Moto2 European Championship and European Talent Cup: thrilling start in Portugal
The Moto2 European Championship and European Talent Cup got off to a thrilling start at Circuito do Estoril, Portugal.
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Moto2 European Championship
It was a busy day for the Moto2™ ECh, with both races disrupted by red flags. Race 1 first saw the red flag waved for Tommaso Marcon (MMR), after he collided with Roberto Garcia (SKX Cardoso Racing) going to Turn 1 on the first lap. On the restart, Lukas Tulovic pulled away from Senna Agius (Promoracing), before the red flag was waved again during the 12-lap restart. This time, for a crash involving Piotr Biesiekirski (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Euvic Racing Team) and Xavi Cardelus (Promoracing). Therefore, the podium saw Tulovic take a first win ahead of Agius and Alex Escrig (Yamaha Philippines Stylobike Racing Team), the latter two taking their first podiums in the class. Race 2 saw a red flag in the early stages for a crash involving Sam Wilford (AGR Team), whilst on the restart, Tulovic again dominated, ahead of Agius and Mattia Rato (MMR), who was elated with a first podium in a tight finish with Alex Toledo (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Euvic Racing Team). In the Stock class, Alex Ruiz (FAU55 Tey Racing) took honours in both races.
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European Talent Cup
In the Hawkers European Talent Cup, reigning Champion Maximo Martinez (Team Honda Laglisse) crashed out of both races with spectacular highsides; thankfully he was OK. Race 1 wasn’t short of drama as Alberto Ferrandez (Finetwork Mir Junior Team) tangled with Brian Uriarte (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) into Turn 1 with three to go, ending their races. Out front, Joel Esteban was in a class of his own, breaking clear early on to take a first ever win by over 13 seconds ahead of teammate Dodo Boggio and Italian Guido Pini (AC Racing Team), both taking a first rostrum. Esteban again dominated in Race 2 whilst Casey O’Gorman (MLav VisionTrack Academy) crashed out of second after a fourth in the Race 1. Esteban doubled up ahead of Malaysian Hakim Danish (SIC Racing) and Finnish star Rico Salmela (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) who both go first podiums; Salmela was promoted to the Race 2 rostrum after a late penalty for Pini, who exceeded track limits.
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