Moto2 Andalucia: Brilliant Bastianini eases to victory

Enea Bastianini scored his first intermediate class victory in style as he responded to pressure from Jerez race winner Luca Marini and carefully maintained his lead to win the Moto2 Andalucian Grand Prix.

The Italtrans rider took over at the front from his compatriot, polesitter Marco Bezzecchi, but was constantly kept under pressure from both Sky Racing Team VR46 riders.

When Bezzecchi faded, Marini still kept the number 33 in check, but when under threat he pulled out and extended his advantage to win by a huge 2.153s margin. 

Bastianini was almost 20 seconds off the pace last week at the same track when he finished ninth. This race he came through Q1 before securing a front row start showing his upward trajectory over the Jerez back-to-back races.

Marini was secure in second with his teammate completing the all Kalex, all Italian podium. The Sky riders crashed on the slow down lap while congratulating each other on their rostrum finishes.

The result makes the title race extremely close - Tetsuta Nagashima remains ahead despite finishing outside the top ten, but Bastianini moves into second on 48 - just two points behind.

Sam Lowes was fourth for the second race in a row as he delivered consistency for his EG 0,0 Marc VDS Team.

The British rider was over five seconds ahead of fifth place finisher Aron Canet, who was once again the top performing rookie for Openbank Aspar.

The Speed Up rider was also the first non-Kalex man to cross the line.

Red Bull KTM’s Jorge Martin was next to see the chequered flag in sixth, well clear of Tom Luthi who was still looking to get close to his pre-season form for Liqui Moly Intact GP in seventh.

The Swiss rider was himself a fair margin ahead of Petronas Sprinta's Xavi Vierge who had to settle for eighth.

The battle for ninth reached the finish line with Stefano Manzi coming out best for MV Agusta Forward Racing. Manzi passed Marcel Schrotter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) in the closing stages after holding off a prolonged attack for the position from a flying Nagashima. 

The number 45 wobbled and weaved around the track as he tried to protect his championship lead in tenth for Red Bull. The Japanese rider suffered a huge crash earlier in the weekend which saw him taken to the medical centre and qualify a cautious 15th.

The last of the group to cross the line was Nicolo Bulega for Federal Oil Gresini in twelfth.

Augusto Fernandez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) was a distant 13th as the temperature rose. Remy Gardner (Onexox TKKR SAG Team) took 14th while Marcos Ramirez (Tennor American Racing) held off Gresini’s Edgar Pons to take the final point.

A late crash ended Lorenzo Baldassarri’s hopes, he first saved an out of the seat moment before losing the front just before the start of the penultimate lap.
 
Jake Dixon was the first to exit crashing out after three laps. Kasma Daniel only lasted one lap longer, with current Moto3 champion Lorenzo Dalla Porta falling shortly after. 

Jorge Navarro was unsettled after receiving a yellow flag penalty and having to give the place he gained back to Canet. He fell soon after crashing out after ten laps.

There were also falls for Hector Garzo, Somkiat Chantra and former MotoGP rider Hafizh Syahrin. Simone Corsi retired to the pits, leaving only 20 finishers. 

Jesko Raffin was withdrawn before the race after displaying symptoms of heatstroke and dehydration.