Two-wheeled World Championship action got back underway in 2020 with the FIM CEV Repsol Moto3™ Junior World Championship, with Xavier Artigas (Leopard Impala Junior) snatching the first race win of the season by just 0.003 in Portugal.
The first race day of the year has come to an end ????
— FIM CEV Repsol (@CEVMotorcycle) July 7, 2020
View all of today's results to know who to keep an eye on for the rest of the season, down below ????#RoadToMotoGP https://t.co/qcehiymFWj pic.twitter.com/roKMIMrbQb
The conditions couldn’t have been more contrasting from the 2019 opening round – the sweltering Portuguese sun setting the tone for a day of phenomenal racing. The Moto3™ riders treated us to a spectacular finish as Valencia GP podium man Artigas edged 2019 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup runner-up Pedro Acosta (MT-Foundation 77) by the slimmest of margins, with Adrian Fernandez (Laglisse Academy) – brother to Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Raul Fernandez – claiming the final step on the rostrum.
In the European Moto2™ Championship, it was a perfect day for Team Ciatti-Speed Up’s Yari Montelli. The Italian was meant to start on pole for Race 1 but was handed a grid penalty that saw him get pushed back to P7. No matter, the Italian scythed his way through to eventually beat Niki Tuuli (Team Stylobike) and in the second race – starting from pole this time – Montella fended off the Finn once again for a 50-point haul. Lukas Tulovic (Kiefer Racing) and Alessandro Zaccone (Promoracing) picked up a podium each.
Double win for @openbank_es #AsparTeam Junior with David Alonso in the opening European Talent Cup @CEVMotorcycle round
— Aspar Team MotoGP (@AsparTeam) July 7, 2020
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The European Talent Cup riders also had two races in Estoril, and the day would belong to one youngster: Openbank Aspar Team’s David Alonso. The Colombian left the field in his wake in Race 1, cantering his way to a 6-second victory as teammate Ivan Ortola finished P2. The latter was challenging Alonso – along with a whole host of other riders in Race 2 – but a jump start saw him get two long lap penalties. Alonso made no such errors and in the last quarter of the race, his pace proved too strong. It was maximum points for the number 80 rider, with Alberto Ferrandez (Cuna de Campeoñes) and Angel Piqueras (Talent Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) picking up podiums.
You don’t have to wait long to watch FIM CEV Repsol action again as Portimao hosts Round 2 on Monday the 13th of July. Head over to the FIM CEV Repsol website for all the results and info!