Moto2 France Le Mans Race: Augusto Fernandez winner, new fall for Pedro Acosta

Rookie Pedro Acosta qualified on pole for the first time in Moto2 and the second time in his career in Grand Prix for this French Grand Prix of the specialty. The one who is also the reigning Moto3 World Champion is the 10th different author of a leading position in the last 10 Moto2 races. A streak that started in Emilia-Romagna last year with Sam Lowes, followed by Raul Fernandez, Simone Corsi, Celestino Vietti, Jake Dixon, Fermin Aldeguer, Cameron Beaubier, Aron Canet and Ai Ogura, which is a Moto2 record . Only two drivers have won from pole in Moto2 at Le Mans: Francesco Bagnaia in 2018, and Raul Fernandez in 2021.

Jake dixon qualified in second position for his third front row since the start of the year. He will aim for victory for the first time in Moto2. Augusto Fernandez qualified third for his best qualifying result since second in Argentina. He will try to win for the first time since San Marino 2019.

Winner at Le Mans in 2020, Sam Lowes is fourth, which is the third consecutive race where he starts from the first two rows. He is absent from the starting grid, the latter suffering from neck pain following this morning's WUP: he was declared "unfit" by the medical authorities.

Alonso lopez, who is making a full-time return to Moto2, is sixth and the top non-Kalex rider for his best Moto2 qualifying result. The leader of the championship, Celestine Vietti, is 19th after his worst qualification since Aragon last year, where he was 26th.

What does this French Grand Prix have in store for us, this seventh round of the season? Before answering this question, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far.

Moto2™ Le Mans	2021	2022
FP1	1'37.535 Arón Canet	1'36.108 Somkiat Chantra
FP2	1'36.307 Sam Lowes	1'36.030 Augusto Fernandez
FP3	1'38.239 Arón Canet	1'35.861 Pedro Acosta
Q1	1'36.671 Joe Roberts	1'36.259 Lorenzo Dalla Porta
Q2	1'50.135 Raúl Fernández	1'36.803 Pedro Acosta
Warm Up	1'55.338 Arón Canet	1'36.343 Pedro Acosta
Course	Raúl Fernández, Gardner, Bezzecchi	Augusto Fernandez, Canet, Chantra
All time lap record	1'36.108 Somkiat Chantra	1'35.861 Pedro Acosta

 

The sun is back after the downpour which disrupted the start of the Moto3 race. It's 27° in the air and 32° on the track.

The drivers will have 25 laps to decide between themselves and seek victory.

The pole sitter is in the starting blocks!

It's off and Acosta keeps the line in front of Arenas who rushes hard. He went through Fernandez.

Antonelli crashes in turn 5

Top5 at the start of the session: Acosta ahead of Fernandez, Arenas, Lopez and Ramirez.

Arbolino falls in turn 6. Aldeguer falls in the same place, at the same time. No hanging

Aki Ajo's two drivers are at the front, with Acosta in front of Fernandez. Behind, Lopez takes Arenas and Canet.

Canet, who still suffers from his hand, manages to overtake Arenas and takes 4th position. The Flexbox driver continues his effort and attacks Lopez, he passes and is now 3rd.

Dixon goes to the mat.

Fall of Lopez and Arenas: contact between the 2 pilots

There are 20 laps remaining and the top 10 is as follows: Acosta, Fernandez, Canet, Beaubier, Ramirez, Chantra, Navarro, Ogura, Schrotter and Roberts. 

The Aki Ajo drivers ride in unison...They are 5.7s ahead of Canet, 3rd

Long Lap for Bendsneyder and Saalac: Dunlop chicane cut

Fall of Rodrigo. Acosta goes to the mat...in turn 6

New top 10 with 14 laps to go: Fernandez, Canet, Beaubier, Chantra, Ramirez, Schrotter, Ogura, Navarro, Roberts and Manzi.

Championship leader Vietti is 17th. 

Ramirez crashes in turn 7

Chantra attacks Beaubier and takes 3rd position.

Long lap for Arenas. Baffle cut.

Very fast Chantra threatens Canet to gain 2nd position. It's done, he goes, Canet loses 2 positions, Beaubier also benefits: new top3: Fernandez, Chantra and Beaubier. There are 10 laps left to complete.

Canet doesn't give up and attacks Beaubier; by overtaking, he potentially climbs back onto the 3rd step of the podium.

Kelly returns to the pits.

With 7 laps to go, the top 10 is as follows: Fernandez, Chantra, Canet, Beaubier, Schrotter, Ogura, Roberts, Navarro, Baltus and Manzi.

Chantra misses and lets Canet pass in 2nd position and Beaubier, 3rd.

Baltus falls 6 laps from the finish in turn 7

A boulevard of 7s separates Fernandez from Canet: Beaubier, Chantra, Ogura, Schrotter, Roberts, Navarro, Manzi and Gonzalez complete this top10 with 3 laps to go.

Beaubier misses which allows Chantra to come back and still believe in this 3rd position on the podium..He is 0.142s behind!

Chantra goes there and it passes, he is 3rd!

Last round !

Victory for Fernandez ahead of Canet and Chantra!

Heroic Canet!

Great Chantra race!

 

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