FERMIN ALDEGUER FIGHTS BACK IN MOTO2 SACHSENRING SCORCHER
The Triumph-powered Moto2 field headed to the Sachsenring this weekend for the second Moto2 race in two weeks and it was a thriller at the tight and undulating German circuit.
The previous lap record fell time and time again but the new record ultimately went to Somkiat Chantra with a 1m 22.698 set on day one. He didn’t improve on this time in qualifying however and it was Celestino Vietti who would line up on pole ahead of Jake Dixon and Fermin Aldeguer. Chantra could only manage 17th on the grid after a crash in P2.
In Sunday’s race, Dixon got a brilliant start to take the holeshot ahead of Vietti, Aldeguer, Tony Arbolino and Senna Agius. Arbolino and Agius were locked in an exciting battle for fourth. Arbolino finally made a move stick on the Australian and went on the charge passing Aldeguer into the podium positions. Vietti took Dixon for the lead but the lead would change places lap on lap as the top four took it in turns to lead. At one point the front five were side by side and it seemed any of them could be crowned king of the Sachsenring.
This epic battle allowed championship leader Sergio Garcia, Diogo Moreira and Ai Ogura to catch them up despite the three of them battling it out. Arbolino was leading and Aldeguer made a move on Vietti into second while Dixon and Agius were side by side in a race-long duel. Arbolino and Aldeguer started to pull a small gap but a huge moment for Arbolino saw him slip back to fifth and left Aldeguer with some breathing space at the front.
Dixon pushed his way through into second and started to break away from Vietti, Agius, Ogura and Garcia who'd passed Arbolino into 6th. Agius and Arbolino looked to be struggling with grip and dropped out of contention for the podium places as a brillant battle for third ensued between Vietti, Ogura and Moreira, the three riders side by side.
Aldeguer ultimately took the victory for his second win of the season ahead of Dixon in second and it was Ogura who came out on top of the battle for third ahead of Moreira and Vietti with Chantra enjoying a great comeback to finish sixth. The top six representing six different nationalities, Spain, UK, Japan, Brazil, Italy and Thailand.
We now head into the summer break before Moto2 action returns for the British Grand Prix at Silverston, 2 - 4 August.
Triumph Triple Trophy
Triumph and MotoGP announced a new format for the Triumph Triple Trophy for 2024, where the winner will take home a Street Triple 765 RS prize bike at the end of the season.
This year, a judging panel picks a short list of three standout riders which will be published on MotoGP’s Instagram stories. Fans can then vote for their favourite.
The points awarded are in reference to Triumph’s 765cc engine:
7 points for the rider with most fan votes
6 points for the rider with second most fan votes
5 points for the rider with third most fan votes
This week the shortlist is:
1. Fermin Aldeguer for his comeback, qualifying on the front row and taking his second win of the year.
2. Jake Dixon for his excellent qualifying and brilliant battles into second.
3. Ai Ogura for fighting his way through the field and coming out on top of an epic battle to finish third.
Look out for the Instagram stories on MotoGP’s official Instagram account @motogp to vote for your favourite.
