Moto2: Oliveira holds off Baldassarri to win Mugello thriller

Miguel Oliveira won a thrilling Moto2 race at Mugello after a sensational battle with home-hero Lorenzo Baldassarri, rookie Joan Mir and series leader, Francesco Bagnaia. Early race leader Mattia Pasini looked to be in control until he crashed out of the lead at turn one, whilst Alex Marquez wasn’t able to hold the pace of the leaders.

Portuguese KTM star Oliveira got an incredible start, coming from 11th to 5th by turn one. Whilst Mattia Pasini also got a good initial start, it was Marcel Schrotter who got the jump by San Donato. The German was looking to take a win at Mugello but at turn two, he crashed out of the lead having not survived 15 seconds of the race. With the bike digging in and pitching through the gravel, it was race over for Schrotter.

Having been pushed out at turn one, Pasini found himself down field but nothing could stop race leader Alex Marquez, who led from ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia and 2015 Italian Moto3 Grand Prix race winner, Miguel Oliveira. A fast starting and feisty Romano Fenati was in 4th, ahead of Pasini and a determined Simone Corsi, who was been enjoying a great weekend.

With a leading group of seven forming, it really was anyone’s race. Some harsh moves started to take place, with Lorenzo Baldassarri getting ahead of Fenati at turn one, whilst Mattia Pasini got ahead of Alex Marquez at Savelli – the corner at which ‘Paso’ has been such a demon at for the last two seasons.

Moto2 rookie Fenati went through the gravel at San Donato and eventually retired from the race, making the leading group just a battle of six. Soon, that would diminish further, as Lorenzo Baldassarri bounced his way up the inside of Alex Marquez, pushing him wide at turn one. After that, the Marc VDS Kalex bikes dropped off the pace and the front four of Pasini, Bagnaia, Oliveira and Iron Balda were soon left to scrap it out amongst themselves.

However, on lap 14, Mattia Pasini’s dreams of a third intermediate class win at Mugello came crashing down, as he tucked the front end at turn one – something that Britain’s Danny Kent had done just a handful of laps earlier. Oliveira led from Baldassarri, who had muscled his way past championship leader Pecco Bagnaia, who in-turn looked to be having a Troy Corser-style mid-race fade.

Italy’s hopes seemingly lay on Baldassarri, who’d won at Jerez back in May. Baldassarri had been used to the Mugello fights before, having kept Johann Zarco honest back in 2016 – finishing 2nd that day. The Italian’s attitude visibly changed and within half a lap of going 2nd, Baldassarri shoved his Pons Kalex into the lead to the delight of the 90,000 strong home crowd.

Baldassarri and Oliveira battled, trading paint and blows at many esses and on many times a lap, with the fighting going on all the way through Casanova, Savelli, Arrabiata one and two, before settling down at Scarperia. The battling intensified and with two and a half laps to go, Pecco Bagnaia was able to catch them. Not only did the VR46 rider close in but he had dragged young Joan Mir with him, setting the stage for a grandstand finish in what had been one of the greatest Moto2 races since the championship was introduced in 2010.

Baldassarri led on to the final lap with a healthy-looking margin over Oliveira. For 3rd, it was all about Mir, who got ahead of Bagnaia at turn one. On the exit of Borgo San Lorenzo, Baldassarri had a huge tank-slapping moment, placing Oliveira in a position to set a move up at Casanova and execute it wonderfully at Savelli; the KTM man from 11th on the grid was now leading in his rival’s backyard. Meanwhile, Bagnaia had gone past Mir at Savelli too but ran wide, allowing the reigning Moto3 champion back through into the bronze-medalist position. Baldassarri had not given up but Oliveira had clear track right to the end.

The Portuguese star led to the line, picking up his first win of the season and his 10th of his career. Baldassarri made it to the rostrum once more, with Joan Mir taking his second successive podium; series leader Bagnaia was off the podium at home and has had his lead in the championship whittled down to just 13 points.

In 5th was Alex Marquez, whilst ride of the day went to Brad Binder, who came from 19th on the grid to finish 6th – demonstrating the KTM’s devastating race pace in a similar manner to race-winning teammate Oliveira. Marini was 7th with Andrea Locatelli continuing to improve in 8th, breaking into the top ten for the first time in 2018. Xavi Vierge and Corsi completed the top ten. Fabio Quartararo was 11th with the returning Dominique Aegerter in 12th and Iker Lecuona 13th. It was a great day for the NTS riders, who picked up their first points of the season: Joe Roberts in 14th and Steven Odendaal in 15th.