Italtrans’ Mattia Pasini fought off both Xavi Vierge and Miguel Oliveira to take the second Moto2 win of his career in Argentina and a poor result from Pecco Bagnaia sees the Italian take control of the championship standings.
Pasini took victory by eight-tenths of a second with Oliveira a further half-a-second back after the three exchanged fastest laps as the clock ticked down on the 23-lapper at the Termas De Rio Hondo track.
It looked like Vierge had the pace to pass in the final two laps but Pasini was faultess - and set a personal best on the last - to take the win.
Lorenzo Baldassarri couldn’t quite repeat his Qatar podium, eventually finishing 3.764 seconds back of the rostrum in fourth. Alex Marquez’s chances of a podium were diminished as he ran wide at turn five on lap 20 while battling with Baldassarri – the Spaniard settling for fifth.
Remy Gardner superbly picked up his best ever Moto2 finish, crossing the line in a jubilant sixth to round off a very good weekend for the Australian. Reigning Moto3 World Champion Joan Mir (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) impressed again in seventh, keeping Kiefer Racing’s Dominique Aegerter behind him by 0.081 seconds – a solid ride from the Swiss star on his second ride with the KTM.
Qatar race winner Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46) recovered from 15th on the grid, however he could only manage ninth – leaving him six points adrift in the Championship. Dynavolt Intact GP’s Marcel Schrotter claimed tenth, which means the team now sit top of the Teams Championship after two rounds.
It wasn’t a great day for the Brits. Danny Kent – after starting third – didn’t get off the line well and ended P12 while Lowes – who was in touch with the leading group in the opening laps – made a couple of mistakes and came home 13th.
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) suffered a scary looking crash, hitting the back of Jorge Navarro’s (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) bike on the run down to Turn 13 on lap two when he said Navarro braked really early. Both riders were ok, with Navarro retiring on lap six with a bent exhaust.
Vierge survived this big moment
