Dutch Moto2: Fernandez: ‘Great end was key to victory’, Gardner content with P2

Raul Fernandez recovers from difficult opening laps to claim a stunning Dutch Moto2 victory, while a hard-fought second place puts ‘a smile on my face’, for Remy Gardner going into the summer break. 
Raul Fernandez , Moto2 race, Dutch MotoGP, 27 June 2021
Raul Fernandez , Moto2 race, Dutch MotoGP, 27 June 2021
© Gold and Goose Photography

For the fourth time in five races, Moto2 Red Bull KTM Ajo riders Raul Fernandez and Remy Gard🎐ner took a 1-2 for the team at Assen. 

After suffering a ﷽crash in Sachsenring when second and on course to make it another 1-2 fi🎶nish, Fernandez rebounded with a stunning Assen victory after recovering from ninth place. 

The pole man was relegated to sixth on the opening lap, before that turned into ninth when running wide at t👍urn 7 on lap two. 

But tဣhe Spanish rookie had superior pace all weekend to his main rivals, and subsequent𝔉ly made his way back to the front before stretching out a one second gap in the end. 

The key to victory was remaining ca✅lm at the start which Fernandez credited team boss Aki Ajo for.

"Aki [Ajo] has taught me to stay cꦚalm in moments like the ones I experienced today at the beginning of the race," added Fernandez. 

"The first few laps were tough, as my plans for this contest were different: to try to pus🐽h from the start. However, we managed to keep focused and regained positions⛄, little by little. 

"I felt very comfortable when at the front of the leading group and I pushed to the fullest.♏ We had a great end to the Grand P🌞rix and that was the key to achieving this victory."

The win for Fernandez also halts a three race winning streak for team-mate𝔉 Gardner, who took an impressive second place. 

Late moves on Elf Marc✨ VDS riders Sam Lowes and Augusto Fernandez saw him reduce the points loss to just five with Fernandez heading into the summer break.

Gardner added: "Raul [Fernandez] was very strong,✱ and we knew that this weekend he had something extra compared to us. We gave everything we had, but the fight with the rest of the ri😼vals didn’t allow us to set a high pace either. 

"It was enough of a struggle to stay with the group. However, I knew that normally I am strong on the last three laps; I started to hunt them down♛ one by one and I passed them to take second. 

"We did a good job and the other✅ riders didn’t take many points from us. I’m going i♛nto the summer break with a smile on my face."

Read More