Guevara Powers to Victory in Shortended Triumph-Powered Moto2™ French GP

Izan Guevara took an emphatic victory today, cruising to the French Grand Prix race win at the Le Mans Circuit. The Triumph-powered rider took victory over series leader Manuel Gonzalez and Ivan Ortola, who claimed his second podium in the intermediate class.

After a weekend of sunshine and dry track action, the forecast turned for the worse on Sunday morning as a deluge of torrential rain hit the circuit moments before the day’s racing action commenced.

With rain stopping and the previous racing action clearing the circuit, the track rapidly dried, leaving a dry surface for the Moto2™ World Championship race.

With wet patches in places, an extended sighting lap period and a reduced race-distance to 14 Laps lay ahead of the Triumph 765 RS-powered field.

Starting from his first-ever pole in the Moto2™ class, a lightning start for Guevara saw him head into the chicane first, with Gonzalez and Filip Salac slotting in behind. As a fierce battle ensued behind, which saw Dani Holgado crash out on the opening lap, the Spanish rider at the head of the field looked to push on but Gonzalez stuck with him before a Red Flag on the third lap brought the race to an early halt.

However, due to three laps not being completed, a full restart was declared, meaning those riders who crashed out would be able to rejoin the nine-lap sprint.

Once again starting from pole, it was rinse and repeat for Guevara who fired himself to the head of the field with Gonzalez, Alonso Lopez and Ortola fighting hard behind. This time, Salac was forced to run straight through the chicane on the opening lap, ending his podium chances early on.

As a fiery battle commenced behind, out front, Guevara maintained his lead over the chasing pack. Settling into second, Gonzalez got the better of his rivals, with Ortola slotting into third.

Untouched at the front, Guevara crossed the line to take a pole-to-win victory with Gonzalez and Ortola completing the podium. Lopez took the chequered flag in fourth with David Alonso taking a bruising fifth in a fiery French Grand Prix for the Columbian. After a Long Lap Penalty for an incident which saw Barry Baltus crash out on lap one of the restart, Celestino Vietti secured sixth with Senna Agius, the victor of the last two GPs in seventh. The American Racing duo of Joe Roberts and Filip Salac joined Aron Canet in rounding out the top ten.