Moto2: Nagashima Still on Top, as Marini Looks for Jerez Double

It is a strange situation for a Grand Prix rider to be able to run the same race twice, but that is the situation facing them this weekend, and for the Moto2 World Championship it is an interesting prospect.

Much like in Moto3, where Albert Arenas and Ai Ogura are the only riders to have finished on the podium in both of the races run so far in 2020, Tetsuta Nagashima is the only rider to have finished inside the top seven at each of the two opening rounds of the season.

The Japanese rider therefore has a healthy points lead going into round three, as he sits 17 points ahead of Lorenzo Baldassarri who finished down in eighth last weekend. Nagashima was already thinking of that last weekend, as well, when he decided to settle for second place rather than to chase after Luca Marini for the race win. It was a smart decision, especially in a championship of unknown length, although 14 rounds looks the most likely outcome. 

Marini himself fired himself back into championship contention with his win, which was an important points haul for the Italian after his non-scoring ride in Losail at the season opener back in March. Marini’s pace was unmatched last week, with Nagashima the only rider to finish within two seconds of the #10 and almost crashing two or three times on the way there. However, the law of diminishing returns should have Marini’s advantage shaved this weekend, by Nagashima but also possibly by the second Red Bull KTM Ajo rider, Jorge Martin.

Last weekend saw the Spaniard suffering with front tyre wear once again, the same as in Qatar, although on this occasion Martin was able to maintain a pace strong enough for the podium until the end. Martin will need to start beating his teammate at some point, though, if he is to add to the Moto3 world title he picked up back in 2018, and this unique (at least until the Styrian GP later this year) situation could be the prime opportunity for him to start to eat into his points deficit, which currently stands at 29 points. 

The 16 points Martin picked up for third place last week has him seventh in the championship, just behind the second-most consistent rider this year: Aron Canet. The Spaniard was in fine form last weekend, although not quite fast enough for an assault on the podium. But, once again, this unusual situation of running essentially the same race over again could provide the rookie the opportunity to challenge for his first Moto2 podium in just his third race. On that, it is worth remembering that Canet’s first Grand Prix victory came at Jerez, back in 2017. 

For the likes of Lorenzo Baldassarri, Enea Bastianini, Remy Gardner and Jorge Navarro – who were all quick in Qatar but suffered last weekend for one reason or another (for Navarro, it was at the hand of Marco Bezzecchi) – round three of the championship offers an opportunity to return to the form of round one, where they were all inside the top six.

Additionally, Joe Roberts will be looking to find some of the speed that had him qualifying on pole and finishing fourth in Qatar. The Spanish round resulted in no points for the American, but with the extra data, maybe he can right the wrongs of last week and fight again for the top positions.