Jacob Roulstone on Catalunya JuniorGP podium

2023 FIM JuniorGP World Championship
Round Five – Circuit de Barcelona, Catalunya

Blistering Spanish weather welcomed riders to round five of the Finetwork FIM JuniorGP World Championship at Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya, where we saw six different winners across three races, although Senna Agius was unfortunately forced to sit out the round due to injury. The 18-year-old Australian rider suffered fractures to his left hand in a crash on Friday morning.

Xabier Zurutuza (MTA Junior Team) and Fadillah Arbi Aditama (Astra Honda Racing Team) claimed JuniorGP honours, with Xavier Cardelus (Promoracing) and Unai Orradre (STV Laglisse Racing) securing success in the Moto2 European Championship.

Guido Pini (AC Racing Team) stood on the top step in the European Talent Cup podium, with Daniel Muñoz (SP57 Racing Team) doing likewise in the Stock European Championship, after some incredible last lap drama in both races.

FIM JuniorGP World Championship Qualifying

Angel Piqueras was back on pole position in the JuniorGP class, with the Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 securing a second P1 start of the campaign thanks to a 1:49.387. The Spaniard couldn’t have wished for a better Saturday, with the Championship leader eyeing up a potentially title winning weekend.

He held a 54 point advantage in the standings heading in, and if he could extend that to beyond 75 points after two races in Barcelona, he would secure the title. He wouldn’t have it all his own way though, with Jacob Roulstone (Aspar Junior Team) and David Almansa (Finetwork Mir Racing Team) out to spoil the party from the front row.

New Zealand’s Cormac Buchanan finished in 17th.

FIM JuniorGP World Championship Race One

Xabi Zurutuza emerged from a large group of riders to take Race 1 victory, leading the last lap and withstanding pressure from behind to take the chequered flag first, and in the process, earn a second win of the campaign.

Jacob Roulstone (Aspar Junior Team) followed the Spaniard over the line in second, while Championship leader Angel Piqueras (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) claimed third.

The opening race didn’t pass without incident, with David Almansa (Finetwork Mir Racing Team) crashing out of his podium charge on the last lap after luck deserted him, poleman Piqueras’ podium meant he could set his sights on securing the title in Race 2.

FIM JuniorGP World Championship Race One Results

FIM JuniorGP World Championship Race Two

There was drama from lights out to the chequered flag, and beyond in race two, with a dramatic race seeing Indonesia rider Fadillah Arbi Aditama given the win. Once again, a large lead group formed, with P1 changing hands on a corner by corner basis.

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With two laps to go and space at a premium, there was a mid-pack collision that saw Alvaro Carpe (STV Laglisse Racing), Eddie O’Shea (British Talent Team), Jacob Roulstone and Xabi Zurutuza hit the gravel trap.

A lap and a half later, Almansa squeezed over the line ahead of Aditama by just 0.005s, but the Spaniard was adjudged to have overtaken under yellow flags and was demoted a place to second.

Luca Lunetta (AC Raccing Team) came across third, but like Almansa, was penalised for the same infringement, with Joel Esteban (Aspar Junior Team) benefitting.

Buchanan improved to 11th, however it was a race to forget for Roulstone with a DNF, after being taken out by another rider.

Jacob Roulstone

“A second podium in #FIMJuniorGP today in race 1 finishing in P2 and so very happy to share this with everyone who works hard for me to be able to race. Race 2 DNF after being taken out along with three other riders. But we won’t let that take the shine off an awesome weekend. Thanks to #asparteam , Santi, Antonio and Fran for all their amazing work all the week. Plus my #furygan suit and #nhkhelmet for keeping me safe. We go on summer break now for this championship until October. In the meantime a little time to relax and then training hard to keep aiming higher.”

Piqueras came home sixth, but it wasn’t enough for the title, and his charge continues into Aragon after the summer break where he will hold a comfortable 68 point advantage.

Roulstone now holds fourth overall, well within reach of both second and third.

FIM JuniorGP World Championship Race Two Results

FIM JuniorGP World Championship Points

Moto2 European Championship Qualifying

Opportunity beckoned for Xavi Cardelus, the Andorran ensuring a start from the head of the grid in both Moto2 races as he seeks a maiden win in the class. The Andorran’s 1:44.013 gave him almost half a second to spare in qualifying over Niccolo Antonelli (MMR), while Unai Orradre (STV Laglisse Racing) completes the front row.

Alberto Surra (Team Ciatti-Boscoscuro) and Roberto Garcia (Cardoso-Fantic Racing) both claimed podiums in the Algarve, and they’ll fancy their chances once again from fourth and fifth on the grid respectively. Completing the second row is Alex Toledo (EasyRace Team), who will be bidding for a first podium of the campaign from sixth.

The big news coming from the Moto2 class in Barcelona though, is the absence of Championship leader Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP Team). The young Australian suffered a big highside during Friday Free Practice, breaking bones in his left hand, and he has been ruled out of the two races in Catalunya.

It will come as a massive disappointment to the #81, who had hoped to wrap up the Moto2 European Championship title at a circuit he did the double at in 2022. Regardless of Sunday’s results, Agius will still lead the standings heading into the Aragon round, but it is a massive opportunity for the chasing pack to close the gap to the front – namely Cardelus, who sits second overall, 61 points behind Agius.

Moto2 European Championship Race

Xavi Cardelus started on pole and led the majority of the race, put on an exhibitionary defensive performance to reject the advances of Unai Orradre for the win, though, the STV Laglisse Racing rider claimed a debut podium in the class.

Alberto Surra (Team Ciatti – Boscoscuro) followed the two over the line, and those three riders were the main protagonists in Race 2.

Harrison Voight was the top Aussie, in Agius’s absence, finishing in 13th.

Moto2 European Championship Race One Results

Moto2 European Championship Race Two

Later in the day, Orradre did manage to get the win in fine fashion in what has proved a breakthrough weekend, while it was Surra who came second, and Cardelus third after an epic three way battle for the win.

All that means that going into the next round, Cardelus comes back into the title picture and sits just 20 points behind Agius in the standings.

It was a better second race for Voight, finishing sixth.

Harrison Voight

“Race1: 13th, Race2: 6th, Felt good to gain more experience today in both races. In race 1, I got off to a good start gaining positions early although I started having issues with arm pump and getting pain in my lower back. Race2 was much better having more pace and consistency considering the pain in my back. Nevertheless I’m satisfied to finally get a decent result after the past rounds we’ve had. Big thank you to the team, sponsors and supporters that make this happen. Special thanks @strattonmotorsports12 for all the help trying to get me sorted for race two.”

Senna Agius retains a 20-point lead in the standings despite missing a round, Cardelus second and Surra third. Voight 15th with 29 championship points.

Moto2 European Championship Race Two Results

Moto2 European Championship Points

European Talent Cup Qualifying

In the European Talent Cup, Maximo Quiles’ 1:50.330 was enough to secure a second pole position for the Championship leader in 2023, but the Aspar Junior Team rider’s joy was shortlived as he was handed a penalty post-session that will see him start at the back of the grid. That handed the initiative to his title rival Brian Uriarte (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) who topped his group in qualifying.

Rico Salmela joined his Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 teammate on the front row with the Finn displaying impressive pace all weekend, next on the timesheets was reigning Champion Guido Pini (AC Racing Team) followed by Jesus Rios (MRE Talent), Casey O’Gorman (SuperHugo44 Team) and Pau Alsina (Artbox).

European Talent Cup Race One

There were twists and turns at every corner in the European Talent Cup race, Guido Pini claimed the win, with Casey O’Gorman (SuperHugo44 Team) and Ruche Moodley (Finetwork Mir Junior Team) on the podium after showstopping event.

Championship leader Max Quiles (Aspar Junior Team) started at the back of the grid, while his main rival Brian Uriarte (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) launched from pole.

However, Quiles found himself among the lead group after just a few laps while Uriarte ended up in the gravel, ending his victory charge.

The drama continued onto the last lap, with Quiles’ teammate Dodo Boggio attempting an ambitious move at Turn 10, only for the Italian to wipe out his teammate and Rico Salmela (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0). As a result, Pini profited enormously to take the win and enter the title picture heading to Aragon.

A DNF for Carter Thompson was a disappointing result, after another rider collided with him.

Carter Thompson

“Definitely could have ended better. The first three days I had a really good feeling with the bike and good pace so I was feeling confident. I got a good start and was happy pushing in the lead group until I had a rider come into the side of me in a corner which resulted in 3 of us crashing. Very disappointing after such a great lead up to the race. Thanks to all my supporters, on to the next race.”

Quiles holds a one point lead over Uriarte on 124-123-points, Guido Pini third on 115. Carter Thompson 29th with two-points.

European Talent Cup Race One Results

European Talent Cup Points

Stock European Championship Qualifying

Daniel Muñoz started on pole, the SP57 Racing Team rider’s 1:47.308 was enough to edge out title adversary Eric Fernandez (FAU55 TEY Racing Team) to P1, while Dino Iozzo (IUM Motorsports) rounds out the front row.

EasyRace Team duo Adrian Rodriguez and Marco Garcia claim P4 and P5 respectively, while Archie McDonald’s quest for a maiden podium continues from sixth on the grid.

The fate of the 2023 Stock European Championship could be decided on race day, but only if Muñoz can outscore Fernandez by 20 points. The two have been tit for tat on track throughout the campaign, but Muñoz has built up a 30 point advantage with 75 left on the board ahead of lights out.

Stock European Championship Race

Rounding out the day’s runs on Sunday was the Stock European Championship, and keeping with the theme of the day, it was a gripping watch to the very end. Daniel Muñoz took the win, and did so in style.

In a race that often saw a strangely slow pace set at the front, the Championship leader decided to take things into his own hands with just a few laps remaining.

Eric Fernandez (FAU55 Racing Team) applied the pressure from behind, and even took the lead on the last lap after a brilliant Turn 10 maneuver, but Muñoz showed his x-factor with a Valentino Rossi-like overtake at the final corner to secure a sensational win. Dino Iozzo (IUM Motorsports) ran with the top two in the title race, and claimed a superb P3.

Archie McDonald finished in eighth.

After Muñoz sensational late move, it stretches his advantage in the Championship to 35 points, and with just 50 left on the board, he can claim the Stock crown in Aragon after the summer break.

Next up for the Finetwork FIM JuniorGP World Championship is MotorLand Aragon, which is penciled in for October 8th.

Stock European Race Results

Stock European Championship Points

JuniorGP Calendar 2023

1. 06/07 May: Circuito do Estoril (Estoril, Portugal)
2. 20/21 May: Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana (Valencia, Spain)
3. 03/04 June: Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto (Jerez de la Frontera, Spain)
4. 01/02 July: Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (Portimao, Portugal)
5. 15/16 July: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (Montmeló, Spain)
6. 07/08 October: MotorLand Aragón (Alcaniz, Spain)
7. 04/05 November: Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana (Valencia, Spain)