FIM CEV Repsol Moto2/Moto3/ETC round-up from Albacete

2019 FIM CEV Repsol

Round Seven – Albacete

Edgar Pons crowned Moto2 European Champion in Albacete

Circuito de Albacete staged Round Seven of the FIM CEV Repsol series over the weekend. Edgar Pons claimed the Moto2 European Championship while Jeremy Alcoba extended his lead in the Moto3 Junior class, and now requires only five-points to claim the title.

The result mirrored Edgar Pons’ domination of the Moto2 class at the previous Jerez round. Carlos Tatay couldn’t maintain his winning streak from Jerez which had brought him closer to leader Alcoba in the Moto3 class.

For Aussie Asia Talent Team rider Billy Van Eerde in the Moto3 class the misfortune continued at Albacete, with another DNF result and only three laps completed. The previous round in Jerez saw Van Eerde card a P18 finish in Race 1, but a DNF in Race 2.

In the European Talent Cup José Antonio took his first win of the season, while Australian Joel Kelso (Leopard Impala) finished seventh. Kelso sat just outside the top 10 at the previous round in Jerez – which marked his entry to the championship, taking P12 and P11 in the two races held there. He now holds 18 championship points and is 19th in the standings.

The eighth and final round of the FIM CEV Repsol season will take place at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia on November 10.

CEV Moto3 Junior

FIM Moto3 Junior World Championship leader Jeremy Alcoba took his second victory of the season in the single hotly disputed Moto3 race over the weekend. The Laglisse Academy rider had his first shot at the title and initially led the race closely trailed by a large group which included Barry Baltus, Carlos Tatay, Ryusei Yamanaka, Deniz Öncü and Daniel Holgado.

Carlos Tatay, Jeremy Alcoba and Ryusei Yamanaka took turns at the head of the race. Behind, Xavier Artigas made a superb comeback, starting off second to last and somehow getting in touch with the chasing group.

On the last lap, Carlos Tatay overshot trying to take the lead from Jeremy Alcoba; in doing so he put himself out of the running and left Daniel Holgado to finish second ahead of Barry Baltus.

However, Carlos Tatay was finally judged third after a one-position penalty against Barry Baltus. Ryusei Yamanaka came in fifth and Xavier Artigas sixth, followed by Deniz Öncü.

Jeremy Alcoba will go to the final round of the season in Valencia 46 points ahead of Carlos Tatay with 50 points at stake; in other words, five points is all he needs to take the title. The race winner was also awarded the Repsol free fuel cheque.

Aussie Billy Van Eerde recorded a DNF result, only completing three laps, with the rider originally sharing his frustration after qualifying at not being able to put down a fast lap, despite feeling comfortable on the bike, and qualifying in P23 for race day.

CEV Moto2

Edgar Pons took advantage of the opportunity presented to him and lifted the Moto2 European Championship title in the first race of the day – and he did it like a champion, winning from pole position.

The Baiko Racing Team rider headed the race from the off followed by Héctor Garzó, Marcel Brenner and Anupab Sarmoon, who all took advantage of a good start to place themselves at the head of the race.

Gradually Edgar Pons and Héctor Garzó pulled clear together while behind Yari Montella went down taking with him a frustrated Marcel Brenner. Miquel Pons started out ninth but reached the chasing group formed by Alessandro Zaccone, Tommaso Marcon and Anupab Sarmoon.

He passed them one by one to cross the finish line in third position and join Edgar Pons and Héctor Garzó on the podium. In Superstock 600, Joan Díaz took the victory in the category. Héctor Garzó won the Repsol free fuel cheque.

In the second Moto2 European Champions race of the day Héctor Garzó earned his second victory of the season in a race reduced to 10 laps after it was stopped by a red flag for the fall of Ramdan Rosli and Matthias Meggle.

For the restart, the new grid was based on the positions at the red flag, with Héctor Garzó as poleman followed by Edgar Pons and Alessandro Zaccone. Garzó led from the start and gradually pulled away from Zaccone.

Behind, Miquel Pons ended up being passed by Yari Montella. On the last lap, the new champion of the category went down so in the end it was Alessandro Zaconne and Tommaso Marcon who took the podium with race winner Héctor Garzó, who received the Repsol free fuel cheque and the runner-up slot in the final championship standings. In Superstock 600 Peetu Paavilainen was the best finisher.

CEV European Talent Cup

In the ETC, Junior Team Estrella Galicia 0.0 teammates José Antonio Rueda, Diogo Moreira and Adrián Cruces took the podium together after a race which was interrupted on the first lap by a multi-rider fall.

In the new race, set at 12 laps, José Antonio Rueda and Diogo Moreira placed themselves in front of poleman Izan Guevara, who was riding injured after suffering a fall in the qualifying session on Saturday.

The new champion began to fall back while Fermín Aldeguer, despite also riding with an injury, moved up to the Junior Team Estrella Galicia 0.0 riders.

Behind, Daijiro Sako reeled in the chasing group which included Adrián Cruces – and it was Cruces who ended up taking third place after Fermín Aldeguer and Daijiro Sako were penalised.

The winner of the race, José Antonio Rueda, taking his first win of the season, received the Repsol free fuel cheque. Second place went to Diogo Moreira, while Adrián Cruces was third. Aussie Joel Kelso put in a strong effort for seventh, providing a welcome boost to his points-tally, which now sits at 18-points, leaving him 19th in the standings.

Joel Kelso

“Good race at Albacete for my second weekend in the European Talent Cup! The race went well, unfortunately we had a mechanical problem on the grid before the start and we had to start from the pitlane. Lucky for me after one lap the red flag came out and I could restart from my original position on the fourth row. I had a good start and I stayed with the front group until the last laps, our pace was good, the same as the guys in front and we managed to finish in P7 which is pretty good with the pace we showed! I’m really happy about how the weekend went, we worked hard and improved a lot day by day and I can’t wait for Valencia for the last round with the target to fight for the podium! I want to thank Leopard for making this possible, my sponsor, my team, my family and all the people who showed me support during this weekend. Now focused on Valencia.”

The injured Izan Guevara, champion and winner of six races this year, crossed the finish line in ninth position.