Moto2: Flawless Di Giannantonio secures maiden Victory in Jerez

Fabio Di Giannantonio took his maiden Moto2 victory in flawless fashion at the Circuito de Jerez.

The Italian led from start to finish and completed the race with an advantage of almost two seconds over his countryman Marco Bezzecchi. Sam Lowes prevailed in a battle with championship leader Remy Gardner to secure the final podium spot.

Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) hit the front at T1 from second on the grid, leading the race ahead of poleman Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo).

Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46) had a scrappy start and made contact early on, forcing them both into a pursuit race.

Di Giannantonio’s pace looked immaculate from the get-go, giving him a half a second lead over Gardner by lap 2 already. Behind, it was Fernandez on Fernandez for third while Lowes and Bezzecchi swiftly made their way up the order into fifth and sixth respectively.

They both inherited a position when Augusto Fernandez went down at T6 on the third lap and ended his race prematurely in the gravel.

By lap 5 Di Giannantonio’s advantage was up to more than a second over a chasing trio of Raul Fernandez, Gardner and Lowes with Bezzecchi in hot pursuit.

Bezzecchi was the only rider able to match his countryman’s pace out front and soon took Lowes for fourth. Ahead of them, Gardner was missing speed and lost out to Fernandez.

It looked a question of when rather than if the Australian would also have to surrender to Bezzecchi and the overtake came on lap 11. Lowes too struggled to run the dictated rhythm and gradually fell behind in fifth.

With six laps remaining, Bezzecchi capitalised on a mistake by Fernandez and moved up into second. He swiftly broke away from the Spaniard who started to fall into the clutches of a reinvigorated duo of Gardner and Lowes.

Untouched by the battles behind him, Di Giannantonio was pristine in the lead and cruised towards a comfortable victory.

Fernandez’ pace dropped significantly on the penultimate lap and his pursuers overtook and gapped him with ease. Lowes prevailed over Gardner and started a late hunt on Bezzecchi, but it was too little too late for the Brit who had to settle for third.