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More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

To the wire: Lowes fends off Gardner in a tense Moto2™ take two

The Brit and the Aussie were at it again, but this time it went to the wire – and it’s Raul Fernandez who completed the podium

Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) leaves Losail with a clean sweep after his second victory in as many weekends, the Brit impressing once again to become the first British rider to win the opening two races of an intermediate class campaign since Mike Hailwood did it in 1966. Quite a stat, but the sailing wasn’t perfectly smooth as Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was his key challenger once again, this time around even closer than the first. The Aussie pushed the number 22 to the wire, and just lost out by two tenths after hanging back from being too optimistic at the final corner despite temptation. In third, rookie sensation Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) turned his increasing experience into his first Moto2™ podium after another impressive ride.

Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) took the holeshot after some shuffling off the line, with Lowes in second and Gardner third. Raul Fernandez was a little wide and had to settle for fourth, but the quartet in the lead immediately started to haul Kalex and make a gap back to the chasing pack led by Aron Canet (Solunion Aspar Team).

Heading onto Lap 4, the lead changed. Lowes tucked in behind Bezzecchi on the straight and made a Turn 1 move stick, and the Brit put the pedal to the metal to move half a second clear. But Gardner, seeing Lowes getting into his groove, started making moves too and just about scraped past Fernandez after losing out to his teammate.

Bezzecchi soon went from P2 to P4 as both Red Bull KTM Ajos drafted the Italian and set their sights on Lowes, who wasn’t pulling any further clear. Soon enough, Gardner was hounding the Brit, and Raul Fernandez and Bezzecchi were just waiting in the wings…

By Lap 13, Lowes was asking questions of Gardner, although Raul Fernandez was still sticking with the two elder Moto2™ statesmen. Bezzecchi was losing touch though, the Italian 1.5 seconds back from Raul Fernandez. With six to go, it looked like it was Lowes vs Red Bull KTM Ajo for victory under the lights.

The fastest lap of the race, a 1:59.131, was then set by Gardner as the race entered the final five laps. 0.7s split the trio, of which only 0.2s sat between Lowes and Gardner. The Qatar race winner looked to have the edge in the opening half of the lap, the Qatar GP runner-up looked quicker in the latter. But there was still no change though with three laps to go as a trio of 1:59.1s for Gardner still wasn’t enough. Raul Fernandez was clinging on, but the Spaniard was 0.7s away from his teammate’s tailpipes as the leaders swept over the line.

Lowes responded to Gardner’s pressure, but the Australian always seemed to find an answer in return. Heading into the latter half of the last lap, it was now or never and Gardner was right up behind Lowes. Coming out of Turn 14, they were closer than ever. The number 87 looked tempted as he looked down the inside, but no move came there or just after and it was down to the final corner and drag to the line. Lowes braked late into Turn 16, Gardner tried to get on the gas early but the number 22 got the power down. The Brit took the chequered flag 0.190s ahead after a classic game of chess, and both riders set their best laps on the last lap… Gardner’s the fastest of the race.

Raul Fernandez lost touch in the end but it was nevertheless a phenomenal ride from the rookie to claim his maiden Moto2™ podium, turning promise last weekend to an even bigger delivery of results this time out. Bezzecchi eventually had a lonely ride home to P4 and a podium evades one of the pre-season favourites, but the Italian has never loved Doha.

Behind that leading quartet, rookie Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) put in a stunner as he shot up the timesheets second time out in Moto2™. Battling with the best of them, the Japanese rider just beat Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) to fifth place and will now have his sights set on even more in Portimao. Augusto Fernandez, after a tougher start to the year, will also be happier with a top six.

Yet another rookie in the form of Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) picked up a second consecutive point-scoring ride, taking an impressive P7. Stefano Manzi (Flexbox HP40) was just 0.029s behind his fellow VR46 Academy member in P8, with Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) picking up a P9 from P19 on the grid. He beats 10th place Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) by six tenths as Diggia faded after an initial charge.

Rookie Tony Arbolino (Liqui Moly Intact GP) was 11th for his first Moto2™ points, and the Italian led Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team), Jorge Navarro (MB Conveyors Speed Up), Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Italtrans Racing Team) and reigning Moto3™ World Champion Albert Arenas (Solunion Aspar Team) over the line as they completed the points.

Cameron Beaubier (American Racing), Tom Lüthi (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) and Aron Canet crashed out on their own, with Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) crashing out together at the final corner. Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) also crashed out from the battle behind the top four.

So it’s a maximum of 50 points for Lowes at Losail, the perfect start to 2021. But Gardner is just 10 points behind him in the standings after two P2 and next, we’re heading for Portimao – scene of Gardner’s first Grand Prix victory in 2020…

Sam Lowes: “It was nice, after the crash in Warm Up, again… the pace was great, the first couple of laps when I was behind it felt really easy in Sector 3 to follow because of the wind, it was easy to stay behind but when I got to the front it was hard to pull away because of the wind. I just tried to stay consistent and save a bit of tyre for the end of the race. The last 3 or 4 laps I pushed and and my pace was real fast, I think Remy got the best lap on the last lap but I got it first and him by trying to beat me! Overall I’m very happy, we’ve done a great job these weeks in Qatar, everyone caught up in the second weekend, which is normal. They’re very talented these guys so when you have a margin after a few weeks it gets smaller and smaller. But mentally for me it was a great race to lead like that and I can go to Portimao with good feeling.”

More, from a press release issued by Italtrans Racing:

Joe Roberts crashes out on race day in Doha.

Lorenzo Dalla Porta finishes in the points.

After last week’s first GP the MotoGP World Championship remains in Qatar for the Doha Grand Prix, second round of the season. Bittersweet race for Italtrans Racing Team.

Good performance for Lorenzo Dalla Porta, who gets the first points in his second season in Moto2. 24th on the grid, the Tuscan rider immediately set a good pace, recovering positions lap after lap finishing 14th.

Unlucky Sunday for Joe Roberts. After a great laptime in the warm up with the 4th position, in race the American rider crashed after only six laps while he was 5th and was pushing to catch the front group and fight for the podium.

Lorenzo Dalla Porta

14°

“Today we get the first points of the season. It’s not the result we are aiming for, but it’s a good starting point, especially considering how the weekend and the last race went. I’m partly happy and confident in view of the next Grand Prix. I thank all the guys who are working so hard”.

Joe Roberts

nc

“I have been unfortunate into a promising race. I really felt we had the pace to be up there battling in the front. I did not have a great start but I felt confident that I could catch the front group. Unfortunately, I made a mistake. Anyway, we learned a lot this weekend and the team and me were still working very well together”.

Giovanni Sandi – Technical Director:

“The race didn’t finish as we had hoped, but we are competitive and our potential is high. The guys showed they can do well: Joe was fighting for the top positions, while Lorenzo made a good comeback. We are ready to continue working in view of the GP in Portimao”.

More, from a press release issued by American Racing Team:

Cameron Beaubier falls fighting for Moto2 points in Qatar

American Racing heads to Europe for third round of world championship

DOHA, Qatar (April 4, 2021) — American Racing rider Cameron Beaubier crashed on Sunday in the Grand Prix of Doha, the second of two FIM Moto2 World Championship races at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar.

The 28-year-old Californian qualified 14th out of 28 riders for the 20-lap race under the floodlights at the 16-turn, 3.34-mile Gulf state circuit, which opened in 2004.

Weather conditions improved overnight. Ambient temperature at race time was 70 degrees Fahrenheit, with an 9-mph breeze.

Beaubier lost two positions at the start and slipped further downfield in the opening laps. He battled to 13th before falling in Turn 7 with 12 laps remaining. Beaubier posted the second highest top speed of the race, 180.392 mph.

Marc VDS rider Sam Lowes started from pole position for the second consecutive weekend. Lowes took the lead on the fourth lap and earned a narrow victory ahead of Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Remy Gardner.

Beaubier finished 11th a week ago at Losail in the opening race of the season. The five-time MotoAmerica Superbike champion is 17th overall in the championship points standings.

Beaubier’s teammate, Marcos Ramirez, did not ride this weekend. The 23-year-old Spaniard crashed in qualifying for the opening round and was unfit to race at the second round, as well.

The American Racing Team will return to action in two weeks, April 16-18, at the Algarve International Circuit for the Grand Prix of Portugal.

About the American Racing Team

The American Racing Team is owned by Avner Kass and Eitan Butbul and competes in the FIM MotoGP World Championship. Based in California, the team fields two riders in the Moto2 class: American Cameron Beaubier (No. 6) and Spaniard Marcos Ramirez (No. 42). American Racing has grown under Butbul’s guidance and is a respected member of the MotoGP paddock.

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Martin storms to stunning maiden pole in Doha

The rookie pulls out some magic on Saturday to take his first premier class pole position, ahead of Zarco and Viñales

Saturday, 03 April 2021

Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) achieved something special on Saturday at the TISSOT Grand Prix of Doha. After stealing the headlines early last Sunday with his stunning start, this time around it was a stunning qualifying session as the Spaniard took his first ever premier class pole position. He joins an exclusive club in doing so for only his second MotoGP™ race, with the other members comprising only Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) and MotoGP™ Legend Casey Stoner, so the Pramac Racing rookie is in some fast company. Martin also has a tenth and a half in hand over teammate Johann Zarco as Pramac Racing made it a 1-2 on the grid for the Doha GP, with Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) taking third – as he did last week on his way to the win…

On a windy day in Doha, Q1 saw some big names fighting to move through, including – once again – reigning MotoGP™ World Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar). But Mir got the job done and with a more clinical show of speed this time around, topping the session to head through alongside Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). And so, the time to fight it out for pole was nigh.

As Q2 began, it was a familiar name making his presence felt. Martin put in a 1:53.892 straight out the traps to impress early, before Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) briefly deposed him. Shadowing Mir, however, Martin hit back quick with a 1:53.597 as Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) slotted himself into P2, just 0.017s behind Martin’s early benchmark.

After the first couple of flying laps, Martin, Quartararo and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) was the provisional front row, with Morbidelli and the Ducati Lenovo Team duo of Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller on the second row with just over five minutes remaining. World Championship leader and Qatar GP winner Viñales was a whole nine tenths off in P9 – just behind Mir, who was down in P8. But soon the field rumbled back out for their second runs, and it was Viñales first on a mission.

Despite a couple of moments for the number 12, he shot from P9 to P1 with under two minutes to go and it was clear there was more in the locker. Sure enough, Viñales was over a quarter of a second up on his next flying lap. He then nailed Sector 2, nailed Sector 3 and taking the chequered flag, the Qatar GP winner extended his advantage to 0.330s.

Attention then turned to Martin, however, as the rookie was up by 0.015s in Sector 2. It was his final shot at it too, and he seemed the last rider on the roll needed to depose Viñales. In the final sector though, Zarco suddenly gained over two tenths to snatch provisional pole by an absolute whisker – 0.004s – but Martin wasn’t done yet. Out on his own without a tow, in classic Martin style, the new kid on the MotoGP™ block stormed across the line and did it. A tenth and a half clear, it was provisional pole with only Miller and Quartararo in the hunt. Could either spoil the party? Not quite. Firing their way to the chequered flag, neither worried the front row although both improved their times to grab P4 and P5 respectively.

A little history is therefore made in Doha as the ‘Martinator’ shows us how it’s done, with Zarco making it Saturday Night Fever for Pramac Racing in a 1-2 for the team. Viñales once again lines up P3 at Losail, and he’ll be looking to repeat his season opening feat – just maybe this time without the Ducati armada swamping everyone at the start.

Spearheading Row 2 is Miller, who will have wanted more but already proved how quickly he can make up that ground last week. The Australian also suffered a wobble in Q2, so a Row 2 start is a job well done. Quartararo’s fifth place was less than the Frenchman would have expected, but it’s another solid session for the number 20 to get back in the fight at the front. Sixth was another rider who would have wanted a little more after taking pole last week: Pecco Bagnaia. He’ll want to get the most from Ducati’s stellar starts and move up from there.

Leading the third row is Aleix Espargaro after another fantastic performance. With the Yamahas and Ducatis looking strong in Qatar, starting P7 – one place higher than last week – is yet another job well done for the Noale factory. Joining the Aprilia rider on Row 3, meanwhile, are both Team Suzuki Ecstar riders: Alex Rins sits 0.040s ahead of teammate Mir as the GSX-RR duo finish 0.6s shy from pole position. Judging by their progress last weekend on race day, there’s plenty to come from the Hamamatsu factory.

Rounding out the top 10 is Morbidelli, the Italian just 0.009s from the third row, with leading Honda rider Stefan Bradl (Repsol Honda Team) and fastest KTM Oliveira completing the Q2 graduates in P11 and P12 respectively. So where’s Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT)? P21 after one of the Doctor’s worst days at the office, so he’ll be looking for a lot more on Sunday.

That’s it from a history-making qualifying, and if Martin gets anything like the start he did last Sunday, then he’ll be into Turn 1 with a couple of hours in hand. He says he’s aiming for the top six though, whereas Zarco is very definitely aiming for the win from second. With Viñales exactly where he was last week though, will history repeat itself?

Don’t miss second of the action as the lights go out for MotoGP™ at 20:00 local time (GMT+3) on Sunday!

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Lowes denies Gardner for second Losail pole

The Brit makes it two from two, but this time it’s Gardner in close company as the two prepare for another showdown

Last weekend’s race winner Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) once again brought his A-game to the table when it mattered at the TISSOT Grand Prix of Doha, with the British rider and Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) going head-to-head for pole position and the number 22 coming out on top. Lowes’ 1:59.055 sees him head the grid by nearly a tenth and a half, but with Gardner in second on take two in the desert it’s the man who proved Lowes’ closest rival last weekend starting right alongside him. Another familiar face from the fight at the front in the Qatar GP, Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46), completes the front row in P3.

There was early drama in Moto2™ Q1 as Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) missed out on a place in the top four, with reigning Moto3™ World Champion Albert Arenas (Solunion Aspar Team) slamming in a personal best lap on his final flyer that was good enough for P3. That demoted Vierge to P5 and out of Q2. Jorge Navarro (MB Conveyors Speed Up) topped the first part of qualifying with a 1:59.592 though, moving through ahead of Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team), Arenas and Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing).

Gardner was the early pacesetter once Q2 got underway, but the times were down on Q1’s best efforts. Red sectors then lit up the timing screens as a big reshuffle took place, with Aron Canet (Solunion Aspar Team) leading the field from Bendsneyder. Bezzecchi took control of the session next with a 1:59.736, but the times would tumble again.

Gardner hit back, Lowes did the same and Dixon made his way up into second. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) soon split the Brits to grab P2, but the Free Practice pacesetter was three tenths down on Lowes – and just 0.002s ahead of Dixon. Fighting back, Bezzecchi slipped into P2 with just over two minutes left, before Gardner muscled his way back into second. A red second split then popped up for Gardner as Lowes backed out, so all eyes turned to the number 87…

Gardner was also up in Sector 3, but could he keep it going all the way to the line? Not quite! The Aussie just lost ground and despite improving his time, pole went to Lowes for the second week in a row. After Gardner started much further back on his way to second in the Qatar GP however, a front row is mission partly accomplished, as it is for Bezzecchi in P3.

Raul Fernandez ends his second Moto2™ qualifying session in P4, another fantastic job by the rookie, and he’s joined on Row 2 by Q1 graduate Dixon. A late charge from rookie Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) seals a brilliant P6 for the Japanese rider as he makes a big leap up the timesheets on take two in Doha, even getting the better of third place Qatar GP finisher Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) as the Italian is forced to head up Row 3. Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) and Canet slot in behind Diggia, with Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) completing the top 10 in Q2.

Stefano Manzi (Flexbox HP 40), Arenas, Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2), American rookie Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) and Bendsneyder complete the fastest 15 on Saturday.

The grid is set and so is the stage. Can Gardner, Bezzecchi or anyone else stop Lowes from making it two out two at Losail? We’ll find out on Sunday at 18:20 local time (GMT+3)!

More, from a press release issued by Italtrans Racing:

Joe Roberts starts from the 3rd row in 8th position.

24th position for Lorenzo Dalla Porta.
 
Second weekend in a row for the MotoGP World Championship in Qatar.

A sandstorm with winds reaching 40km/h and a large amount of dust accumulating on the track awaited the Italtrans Racing Team riders today: these adverse conditions during the last free practice session prevent the team to make further setting improvement.

After combined free practice, Joe Roberts went straight to Q2 improving his time and finishing the qualifying 8th with a best lap of 1’59″727. Tomorrow, the American rider will start from the 3rd row of the grid with the aim of fighting for the top positions.

Unfortunately, Lorenzo Dalla Porta didn’t make it thru Q1, struggling with the adverse weather conditions and penalized rear tyre grip. With a best laptime of 2’00”581 he will start 24th on the grid.

Lorenzo Dalla Porta

24° | 2’00”581

“It’s not the qualifying we expected. I was too slow compared to last week because of the wind and a bad tyre. Now we need to make a reset to start again more confident: we have the potential to do well and I’ll give my best in the race”.

Joe Roberts

8° | 1’59”727

“I’m not completely satisfied with today’s qualifying: we have to find a better setup with the wind, anyway, I’m feeling really positive and confident for tomorrow. We can battle for a good position. The pace was strong in free practice  so we are ready to go racing”

Giovanni Sandi, Technical Director:

“We have not been very performing in qualifying: we decided to not risk too much because of the bad conditions, moreover we had a not performing tyre. Anyway, we have worked well in view of tomorrow and we can fight for good positions. I hope we can have a good race”.

More, from a press release issued by American Racing Team:

Cameron Beaubier aims for top 10 Moto2 finish on Sunday in Qatar

Injured American Racing teammate Marcos Ramirez looks toward Portugal round

DOHA, Qatar (April 3, 2021) — Cameron Beaubier will start Sunday’s Grand Prix of Doha, the second round the FIM Moto2 World Championship, from the middle of the 28-rider grid.

The 28-year-old Californian qualified 14th, a marked improvement from his eighth-row series debut a week ago at the 16-turn, 3.34-mile Losail International Circuit in Qatar.

“I was looking for a little more in qualifying, to be honest,” said Beaubier. “It was tough with the wind. I didn’t nail any great laps, but on a positive note, we improved from last week. I am looking forward to the race tomorrow.”

Twenty-first in Free Practice 1 on Friday, Beaubier was 14th in FP2, allowing him to bypass Qualifying 1 and transfer directly to Q2.

The wind picked up on Saturday, blowing fine sand across the track. Beaubier was sixth in FP3, for the first time finishing a practice session in front of fellow American Joe Roberts, who holds the all-time Moto2 lap record at Losail.

American Racing Race Director John Hopkins is elated with the speed in which Beaubier has adapted to the Moto2-spec 765cc Triumph engine and Kalex chassis. Both represent significant departures from the liter-class Yamaha YZF-R1 that Beaubier raced in MotoAmerica Superbike competition.

“Cameron is a world-class rider,” said Hopkins. “There was a huge learning curve. He had to make a lot of changes to his riding. He is surprising us, but I know he has it in him to even go further and continually progress.”

For the second consecutive weekend, Marc VDS rider Sam Lowes will start from pole position. Lowes also won the first race and leads the championship. Beaubier is 11th in the points standings.

Beaubier’s teammate, Marcos Ramirez, is not riding this weekend. The 23-year-old Spaniard crashed in qualifying for the season-opening race and fractured the humeral head of his right arm.

Ramirez underwent additional medical checks this week. He will be rechecked in two weeks at the Algarve International Circuit, host of the Grand Prix of Portugal.

“After FP3, we felt we could do better in qualifying,” said Eitan Butbul, American Racing team owner. “Since Marcos is not riding, the entire team worked on Cameron’s side to prepare the bike and the strategy.

“We are happy with the result, and we can see the progress from last week. I am sure Cameron will be strong in the race.”

About the American Racing Team

The American Racing Team is owned by Avner Kass and Eitan Butbul and competes in the FIM MotoGP World Championship. Based in California, the team fields two riders in the Moto2 class: American Cameron Beaubier (No. 6) and Spaniard Marcos Ramirez (No. 42). American Racing has grown under Butbul’s guidance and is a respected member of the MotoGP paddock.