Race 2 ended up being a bit more straight forward for Esteban. Contact between Uriarte and Pini caused the leading group to be broken up, and from there on, Esteban stretched his advantage to eventually take the chequered flag by more than 2.9s. However, a technical infringement saw his fourth win stripped, so after a mechanical problem in Race 1 and a Long Lap penalty in Race 2, reigning Champion Martinez got his first points of the season on the board with P1 in what was a photo finish between himself and Pini in second. Boggio was promoted to P3 after his teammate’s post-race misfortunes, as Esteban heads to Barcelona with a 13-point lead in the overall standings.
Honda, meanwhile, arrive still looking to find the zone for man and machine, as does Marc Marquez. What can the factory get out of the new RC213V at Mugello? The number 93 has continued his record of finishing as top Honda of late and fought for the podium at Jerez, but then Le Mans was a tougher one. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) was the closest though as he made a step forward in France, with Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) and Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) now looking for the same. Is Mugello, another new venue, another chance to make a step?
Garcia, meanwhile, remains a threat. Championship leader through a mixture of glory and consistency – the latter never getting in the way of the Spaniard making a late race attack – he remains the rider to beat in 2022, and his teammate is no slouch either. It’s easy to assume Jerez winner Izan Guevara will always be at the front now, but the Spaniard has earned his stripes with some impressive performances and there’s no reason to assume he won’t serve up another.
Having said that, it wasn’t Moor on top of the timesheets in pre-season testing. That accolade went the way of Dustin Schneider (Goblin Racing), who heads to home soil after a solid opening weekend of the campaign. A Long Lap penalty hampered the German’s Race 1 from the front row, but Schneider bounced back with a P5 in Race 2. He sits behind the leading trio, Matteo Masili (FAIRIUM Next Generation Riders Team) – a debut podium finisher in Le Mans – and Noa Cuypers (Junior Black Knights) in the overall standings.
“When you are like Remy and Raul in Moto2 last year, finishing first and second, you’re used to winning races, being on the podium, being on the front row,” started Poncharal whilst speaking on the Last On The Brakes Podcast. “So, it’s a bit of a shock. They knew it would be difficult but they also think ‘I’m going to do well and I’ll be with the top guys’.
However, the 24-year-old has his concerns over whether Bagnaia would be too happy seeing him in red next season: “I’m not the Ducati boss but I think my situation is better than the other Ducati riders. Pecco yesterday said he’d prefer to stay with Jack. And I think his decision, I don’t know if Ducati wants to listen to him. But, also in the case of staying at Gresini or other [teams], with a factory package I can be fast.
One of the preseason favourites is up next as 2021 BTC runner-up Carter Brown (MLav VisionTrack Academy) holds fourth in the standings; two podiums in 2022 so far, he heads to Donington Park, where he was a front row qualifier in 2021, although it didn’t translate to podiums. Harrison Crosby (Banks Racing) completes the top five overall, having led the standings going to Oulton Park, thanks to two second-place finishes at Silverstone. However, a double crash at Oulton Park means he aims to bounce back for Round 3. 14-year-old Matthew Ruisbroeck (Microlise Cresswell Racing), meanwhile, is sixth overall and is the only other rider to have taken a top ten in every race so far besides Kiyano Veijer… but he’s away racing in the European Talent Cup, so there’s a chance for his rivals to make some gains.
In the Moto2™ European Championship, it was victory at long last for Lukas Tulovic (Liqui Moly Intact JuniorGP Team), as the German powered to a dominant double at Estoril. After two wins, a pole and two fastest laps, Tulovic arrives in Valencia aiming to continue his good form at a circuit where he took a third-place finish in 2021. Chasing him, Senna Agius (Promoracing) made an emphatic debut in the Moto2™ ECh class; two second place finishes and keeping Tulovic honest, he’s certainly one to watch in Valencia. Italian rider Mattia Rato (MMR) is third after taking a career-first podium at Estoril with third, meaning he’s 24 points behind Tulovic. Others to look out for are Alex Toledo (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Euvic Racing Team), teammate Piotr Biesiekirski, who is back from injury, Estoril Race 1 podium finisher Alex Escrig (Yamaha Philippines Stylobike Team) and Xavi Cardelus (Promoracing). After a double win at Estoril, Alex Ruiz (FAU55 Tey Racing) is the top Stock rider.
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