Moto2 Silverstone: Remy Gardner holds off Marco Bezzecchi to win the British Grand Prix

Published: 29 August 2021

Remy Gardner beat Marco Bezzecchi (left) and Jorge Navarro (right)

Remy Gardner took another big step towards the Moto2 title after coming out on top in an intense battle with Marco Bezzecchi.

The duo exchanged positions multiple times throughout the race, with Gardner eventually being able to gap his rival on the final lap of the race. Gardner crossed the line with an advantage of 0.481s to secure his fifth victory of the season.

Moto3 race: Romano Fenati’s domination continues

Gardner’s victory could prove to be vital in this year’s title fight, as his closest rival, and Red Bull KTM Ajo teammate, Raul Fernandez crashed out at Farm on lap 14. It’s only the second DNF of Fernandez’s debut Moto2 campaign, but he now finds himself 44 points behind Gardner.

Jorge Navarro stood on the final step of the podium after overtaking Sam Lowes with four laps remaining. It’s Navarro’s first podium since the 2019 season finale at Valencia – a season in-which the Spaniard collected eight podiums.

Sam Lowes gave everything he had to get on the podium in front of his home fans, but it wasn’t to be. Lowes took the lead of the race on the opening laps, much to the delight of the British fans in the grandstands. However, he was unable to keep Bezzecchi and Remy Gardner behind him and eventually lost out to Navarro.

Fabio Di Giannantonio completed the top five ahead of Augusto Fernandez, with the latter’s podium run coming to an end. The Elf Marc VDS rider finished on the podium in the last three races prior to Silverstone.

Aron Canet and Xavi Vierge were seventh and eighth respectively, with intermediate class rookie Ai Ogura and Joe Roberts completing the top 10.

Hector Garzo’s race came to an end on lap six when he crashed at turn 15, whilst Lorenzo Baldassari also retired in the opening stages. Stefano Manzi crashed out at Becketts on lap 10.

Adam Norrodin returned to the pits on lap 12 and retired from the race. Norrodin was riding in place of Jake Dixon – who entered the MotoGP race – at Petronas Sprinta Racing. Cameron Beaubier suffered his second DNF in three races on lap 14 when he fell at turn eight.

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Moto3 Silverstone: Romano Fenati dominates to seal first win of 2021

First published: 28 August 2021 at 12:11 by Josh Close

Romano Fenati’s perfect weekend is complete after he secured victory in the Moto3 race at Silverstone.

Fenati, who has topped every session this weekend, led the race from start to finish to become the first polesitter to win in the lightweight class this season. The Sterilgarda Max Racing Team rider had to stay on top of his game, with Niccolo Antonelli remaining within touching distance of Fenati throughout the race.

Moto2 Qualifying: Marco Bezzecchi takes pole at Silverstone

Despite Antonelli’s best efforts, matching Fenati’s lap-times on a consistent basis, he was unable to attempt an overtaking manoeuvre on his former VR46 Academy teammate. Fenati crossed the line with an advantage of 1.679s.

It’s Fenati’s first win of 2021 and his first in the lightweight class since the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix last September. Fenati has now finished on the podium in three of the last four races and sits third in the championship – 69 points adrift.

Antonelli almost fell into the clutches of Dennis Foggia and Izan Guevara in the final two laps, but just had enough left in the tank to clinch second. It’s Antonelli’s first podium since the Grand Prix of Doha (round two). Foggia beat Guevara to the line, preventing the latter from getting his first podium. It’s Foggia’s fourth podium in the last five races.

Tatsuki Suzuki was best of the rest in fifth, however he was 5.321s behind the podium finishers. Jaume Masia and Darryn Binder were sixth and seventh respectively, with Deniz Oncu, Riccardo Rossi and Carlos Tatay completing the top 10.

Championship leader Pedro Acosta came out on top in a stunning battle for 11th, with John McPhee being demoted to 12th for exceeding track limits on the final lap. Acosta battled hard with main title rival Sergio Garcia throughout the race. Garcia dropped out of the points on a costly final lap, crossing the line in 16th. Garcia is now 46 points behind Acosta.

Ayumu Sasaki and Filip Salac were 13th and 14th ahead of Gabriel Rodrigo, whilst Stefani Nepa was demoted to 17th after he too exceeded track limits on the final lap of the race. Xavier Artigas, Adrian Fernandez, and Alberto Surra completed the top 20.

Kaito Toba crashed out of the race at Abbey (T11) on the fourth lap. Andrea Migno’s promising race came to an end a couple of laps later due to a bike problem. Migno was running in third when the problem struck. It’s the Rivacold Snipers Team rider’s fifth DNF in the last seven races.

Moto2 Silverstone: Marco Bezzecchi secures first pole of 2021 season

First published: 28 August 2021 by Josh Close

Marco Bezzecchi stormed to pole position in the Moto2 class at Silverstone with his final flying lap of the session.

The Italian became the first and only rider to dip into the 2:03s in the closing seconds of Q2, posting a 2:03.988. It’s Bezzecchi’s first pole of the 2021 Moto2 season, and his first since the 2020 Andalucian Grand Prix at Jerez.

Moto3: Romano Fenati secures his second consecutive pole

Jorge Navarro and Sam Lowes also improved in the closing stages, moving up to second and third respectively. It’s Lowes’ best qualifying result at Silverstone since taking pole in 2016.

Title contenders Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez complete the top five. It’s the first time this season that the Red Bull KTM Ajo team hasn’t been represented on the front row. Fabio Di Giannantonio joins them on the second row.

Augusto Fernandez qualified seventh, whilst Aron Canet, Xavi Vierge and Joe Roberts completed the top 10. Nicolo Bulega and Stefano Manzi were 11th and 12th respectively, ahead of Bo Bendsneyder and Ai Ogura. Vierge, Manzi and Ogura all had to go through Q1, and perhaps enjoyed the advantage of extra track time.

Marcel Schrotter was 15th ahead of the impressive 16-year-old Fermín Aldeguer and veteran Thomas Luthi. Somkiat Chantra completed the Q2 qualifiers after making it through Q1 earlier this afternoon.

Elsewhere, rookies Cameron Beaubier (19th), Albert Arenas (21st), Tony Arbolino (22nd) and Celestino Vietti (23rd) all qualified within closely to one another.

Tomorrow’s Moto2 race is scheduled to begin at 14:30 and will be the final race of the weekend at Silverstone.

Moto3 Silverstone: Romano Fenati secures his second consecutive lightweight class pole

First published: 28 August 2021 at 13:46 by Josh Close

Romano Fenati continued to dominate at Silverstone in the Moto3 class by securing his second consecutive pole position.

The Italian left it late, only completing one flying lap in this afternoon’s Q2 session. Fenati posted a lap-time of 2:11.325, enough to pip Gabriel Rodrigo by 0.043s. After going 59 racers without a pole, Fenati now has two in-a-row in 2021.

Moto2 Friday: Raul Fernandez sets the pace

The Sterilgarda Max Racing Team rider posted the fastest-ever Moto3 lap-time around Silverstone in FP3, recording a 2:10.619 – which is also the first-ever 2:10 Moto3 lap at the British circuit.

Fenati and Rodrigo will be joined on the front row by Riccardo Rossi, with Andrea Migno missing out by 0.068s in fourth. Niccolo Antonelli and Filip Salac complete the second row.

Jeremy Alcoba qualified seventh, whilst Dennis Foggia, Deniz Oncu and Jaume Masia completed the top 10. Rookie Izan Guevara was 11th, ahead of Stefano Manzi and Tatsuki Suzuki. The latter only completed one flying lap.

Carlos Tatay ended his Saturday in 14th, ahead of the Petronas Sprinta Racing pairing of John McPhee and Darryn Binder.

Ayumu Sasaki qualified 17th after falling at turn seven, whilst Lorenzo Fellon crashed at turn 17 in the closing stages of Q2, before he was able to set a flying lap. As a result, Fellon will start the race from 18th.

Adrian Fernandez was the best of the rest in Q1 this afternoon and will start from 19th on the grid. He’s joined on row seven by Ryusei Yamanaka and Alberto Surra.

In a huge twist, the top two in the championship failed to make it out of Q1. Pedro Acosta and Sergio Garcia will start the British Grand Prix from 22nd and 24th respectively. Garcia fell on his out lap at turn three. Yuki Kunii finds himself in the middle of the two title contenders.

Xavi Artigas, Katio Toba and Maximilian Kofler complete the Moto3 grid. Tomorrow’s race is due to begin at 11:20am.

MotoGP Silverstone: Raul Fernandez ends day one on top

First published: 27 August 2021 by Josh Close

Title-chasing Raul Fernandez was quickest overall in Moto2 on the opening day of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider posted a best lap-time of 2:04.501 in FP2 and this was enough to pip Jorge Navarro by only 0.017s. Navarro topped the morning practice session, so looks to have the pace to challenge this weekend.

Moto3: Romano Fenati doninates at Silverstone on day one

Sam Lowes bounced back from a crash in FP1 to end day one third overall. The Brit, looking to become the first British winner at Silverstone since Danny Kent in 2015, crashed at Brooklands during this morning’s session.

Elf Marc VDS teammate Augusto Fernandez was fourth, extending his run of good form which has seen him linked with a possible move to Red Bull KTM Ajo next season. Championship leader Remy Gardner completed the top five, only 0.414s off the pace set by Raul Fernandez.

Fabio di Giannantonio was sixth overall, ahead of Marco Bezzecchi and Joe Roberts. Bezzecchi had a big crash at Barn towards the end of FP2 but was fortunately able to walk away unscathed.

Nicolo Bulega and Aron Canet completed the top 10, whilst Xavi Vierge, Ai Ogura and Bo Bendsneyder currently hold the remaining automatic Q2 qualification spots. The best of the rest as things stand is rookie Albert Arenas, who sits just 0.040s back in 14th.

Tomorrow’s Moto2 FP3 session is due to begin 10:55, and will be followed by Q1 and Q2 at 15:10 and 15:35 respectively.

MotoGP Silverstone: Romano Fenati breaks lap record to end day one fastest

First published: 27 August 2021 at 14:27 by Josh Close

Romano Fenati is the man to beat at Silverstone in Moto3 heading into the weekend after setting a new lap record in the lightweight class.

Fenati topped both of Friday’s practice session, posting a best overall lap-time of 2:11.334. The previous record was a 2:11.631, set by Tony Arbolino in 2019. Ayumu Sasaki and Niccolo Antonelli were also under the lap record, and they completed the top three today.