The FIM CEV Repsol riders have been cheered on this weekend by 24,000 fans who came to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Under a scorching sun, Arón Canet (SPA-Honda), Joan Mir (SPA-Honda), Edgar Pons (SPA-Kalex), Carmelo Morales (SPA-Yamaha) and Joan Sardanyons (SPA) have added one more victory to their roster in the Moto3™ Junior World Championship, Moto2™ European Championship, Superbike European Championship and Kawasaki Z Cup categories.
Once again, the riders’ performance in the first race of the Moto3™ Junior World Championship kept everyone on the edge of their seats, with the tension growing lap by lap. Arón Canet (SPA-Honda) led from start to finish, taking advantage of pole position rider Joan Mir’s (SPA-Honda) withdrawal for technical reasons after he had contested the leadership of the race for four laps. In the chasing pack a large group of riders – Khairul Idham Pawi (MAL-Honda), Nicolò Bulega (ITA-KTM), Lorenzo dalla Porta (ITA-Husqvarna), Jaume Masia SPA-Honda), Albert Arenas (SPA-Husqvarna) and Bo Bendsneyder (NED-Honda) – were involved in a continuous battle for positions. With one lap to go, Malaysian rider Pawi had pushed hard to put the Junior Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 rider under pressure, while a fall left Jaume Masía (SPA Honda) out of the race just a few meters from the finish. Finally, the 25 points and the “Repsol fuel voucher” award went to Aròn Canet (SPA-Honda), who was joined on the podium by Khairul Idham Pawi (MAL-Honda) and Nicolò Bulega (ITA-KTM).
At 15.00 the second Moto3™ Junior World Championship race began, with Joan Mir (SPA-Honda) setting the pace in the first few laps followed closely by Arón Canet (SPA-Honda). At the halfway point Canet (SPA-Honda) tried to take the lead but Joan Mir (SPA-Honda) and Khairul Idham Pawi (MAL-Honda) resisted. Riding hard, the three alternated positions, leaving behind a large group of riders who were engaged in a bitter struggle for positions. It was Joan Mir (SPA-Honda) who finally took the flag, adding another podium to his tally for the day and also earning the “Repsol fuel voucher” award. He was followed home by Arón Canet (SPA-Honda) – consolidating his leadership in the overall classification – and Khairul Idham Pawi (MAL-Honda).
Edgar Pons (SPA-Kalex) took a resounding victory in the Moto2™ European Championship race and is proving unstoppable this season. Lapping a good way behind Pons, came a competitive chasing group with no clear leader. At the start of the race, Alan Techer (FRA-Tech 3) looked impressive, coming through from sixth place on the grid to trail the leading rider while fighting a continuous battle with Luca Marini (ITA-Kalex). They were joined by Steven Odeendal (RSA-Kalex), after he had gradually recovered from running wide at the very first corner, and Xavi Vierge (SPA-Tech 3), who eventually crashed out a few laps from the finish. Edgar Pons (SPA-Kalex) took a clear win, ending the day with the lead in the overall standings as well as a “Repsol fuel voucher” award. Joining him on the podium were teammate Luca Marini (ITA-Kalex) after a race in which he had steadily pulled clear, and Alan Techer (FRA-Tech 3). The best Superstock 600 privateer was Abián Santana (SPA-Yamaha).
No matter what the other riders did to try to steal Carmelo Morales’ (SPA-Yamaha) limelight in the Superbike European Championship, it was obvious that he was on home ground at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and he ended up the clear winner. The Laglisse Yamaha rider was challenged on the first few laps by Robertino Pietri (VEN-Yamaha) until he fell on the seventh. From then on Morales rode alone, progressively widening the gap between him and his pursuers to eight seconds. Behind him a fierce struggle developed, with the odd contact, between the second and third riders in the classification – Ivan Silva (SPA-BMW) and Kenny Noyes (USA-Kawasaki) – after Dani Rivas (SPA-BMW) was left out of the struggle when he fell mid-race. Axel Maurin (FRA-Kawasaki) was the best privateer rider.
Joan Sardanyons won the Kawasaki Cup Z race, taking his first victory of the season. Following him across the finish line were Victor Lozano – now leading the overall rankings – and Daniel Carrau, who earned a podium position for the first time this season. The Kawasaki Z Cup is taking a vacation and will return to action at the Circuit de Albacete on the 5th and 6th of September.
The next FIM CEV Repsol event – the 4th of the season – will be at MotorLand Aragón, on the 4th and 5th of July.
The races can be seen in full here.
We would like to remind press and teams that in the next few hours you will be able to find more photos from all the FIM CEV Repsol races in the photo gallery and through the FTP accessible from this press release.
All the results and information about the Championship can be found on the official website: www.fimcevrepsol.com