Canet, Vierge, Pons, Pietri and Morales in exciting wins at Navarra
The weather today was not on the side of the FIM CEV Repsol. With the ever-present threat of rain at the Circuito de Navarra, the races were held in completely different conditions from qualifying practice yesterday. But neither the cold nor the changing forecasts lessened the enthusiasm this weekend of nine thousand five hundred motorcycle racing fans, who saw Canet in the Moto3™ Junior World Championship, Vierge and Pons in the Moto2™ European Championship and Pietri and Morales in the Superbike European Championship score wins today.
As in his earlier victories in the Moto3™ Junior World Championship, Arón Canet (SPA-Honda) led right from the start. The overall leader earned his fourth victory and the “Repsol free fuel voucher”. Nicolò Bulega (ITA-KTM) and Joan Mir (SPA-Ioda-Honda) rode strongly as part of the chasing group, which slowly fell away leaving the two riders alone. It took the Italian rider some effort to shake off his pursuer, but a few laps from the end he edged away to close the gap on the leader, and it even looked at one point as if he might challenge for the top slot. In the end the Junior Team VR46 Riders Academy rider took second place, with third place going to Joan Mir (SPA-Ioda-Honda), who remains second in the overall standings, one point ahead of Nicolò Bulega (ITA-KTM).
The first Moto2™ European Championship race brought duels between teammates. The two Targobank Motorsport riders Alan Techer (FRA-Tech 3) and Xavi Vierge (SPA-Tech 3) took the lead a few corners from the off, riding close together. The pole position rider led to around the mid-point of the race, at which point Xavi Vierge (SPA-Tech 3) went on the attack to take the lead and hold it right to the chequered flag. The Frenchman, unable to stay with him, rode steadily to hold on to second position. Behind came the two Páginas Amarillas HP40 Junior Team riders, Luca Marini (ITA-Kalex) and Edgar Pons (SPA-Kalex). Halfway through the race, World Championship rider Edgar Pons (SPA-Kalex) went on the attack, and left his teammate behind as he moved up to finally cross the line in third. Eric Granados (BRA-Kalex) was impressive, competing for the leading positions and keeping Edgar Pons at bay for numerous laps until a fall wrecked his podium chances.
Luca Marini (ITA-Kalex) led the field for several laps in the second race of the Moto2™ European Championship race, until he was passed by a very strong Xavi Vierge (SPA-Tech 3) who pulled out a clear advantage. Edgar Pons (SPA-Kalex), started from third position, but upped his pace to keep in with a hope of victory, which he achieved crossing the line 0.524 ahead of the Targobank Motorsport rider. Eric Granados (BRA-Kalex) closed out the podium. For the Brazilian Promoracing team rider this was his first taste of champagne this season, and it was well-deserved after treating the spectators to a wonderful series of passes along with Luca Marini (ITA-Kalex) and Alan Techer (FRA-Tech3). Marcos Ramírez (SPA-Yamaha) excelled in both races among the Superstock 600 riders, while Xavi Vierge (SPA-Tech 3) will enjoy two “Repsol free fuel voucher” prizes.
The first race of the Superbike European Championship was more or less a triumphal procession for Robertino Pietri (VEN-Yamaha). With Race Direction deciding to delay the start because of a fine rain seconds before the off, the Team Stratos rider decided to stay with slicks while most of the other riders switched to wet tyres. With the track barely damp, the Venezuelan rider pulled easily away to lap alone at his own pace at the front all the way to the finish line to take victory and the “Repsol free fuel voucher” prize. Young Chilean rider Maximilian Scheib (CHI-BMW Motorrad) also stuck with slicks and so was able to stage a dramatic comeback, climbing 19 positions from his start in the Pit Lane to take second place, earning his first podium this season. Carmelo Morales (SPA-Yamaha), on rain tyres and unable to keep with the pace of the two leading riders, took third place and 16 points.
Three riders took most of the limelight during the second race of the Superbike European Championship: Adrián Bonastre (SPA-BMW), Carmelo Morales (SPA-Yamaha) and Maximilian Scheib (CHI-BMW Motorrad). The Laglisse Yamaha rider came out on top with 25 points and maintains overall leader of the category. But Adrián Bonastre (SPA-BMW) did a good job of containing him, leading to the halfway point and crossing the finish line in second position to gain the “Repsol free fuel voucher” prize. Maximilian Scheib (CHI-BMW Motorrad) was pushing hard behind when a fall put him out of contention. Once again this weekend, the Chilean rider impressed with his rapid adaptation to the category despite the challenges of an unknown track and machine. Robertino Pietri (VEN-Yamaha) took over the third slot and leaves Navarra with 110 points in the overall standings, 64 points behind the leader with three races still remaining.
The seventh FIM CEV Repsol race of the season will be in Jerez on October 31 and November 1.