) crashed out of second after a fourth in the Race 1. Esteban doubled up ahead of Malaysian Hakim Danish (SIC Racing) and Finnish star Rico Salmela (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) who both go first podiums; Salmela was promoted to the Race 2 rostrum after a late penalty for Pini, who exceeded track limits.
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