Moto2 Algarve Race: Remy Gardner takes important victory

Remy Gardner wins in Portimao to put one hand on the title trophy.

Remy Gardner picked the long straw in the tyre gamble today in Moto2, coming home victorious with a 23 point lead extending it by five over his teammate Raul Fernandez who finished in second place. No doubt this will be the most important victory of Remy Gardner’s life as he comes tantalisingly close to being crowned the Moto2 World Champion following in his father’s footsteps.

It was a race of luck and skill where tyre choice reigned superior, would you choose the hard rear tyre or the soft? For the Red Bull KTM Ajo boys they would choose the opposite to one another, Remy opting for hard and Raul for soft. Early on into the race the fortune looked to have favoured Raul Fernandez who was able to take the lead and open up a gap of a full second to Marco Bezzecchi in second place, Remy in tow chasing in third.

As the race continued Marco Bezzecchi started to lose time at an astonishing rate thanks to his soft tyre, this allowed Gardner through and to take second place eying up his teammate whilst the Italian rider dropped down the order eventually finishing in a disappointing P8 behind Jorge Navarro and a stunning Celestino Vietti who was sat in P14 at one point during the race before coming home in P6, a stunning ride from the rookie.

For Remy Gardner at the front the advantage had swung back in his favour taking chunks out of Raul Fernandez sector after sector eating into his lead with ease, ultimately he would make the pass and take the race lead from the hands of Raul Fernandez who at this point was just a sitting duck forced to watch Gardner fade away into the distance finishing the race with a three-second lead, meanwhile behind him Sam Lowes was cutting into Fernandez at a rate of 0.8 seconds a lap, the race eventually finishing with the pair split by just 0.885, one more lap and Gardner could’ve been crowned champion!

Finishing just outside the podium places was Aron Canet and Cameron Beaubier, Beaubier having a spectacular ride after qualifying well proving that he is rapid when we come to a track we already know, 2022 better watch out that’s for sure!

Rounding out the top 10 were Augusto Fernandez and Marcel Schrotter ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio who started from P3 before fading to P11.

Full results – 

Featured image – KTM Media / Polarity Photo