Brazilian Eric Granado managed to narrowly beat Spaniard Ricky Cardus, closing in on 6 points in the championship before the final weekend of the CEV which will take place in Valencia on November 19. Corentin Perolari completed a magnificent race with Christian Boudinot's TransFiormers, proving the validity of the concept and the competitiveness of the French chassis, as well as the talent of the driver.
After the first race which took place late this Sunday morning, in the provisional classification of the European Moto2 Championship, Eric Granado was in the lead with 176 points, ahead of Ricky Cardus (165), Steven Odendaal (137), Hector Garzo (97) and Joe Roberts (95).
Joe Roberts got the best start from outside the front row of the starting grid. He was ahead of Cardus, Granado, Tulovic, Odendaal, Fuligni and Perolari on the Transfiormers. Ricky Cardus tried to take the lead, but Roberts resisted him with motivation. Granado remained threatening in third position, ahead of Odendaal and Corentin Perolari who recovered very well in fifth position.
Ricky Cardus took command at the end of the second lap, while suddenly behind Joe Roberts and Steven Odendaal (teammates in 2018) fell, without seriousness for Odendaal, with more violence for Roberts.
Eric Granado took the opportunity to move into first position, but Cardus overtook him shortly after. Hector Garzo was then third at 0.3 and Corentin Perolari fourth at 0.6. Philippe Le Gallo was in sixteenth place, 41 seconds behind, while Cédric Tangre retired at his stand.
Corentin Perolari moved into second position with 11 laps remaining, then became third just behind Cardus and Granado. It was a superb performance for the young Frenchman and for the TransFiormers of Christian Boudinot. There were five of them fighting for first position with 9 laps remaining, with Granado, Cardus, Perolari, Garzo and Tulovic. Lukas Tulovic returned to his pit, victim of a technical problem.
At mid-race, Granado, Cardus, Perolari and Garzo were grouped at the front, gradually joined by Ekky Pratama and Ono. Granado led the way, while Cardus seemed to wait until the last lap, as in the first race, to attack. Garzo and Perolari lost a little ground and were fighting for third position, two seconds behind.
The first two Granado and Cardus significantly increased the pace and the Brazilian took the best time in the race in 1'54.458, then 1'54.345. So with 3 laps remaining, Granado and Cardus were fighting for victory with 3 seconds ahead of Garzo, Perolari, Ekky Pratama, Ono and Fuligni.
Ricky Cardus improved the best lap to 1'54.251. He took the lead at the end of the straight with one lap remaining. On the very last lap, Granado regained the advantage and won ahead of Cardus, while Garzo finished third ahead of Perolari and the TransFiormers.
Race 2 Moto2 results:
Provisional classification of the Moto2 European Championship:
Christian Boudinot and the TransFiormers (here in 2016)
Photos © CEV Repsol / Dorna
