Moto2: Gardner defeats Fernandez in last lap scrap, Lowes crashes out

The sixth round of the 2021 Moto2 World Championship took place at the legendary Mugello circuit in Italy. Raul Fernandez started from pole position.

It was Fernandez who made the holeshot,ahead of his teammate Remy Gardner and Jorge Navarro. The #9 soon slipped back, though, and it was Tony Arbolino who took point in the chase of the two Red Bull KTM Ajo riders, who soon had over half-a-second back to the Italian rookie. 

Behind Arbolino was Sam Lowes, who found his way through on Arbolino on lap three, and set off after the two leaders. 

By now, Fernandez was escaping slightly from Gardner, who was also starting to slip back towards Lowes. It wasn’t until lap 10, though, that Lowes was able to mount an attack on second place. He and Gardner battled throughout the first sector, with Gardner doing his best to repel Lowes’ attacks, but eventually the #22 made it stick. 

Lowes immediately started to close the gap down to Fernandez, who had a two-second lead by the time the Briton had reached second place, such was the intensity of the battle between Lowes and Gardner. But just two laps later, on lap 13, Lowes had cut the gap to the leader down to one second, and was bringing Gardner with him. 

Fernandez was able to respond, and stabilise the gap, and this forced Lowes into pushing harder, and he crashed on lap 16 at Arrabbiata 1. 

That promoted Gardner back into second place, and although the gap was still one second, the #87 soon got it down to half that. 

On the final lap, it was game on between the Red Bull KTM teammates, and Gardner knew where to make his move. In the previous three laps, it had become clear that the Australian’s major advantage over his teammate was right-side edge grip, so through the two Arrabbiate was where he made the most time. The Scarperia corner after those two long, fast right-handers would be the perfect place for Gardner to mount his attack, and so he did. There was a leg thrown by Fernandez, which the #87 had to swerve slightly to avoid (nothing malicious, just technique), but nonetheless Gardner got the move done. 

The problem with being passed five corners from the finish when you have led the entire race is that you don’t know where your rival is strong or weak. That is the problem Fernandez faced: he had no information on Gardner with which to plan a final assault, and so he was forced to settle for second behind Gardner, who took his first win of the season to extend his championship lead to six points. 

Joe Roberts crossed the line in third place, but had exceeded track limits on the final lap. The “Augusto Fernandez, Misano 2019” rule means that this is an instant one-place penalty if you are in a close-quarters battle. It cost Jorge Martin victory in Styria last year, when Marco Bezzecchi was the beneficiary, and on this occasion it was the #72 who took profit once more, taking his second career podium in Mugello, after his third place in the 2018 Moto3 race. 

It was a shame for Roberts, who realistically was the third-best rider on the day. But, his hunt for a first podium of the season goes on, and he takes only fourth today.

Behind Roberts was Marcel Schrotter, who rounded out the top five ahead of Ai Ogura, who came from 12th on the grid to finish sixth, ahead of Arbolino. 

Then came Cameron Beaubier, with perhaps the ride of the day to go from 25th on the grid to finish eighth, on his first time at Mugello where he has struggled all weekend. The American’s impressive season continues. 

Hafizh Syahrin was also impressive to finish ninth for NTS, their best result of the season, while Stefano Manzi completed the top 10 from 23rd on the grid. 

Aron Canet was 11th, ahead of 16-year-old rookie Fermin Aldeguer who was 12th on what was his grand prix debut, and first race with the Triumph 765 engine. Hector Garzo was 13th, ahead of Jake Dixon and Bo Bendsneyder who took the final point in 15th. 

Celestino Vietti was 16th, ahead of Barry Baltus, Somkiat Chantra and Tomasso Marcon, who was the only finisher for MV Agusta in their home race, in 19th and last, 28 seconds behind Chantra.

There were many retirements, starting with Augusto Fernandez and Lorenzo Dalla Porta, whose races ended on the first lap. Lorenzo Baldassarri, Jorge Navarro, Xavi Vierge, Albert Arenas, Simone Corsi, Fabio Di Giannantonio, the aforementioned Lowes, and Marcos Ramirez all also failed to make the finish.