Fernández Victorious In Le Mans Moto2 Race After Acosta Crash

Grid Talk Reporter 12:49 15/05/2022

Augusto Fernández took advantage of a crash for teammate Pedro Acosta to emerge victorious in the Le Mans Moto2 race.

Poleman Acosta stormed away with Red Bull KTM Ajo stablemate Fernández to lead for the first nine laps of the 25-lap contest. The pair’s pace allowed them to break away from the pack behind, with Acosta looking to make a break on lap 10 when he pulled eight tenths clear of Fernández. But the reigning Moto3 world champion crashed going through the La Chapelle right-hander at Turn 6. This gave Fernández a commanding lead he would not relinquish to claim his fourth career victory and his first since 2019.

Arón Canet was a comfortable second on the Pons Kalex after a battle with American Racing rider Cameron Beaubier, who lost out on third late on to Honda Team Asia’s Somkiat Chantra. Ai Ogura was fifth on the sister Honda Team Asia bike ahead of Liqui Moly Intact GP’s Marcel Schrötter, Joe Roberts on the Italtrans Racing Team Kalex and championship leader Celestino Vietti, who recovered from an early off to finish eighth. The top 10 was completed by Jorge Navarro on the sister Pons bike and Yamaha VR46 Master Camp’s Stefano Manzi. VR46’s Vietti continues to lead the standings by 16 points from Ogura, with Canet a further three adrift in third.