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Tag: Enea Bastianini
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Moto3 and Moto2 contenders to fight it out
Portimao, 19 Nov 2020: At the Grande Premio MEO de Portugal, there’s everything to play for in the Moto2 and Moto3 classes, so ahead of track action the title contenders joined two special pre-event Press Conferences.
In Moto2, Championship leader Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) was joined by second overall Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS); who trails by 14 points, third-placed Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46); 18 points adrift, and Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46); fourth overall and 23 points back, as they all fight it out for the crown.
Here are a few key quotes!
ENEA BASTIANINI: “For the moment, the feeling is incredible. It’s been a fantastic season with three victories and seven podiums, and the team work has been fantastic. Now it’s the last race and also my last race in Moto2, and I hope to be also fast on this track. It’s my first time here and Portimao I think is not so easy but tomorrow I’ll try to do my best to be fastest in qualifying and we’ll se what happens on Sunday but I’m confident in being fast and the team is ready.
“It’s important to learn from other riders because I think six or seven riders have been on this track, not with Moto2 but with other bikes.. Luca with Moto2. But I hope to learn a bit on the first runs, but after I think it’s possible to be fast and the plan is to be in the first or second row in qualifying and battle in the race.”
SAM LOWES: “When you can come to the last race of the year and have a chance at the championship it means the season’s been good. It’s easy to look at the last couple of races and say they’ve been bad but the championship is long and you have to be there every race. These guys have had some bad luck and unlucky race, we all arrive here with a chance which is great I’m looking forward to it, I’ve been to this track before, I have good memories, in 2011 I rode for the Parkalgar Honda Team, sponsored by this track, it’s a good place for me. I won here in 2013 and can say this track is beautiful and great to ride, it’ll be a fun weekend for everybody.
“In the end I think maybe I have a bit of advantage from that but these guy are great riders, they’ve been fantastic at every circuit all year, by the time we get to qualifying and the race everyone will be on the rhythm. Maybe it’ll help me a little tomorrow, my hand is stills ore so maybe I can manage the session differently, but when it comes down to it, everyone will be on the pace. And for me – 2013 is the last time I was here! So I know the track, but now I’m getting older it’s hard to remember that far back…!”
LUCA MARINI: “First of all it’s fantastic to be here in Portimao. I rode here in the European Championship in Moto2, my first Moto2 race! It was just amazing. The track is unbelievable, a rollercoaster like everyone says. And I hope to enjoy it all weekend, try to be fast, and enjoy the weekend until the last moment. I try to do my best, work harder compared to every other weekend because it’s my last race in Moto2 and I want to finish in the best way. My crew is very prepared for this race, and we want to enjoy it.”
“I don’t think the prior experience helps so much, the tarmac was different, the tyres were different, the bike, the engine, everything was different. It was my first race in Moto2, I don’t remember anything! And in the World Championship they are the best riders in the world, so being at a track for the first time isn’t a problem for everyone. It’s just about finding the correct set up because it’s a strange track, difficult with different points, hard braking but you need a good flow in fast corners. I think it’s important to find a good setup from the beginning and work well in FP1 and FP2 to be ready for qualifying.”
MARCO BEZZECCHI: “I’m very happy to arrive here and able to fight for the Championship. It’s very important because I didn’t expect it at the start of the season. So this already for me is a big result, then for sure it will be hard because 23 points, even if you win, something has to happen for the other riders so it would be very hard. But it’s not a big problem for me, I want to focus myself and my team to do a normal race weekend, trying to fight for the win and podium and try to finish the season in the best way we can. Obviously when you fight for the title you always think a bit about it, it wouldn’t be normal to say something else, but my main target is just to make the best race I can, the closer to the win the better, but if I don’t achieve the title it’s ok.
“In the end, this season was important . Coming from 2019 where I struggled a lot and didn’t get any result, no podiums or anything, I’m very happy about the season I’ve had; two wins, seven times on the podium… it’s very nice. For sure if I look back some mistakes I’d like to not make, but at the end you can’t go back in time. This is where we are and we just have to try to look forward, be focused and try to fight to the end.”
Meanwhile in Moto3™, there are three contenders remaining. In the Press Conference they were headed by points leader Albert Arenas (Gaviota Aspar Team Moto3), who comes into the Portuguese GP with an eight-point cushion ahead of Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia), with Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team) 11 points off the top following his win last time out.
ALBERT ARENAS: “It’s special being here and being the leader in the last race of the season. From the beginning it was really good for us, winning in Qatar, and then came the lockdown and everything. No one knew if we were going to restart or not. Starting again and winning gave me a lot of confidence for the season. It’s true we had some not good moments, but races are like this. We’ve achieved leading the Championship despite those bad moments and it’s made us stronger. I think I’ve improved a lot in riding and also approaching the races, I’m ready for the weekend.”
And racing at a brand new track?
“It will be a special moment and a big challenge or sure. I think it’s good for everyone because we all start from zero. We’ll see who will take the pace earlier, or if anyone can make the difference! Lets see how it goes, for sure I’m looking forward to riding this track with my bike and seeing how fast we can go.”
AI OGURA: “Since the beginning of this year we’ve made a really good job with my team, we started the first race on the podium and then we’ve got may podiums, but we still don’t have a victory. Now I’m in a position to not think about the Championship, and just let’s enjoy the last race. We’re ready to give everything. Let’s enjoy the weekend.
“My motivation this weekend is the victory more than the Championship. No pressure, normal, I’m ready to enjoy the race.”
TONY ARBOLINO: “Our objective is always the same. This track this weekend our objective is to win the race and try to be competitive in all conditions and practices. We’ve had some bad luck, but we got the victory and I’m in a perfect position, we’re working so hard, to find everything in the same way, we’re pushing, everyone the same, so this gives me so much energy for the weekend, The last race, we won. What can I say? I’m so motivated to make a good job. I can’t think about the Championship but it doesn’t matter, I just want to win the race and that’s my mentality, I’ll give everything to do it and after we’ll see in parc ferme what we achieved.
“I can’t wait to start tomorrow. I was here in 2015 and 2016, and from what I remember I enjoyed this track a lot. With new asphalt we’ll see, but seeing the other Moto3 races here it looks very enjoyable. I can’t wait to start the weekend, start working and start to make something good.”
That’s a wrap from the Moto2™ and Moto3™ pretenders to the crown on Thursday. Watch them head out on track for practice in Friday as we count down to the final showdown on Sunday, with the Moto3™ title decided from 11:00 (GMT) before Moto2™ from 12:20.
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Bastianini bolts through the chaos to get back on top
Three – almost – starts and some rain playing havoc couldn’t stop the ‘Beast’, with Bezzecchi and Lowes completing the podium
San Marino, 20 Sept 2020: Italtrans Racing Team’s Enea Bastianini clinched an impressive Moto2™ victory at Misano after rain played havoc at the Gran Premio TISSOT dell’Emilia Romagna e della Riviera di Rimini. Red flags were brought out after just seven laps as the heavens opened but, from the restart, and back in the dry, the ultra-aggressive Bastianini bolted clear to take the win ahead of Sky Racing Team VR46’s Marco Bezzecchi and EG 0,0 Marc VDS’ Sam Lowes. With his victory, the ‘Beast’ cut Luca Marini’s (Sky Racing Team VR46) title lead down to just five points.
On the first start, it was Petronas Sprinta Racing’s Xavi Vierge managing to squeeze his way into the lead pat Marini and the hit the front of a Moto2™ race for the first time in 2020, with a strong start coming in from his Petronas Sprinta Racing teammate too as Jake Dixon settled into fifth. The Italians suffered a few dramas in the early shuffles, but the biggest drama was about to come down as rain started and the flag came out to let the riders know. By then, Bastianini had muscled to the front and started to bolt despite the worsening weather, but the Red Flag came out not long after.
The riders filtered into pitlane and a ten lap restart was announced, but as the grid reformed, with everyone on slicks, the rain suddenly got heavier again. As the Moto2™ field set off on their Warm Up lap, the entire grid instantly pointed skywards and began wagging fingers to signal it was far too wet for the race to start. The rain eventually subsided and, after a short delay, a dry-ish 10 lap dash was back underway – with Bastianini on pole as the grid formed up based on standings before the flag.
Lights out for the second time saw Marini take control into Turn 1, and Bastianini settling in behind him. The Beast struck immediately though at Turn 4, sending the pair wide and giving Vierge chance to pounce. The Spaniard took the lead and Marini lost out big time with his fellow Italian’s move dropping him back to fifth. Bastianini then hit the front at the end of the opening lap, and the plan appeared the same: BOLT.
The Italian made the most of Vierge and Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) battling over second and didn’t need a second invitation, stretching his lead out to over a second after two laps.
Next, Marini lost out to Bezzecchi for fourth place and then got beaten up by Sam Lowes over fifth place, with valuable points slipping through the fingers of the Championship leader. Meanwhile, an incredible fight was ensuing between Vierge and Schrötter, the German moving through into Turn 7 and on the exit the pair were side by side, bashing elbows for good measure. Some more contact then saw Vierge crash out, with Schrötter dropping back to fourth and then fifth as Marini sliced with his way past. Lowes found himself up to third too, trying to go with the fastest man on the track with three laps left: Marco Bezzecchi.
He was eight tenths quicker than Bastianini and suddenly, just like a week ago, Bezzecchi was hunting down the race leader at some rate. By two laps to go it was seven tenths separating the two Italians at the front of the race, with Bezzecchi visibly throwing everything at it and Lowes in close company too. As they started the final lap, it was just half a second between the leading duo.
Despite the mounting pressure, Bastianini remained calm and didn’t fold, however, crossing the line seven tenths clear to take a third intermediate class win of 2020, and his second GP win at Misano. Bezzecchi came across the line in P2 for a third consecutive top three finish, even more closely followed by Sam Lowes. Marini, meanwhile, took 13 points in fourth place and kept hold of his World Championship lead. But only just, with Bastianini now only five points adrift and breathing down his neck heading to Barcelona next weekend…
Schrötter took fifth after his earlier dramas, with Jake Dixon the next man over the line after getting the better of Jorge Navarro (Beta Tools Speed Up) by three tenths. That’s Dixon’s best ever Grand Prix result and after an impressive fight for it, in the dry to boot. Rounding out the top ten were Fabio Di Giannantonio (Beta Tools Speed Up), Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) and Hector Garzo (FlexBox HP40), who jumped up following a one place penalty for Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) for exceeding track limits on the final lap.
Joe Roberts (Tennor American Racing) crashed before the restart in a monster high side, rider ok.
That’s it for Moto2™ at Misano, and it’s just five points in it on the road to Barcelona. Will we see a change of lead there? Find out next weekend!1 Enea Bastianini – Italtrans Racing Team – Kalex 16:11.977
2 Marco Bezzecchi – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex +0.720
3 Sam Lowes – EG 0,0 Marc VDS – Kalex +1.124
Enea Bastianini: “I’m really happy to be here in first place, today was a strange race because we stopped twice but after I kept good pace in the third race and it was possible to keep a bit of distance from Marco. I put the soft rear tyre on, and it was pushing a bit more on the front and Marco was really close the last two laps! But I’m happy for this victory for my team and my family, and in my town… it’s incredible!” -
Jorge Lorenzo hammers home his pace with sublime win in Barcelona
Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) puts the hammer down in Barcelona. Photo: MotoGP Barcelona, 17 June 2018: Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) hammered home the race victory at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya in flawless style, taking victory by over four seconds to secure his second consecutive win. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) crossed the line second at his home Grand Prix to extend his Championship lead, with Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) securing third place for the third race in a row.
Just like it was in Mugello, Sunday at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was all about Lorenzo. However, the number 99 didn’t get the perfect launch from pole position, with Marquez out-dragging the Ducati into the first corner. Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) also made a great start, slotting into second place on the opening laps, with Lorenzo sitting tightly in third.
Marc Marquez. Photo: Honda Racing The Spaniard wasn’t there for long though, keeping his composure to get past Iannone and Marquez to lead into Turn 1 on the second lap and from there, it was hammer time. By now, Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) was tucked up behind the number 93 in third, before the Italian crashed out at Turn 5 on lap 9 – his third DNF of the season and another massive dent in his title aspirations.
Back on track, Lorenzo and Marquez had pulled the pin, with Rossi picking up third position, 3.2 seconds back. The gap between the two Spaniards at the front flirted at just under a second, with Lorenzo looking imperious, setting 1:40.0s lap after lap. In the end, the Championship leader had no answer, and eventually finished 4.479 seconds back from the number 99 – who now draws level on points with teammate Dovizioso in the overall standings.
Valentino Rossi. Photo: Yamaha MotoGP Rossi was a lonely third at the checkered flag, with Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) enjoying a fantastic ride to finish as top Independent Team rider in fourth. The Brit was locked in a battle with Repsol Honda Team’s Dani Pedrosa in the latter stages of the race before getting the better of the Spaniard down into Turn 4 – Pedrosa rounded out the top five.
Maverick Viñales’ (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) opening lap woes continued, finishing the first lap down in P10 after starting fourth. The home rider managed to salvage 6th at the flag, holding off Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), with the two locked together throughout the race. Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) crossed the line eighth, with fellow Ducati rider Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) seven seconds further back in ninth.
Iannone slipped right back after a fantastic start, the Italian rounded out the top ten. Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) picking up his fourth straight P11 finish, with Scott Redding (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) and Karel Abraham (Angel Nieto Team) the only other riders to finish the race in P12 and P13 respectively.
‘Fabulous’ Fabio Quartararo ….maiden Moto2 success. Photo: MotoGP Fabulous Fabio takes flawless first Grand Prix win
Fabio Quartararo (HDR – Speed Up Racing) stormed to a stunning first Grand Prix victory to take his first podium finish since Assen 2015 in Moto2™. The Frenchman finished 2.492 seconds ahead of Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who came through from P17 on the grid, with home rider and last year’s race winner Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) taking the final step on the podium in third.
It wasn’t the start the Frenchman would have wanted from pole position, dropping down to fourth on the opening lap as Marquez grabbed the hole shot going down into Turn 1, with Marcel Schroetter (Dynavolt Intact GP) and Francesco Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46) slotting in behind. Oliveira again produced a lightning start to get into the top six on the first lap after starting 17th, and by lap 6 the Portuguese rider was shadowing Marquez in second.
The number 44 hit the front a lap later, but Quatararo was on the move. The double Junior Moto3™ World Champion passed Marquez into Turn 10, and set his sights on Oliveira, making his move at Turn 4 on lap 9 after the KTM rider ran slightly wide.
From there, it was an exhibition job for the 19-year-old. Quartararo was consistently the only rider to dip into the 1:43s, setting new lap records lap after lap to create a 2.2 second gap to Oliveira by lap 18. Meanwhile, the second-place man had pulled away from Marquez, with the Spaniard holding off the chasing Xavi Vierge (Dynavolt Intact GP) and the recovering teammate Schroetter, who ran wide at Turn 1 on lap 6 after setting the fastest lap of the race.
Quartararo took the checkered flag 2.492 seconds ahead, getting himself onto the top step of the podium for the first time since 2014. Oliveria crossed the line second, but was then involved in a scary looking incident with Simone Corsi (Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2) down into Turn 1 on the cool down lap – riders ok. Marquez held off Schroetter to earn a home turf podium, he now sits 20 points behind Bagnaia heading to Assen.
Vierge was a solid fifth at his home GP, with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) holding off a late charge from Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP40) to finish 6th, the Italian 0.087 behind in 7th. Championship leader Bagnaia had a disappointing day in eighth, seeing his overall standings lead cut to just one point over Oliveira.
Enea Bastianini celebrates after scoring a dramatic win. Photo: MotoGP Bastianini wins breathless Moto3™ race
Enea Bastianini (Leopard Racing) took his first victory since Motegi 2016 in a dramatic Moto3™ race with Marco Bezzecchi (Redox PrustelGP) taking second by 0.003 from Gabriel Rodirigo (RBA BOE Skull Rider), who secured his first Grand Prix podium and Argentina’s first GP podium since Sebastian Porto in 2005.
The lightweight class race in Barcelona was full of drama for two World Championship protagonists. Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) crashed out of the lead on lap 9 at Turn 9, with fellow-Championship rival Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0) involved in a huge crash at Turn 5 on lap 16, with Albert Arenas (Angel Nieto Team) and Nicolo Bulega (SKY Racing Team VR46) also involved in the incident – Canet was stretchered away.
Then, on lap 18 of 21, there was more drama as Jaume Masia (Besta Capital Dubai) collided with Andrea Migno (Angel Nieto Team) down into Turn 1 with both in the hunt for victory – both riders were taken to the medical centre for a check-up.
An almighty battle at the front developed, with John McPhee (CIP Green Power) Bastianini, Bezzecchi, Rodrigo and Suzuki the five riders left at the front in the final three laps after the two huge crashes. McPhee led over the line onto the final lap, but it was ‘The Beast’ who expertly slipstreamed his way to the front, with Rodrigo and Bezzecchi also getting past McPhee. The Italian rode a flawless last lap to take a much-needed victory, as Championship leader Bezzecchi pipped Rodrigo on the line to grab second place – McPhee had to settle for fourth, his best result of the season.
Suzuki was an excellent fifth in the end, with reigning Junior Moto3™ World Champion Alonso Lopez (Estrella Galicia 0,0) grabbing sixth, 5.961 back from the top five.
