The top three in the provisional standings of the Moto2 European Championship dominated the first event in Valencia and it was ultimately Ricky Cardus who managed to win ahead of Steven Odendaal and Eric Granado. Note Corentin Perolari's great race on the French Transfiormers with seventh position on the line.
The first row of the starting grid was very international with local Ricky Cardus in pole position alongside Brazilian Eric Granado and Californian Joe Roberts. The German Lukas Tulovic was joined on the second row by the South African Steven Odendaal and Hector Garzo. Federico Fuligni and David Sanchis made up the third row with Frenchman Corentin Perolari (on TranFiormers). Cédric Tangre was eighteenth, just ahead of Philippe Le Gallo (second in the Superstock 600 behind Australian Lachlan Epis).
In the provisional classification of the European Moto2 Championship, Eric Granado was in the lead with 160 points, ahead of Ricky Cardus (140), Steven Odendaal (117), Hector Garzo (87) and Joe Roberts (82).
The best start was to the credit of Eric Granado ahead of Joe Roberts and Ricky Cardus. Granado opened up a small gap, while Cardus took second position from Roberts. The American soon after lost another place when Steven Odendaal overtook him at the end of the first lap.
Cardus took the lead, ahead of a group of six drivers consisting of Granado, Roberts, Odendaal, Garzo, Perolari and Tulovic. Corentin Perolari set the best lap in the race in 1'55.439 on Christian Boudinot's Transfiormers, a very rewarding achievement for both the driver and the manufacturer.
Dimas Ekky Pratama joined the leading group, while Cédric Tangre was eighteenth at 36 seconds at the end of the fourth lap, ahead of Philippe Le Gallo at 38 seconds.
The fight was superb with 8 bikes fighting for first position, which never happens in a Grand Prix. Odendaal passed second behind Cardus, then the South African even managed to overtake the Spaniard. Perolari was a good sixth. At halfway, Odendaal, Cardus and Granado were slightly behind (0.7) Roberts and Garzo. At 1.3 Tulovic had a little difficulty following in sixth position ahead of Perolari and Ekky Pratama. Eric Granado took the best time in the race in 1'54.726.
The podium seemed to be taking shape with Odendaal, Cardus and Granado. Garzo fourth was already at 2.3. Perolari was seventh at 3.1 and Philippe Le Gallo seventeenth at 1.41, while Cédric Tangre retired.
Cardus and Granado touched each other (it was not the first time this season) and Odendaal took the opportunity to try to outrun him in the lead. But the Spaniard and the Brazilian were closing in on the South African, and the three had a good fight despite the worn tires. Odendaal's Japanese NTS chassis held up well against the two German Kalex frames.
On the last lap, Cardus took the lead and won ahead of Odendaal and Granado. Roberts finished fourth and Perolari seventh. Philippe Le Gallo was seventeenth and second Superstock 600.
Race 1 Moto2 results:
Provisional classification of the Moto2 European Championship:
Photos © CEV Repsol / Dorna
