Like Moto3, the Moto2 category will not start its 2020 season, but will continue it, after a start in Qatar which revealed Tetsuta Nagashima. New Red Bull KTM rider Ajo took a victory under the lights at Losail last March, and he arrives in the second round at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto as Championship leader. Now he must regain that momentum, like his rivals on the Moto2 grid, after a long break that has undoubtedly been a mental and physical challenge for everyone. Can Nagashima pick up where he left off?
A very different track, scorching temperatures and the lot of unknowns arising from the particular circumstances of 2020 indicate that this recovery at Jerez will be a bigger challenge. The teammate of Nagashima, George Martin, will be one of the first to hope to strike hard and on his own ground, just like Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) and Augusto Fernandez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) after their performance in Qatar went wrong.
Remy gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team), Tom Luthi (Liqui Moly Intact GP), his teammate Marcel Schrötter et Jorge Navarro (HDR Heidrun Speed Up) will also have their eyes fixed on this deadline where Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) will also be there, his injury being nothing more than a bad memory.
Joe Roberts (Tennor American Racing) had an impressive weekend at Losail and he came out in style, narrowly missing his first podium, after having signed his first pole. The American will be eager to get back on track to show his form in the very different conditions of Andalusia.
A circuit that Lorenzo Baldassarri loves
Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) also made a strong impression by taking third place, and the Italian stood out during qualifying. Aron Canet (India Aspar Team Moto2) had shone with an astonishing debut in the category and so he cannot be forgotten, especially since he will be racing on his home turf.
There is also Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP 40)… The Italian took second place to open his account in 2020, but it turns out that Baldassarri is also the man who won at Jerez last year and the year before. Can he do it again as we prepare to emerge from hibernation and return to racing? Only the future will tell us…
After a day of testing on Wednesday, head to the Gran Premio Red Bull de España on 17 au 19 juillet to see who will come out on top in this second round.
Moto2 Championship standings
1 Tetsuta Nagashima – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 25
2 Lorenzo Baldassarri – Flexbox HP 40 – Kalex – 20
3 Enea Bastianini – Italtrans Racing Team – Kalex – 16
4 Joe Roberts – Tennor American Racing – Kalex – 13
5 Rémy Gardner – ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team – Kalex – 11
