MotoGP Le Mans: Fernandez dominates Moto2 race of attrition

Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Augusto Fernandez claimed a dominant victory in the Moto2 French GP at Le Mans on Sunday.

The Spaniard crossed the line five seconds ahead of the pack for his first win in over two years with Flexbox HP40’s Aron Canet and Honda’s Somkiat Chantra claiming the podium battle over American Racing’s Cameron Beaubier in the final lap.

Rookie Pedro Acosta headed the intermediate class grid for the first time in his Moto2 career as the 25-lap FrenchGP prepared. Aspar’s Jake Dixon and Ajo teammate Fernandez joining him on the front row with fourth placed rider Sam Lowes declared unfit due to neck pain and dizziness following his Q2 crash.

Acosta grabbed the holeshot as the lights released, Fernandez joining him to head the pack through the first corner with Albert Arenas and Alonso Lopez sitting third and fourth. Dixon suffering a disappointing start as he dropped to sixth.

VR46’s Niccolo Antonelli suffered the first crash of the race through turn six as Marco Ramirez and Canet battled for fifth with Dixon dropping further to seventh.

A good start found Beaubier running ninth as lap two began. Elf Marc VDS’ disappointing Sunday going from bad to worse as Tony Arbolino succumbed to turn six with Fermin Aldeguer doing likewise on the Speed Up seconds later.

His MC Conveyors teammate Lopez was in podium contention as the race played out up front. Arenas, Canet and Ramirez joined by Beaubier in seventh as Dixon continued to fall backwards. The leading Ajo duo were split by half a second as Acosta continued to shine with the American matching their pace as he too looked to climb.

Dixon’s heartbreak was compounded by a final corner fall as his GasGas slid out at Raccordement. His Aspar teammate Arenas and Lopez