Michael Scott | August 5, 2018
2018 Czech Republic Moto2 and Moto3 Sunday Results
Moto2 Race – 19 laps, 102.657 km
The fine track and a fine year of talent meant one of the best Moto2 races for years, fought to the final corner between Red Bull KTM’s Miguel Oliveira and the Kalex of Luca Marini (SKY VR46 Racing Team).
Victory went to Oliveira by seven hundredths of a second, but it was still a great day for Marini, Rossi’s younger half-brother, after his first podium at the previous round in Germany, and his first pole position here at Brno.
2018 Czech Republic Moto2 and Moto3 Sunday Results
The pair changed places six times in the last lap alone, by when they had narrowly got clear of a group that had been five strong. This left former championship leader Pecco Bagnaia (SKY VR46 Kalex) tooth and nail with Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP40 Kalex), who had come through from eighth on the grid to lead for three laps in the later stages.
Bagnaia hung on to third by less than two tenths, all four over the line within less than a second.
Xavi Vierge (Dynavolt Kalex) had lost touch in fifth, and only narrowly held of second Red Bull KTM rider Brad Binder, who in turn had his hands full fighting Marcel Schrotter (Dynavolt Kalex) and late arrivals Jorge Navarro (Federal Oils Kalex) ad Sam Lowes (SII KTM).
A second behind, front-row starter Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Kalex) completed the top ten.
A second victory gave Oliveira the championship lead by two points from Bagnaia; but erstwhile challenger Alex Marquez (EG-VDS Kalex) was dropping out of contention in third overall after crashing out of a challenging fourth in the race.
MONSTER ENERGY GRAND PRIX ČESKÉ REPUBLIKY
Moto2 Race Classification 2018
Brno, Sunday, August 05, 2018
2018 Czech Republic Moto2 and Moto3 Sunday Results
Moto3 Race – 18 laps, 97.254 km
Fabio Di Giannantonio was denied a maiden win at the French GP in spite of crossing the line first, thanks to a penalty. There was no denying the Del Conca Honda rider at Brno, in spite of a fearsome race-long brawl and a desperate closing attach by Spanish EG-Honda rider Aron Canet.
The long track and fast corners kept the field packed up close throughout. The top 15 points-scorers were over the line in 2.77 seconds; the top eight in 1.097. Tactics (and sharp elbows) were everything.
The two Honda riders denied a first win to first-time pole-starter Jakub Kornfeil (Prustel KTM), who would nonetheless celebrate becoming the first Czech national to stand on the podium at his home GP.
Leopard Honda rider Enea Bastianini just missed the top three by two tenths, after a canny ride, saving his best for the final laps, coming from 12th at half distance.
KTM riders Gabriel Rodrigo and Marco Bezzecchi took the next two place, the latter regaining the championship lead by just three points from Jorge Martin (Del Conca Honda), who missed this race and possibly also the next in Austria next week after breaking his left arm in a first-day practice crash.
MONSTER ENERGY GRAND PRIX ČESKÉ REPUBLIKY
Moto3 Race Classification 2018
Brno, Sunday, August 05, 2018