Moto2 Catalunya: Marini keeps Lowes at bay for Barcelona win

Luca Marini timed his final move on Sam Lowes to perfection to seal victory in the Moto2 Grand Prix of Catalunya.

The Sky Racing VR46 rider started from pole and went on to collect his third win of the season after passing Sam Lowes in the closing stages of the race. The Italian was then able to pull away slightly, leading over the line by 0.981s.

Sam Lowes had hit the front with seven laps remaining after Marini initially held first place in the race from the start. The EG 0,0 Marc VDS rider had used up a lot of tyre while catching, passing and moving back into contention after slipping back to sixth on the first lap. The British rider immediately gave chase with Marini in his sights.

The Kalex pair were the fastest on track - Marini set a new record in qualifying and Lowes set the in race lap record while chasing the Italian down. Both suffered with grip issues towards the end of the race but the number 22 went wide once too often allowing Marini to pass for the win.

The result now places Marini twenty points clear in the championship standings, with Bastianini second.

Fabio DiGiannantonio was ecstatic to secure third. The HDR Heidrun Speed Up rider initially kept pace with his compatriot but finished over four seconds behind the race winner. It marks a return to form as his first podium visit since the San Marino round last season.

The battle for fourth was fierce, with Jorge Navarro coming out on top on the second HDR Speed Up entry after fending off both Joe Roberts, who crossed the line fifth for Tennor American Racing, and Italtrans rider Enea Bastianini who finished last of the trio in sixth.

Marco Bezzecchi faded to seventh on the second Sky entry after initially making gains on the opening laps.

Aron Canet was the best of the rookies in eighth for Inde Aspar Speed Up, with rival Marcos Ramirez a distant ninth for Tennor American Racing.

Marcel Schrotter recovered well to complete the top ten for Liqui Moly Intact GP, taking the chequered flag over two seconds ahead of his teammate Tom Luthi.

Tetsuta Nagashima moved into twelfth for Red Bull KTM Ajo, the only one of their riders to finish with Jorge Martin retiring to the pits on his return after missing two races after his positive Covid-19 test.

The remaining points on offer went to Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP 40) in 13th, Edgar Pons (Federal Oil Gresini) in 14th and Simone Corsi (MV Agusta Forward Racing) in 15th.

Remy Gardner had a six place grid penalty to serve for crashing under yellow flags, however all the progress he made was lost as while battling with Nagashima he exceeded track limits once too often and was handed a long lap penalty. The Onexox TKKR SAG rider finished the race 16th after Lorenzo Baldassarri crashed in front of him on the final lap.

Augusto Fernandez suffered slight burns to his legs when his EG 0,0 Marc VDS bike was aflame in warm-up, his day didn’t improve - the Spaniard crashed out on the penultimate lap.

Stefano Manzi and Lorenzo Dalla Porta crashed out at the start of the race after Manzi tagged his fellow countryman as he fell.

Jake Dixon retired after bike issues, with Nicolo Bulega, Somkiat Chantra and Xavi Vierge all also failing to finish the race.