Repsol riders finish race run in large group in positive positions.
Enea Bastianini was up to eighth on the second lap, in a second group that lost ground to the leaders as the race progressed.
After seven laps, the Italian cut the gap of a second to the first group and fought for the podium until the end, getting as high as third on the penultimate lap.
Arón Canet completed his first lap in third place and ran in a first group of six riders. He led the race for several laps and finished fifth, 6 tenths off the winner.
Enea Bastianini, 4th +0.462 sec.
“It was a pretty good race. As in all races, at first I found it a little hard to get into the first group. I tried to hold on with all my strength and, in the end, when everything counts, it is when we do best. On the last ten laps I felt very comfortable on the bike and could ride as I wanted, despite the fact that the grip level started to drop a bit and it was important to manage it. Two laps from the end, I was in the right position -third- but before the straight I lost the grip on the front wheel when coming out of the last corner. I lost some ground to the first two riders and I couldn’t take advantage of the slipstream. It was a shame, because I pushed very hard, but it was not enough to get on the podium. That would have been a good reward. The important thing is that we are up there, we are working well with the team and we can continue to improve.”
Arón Canet, 5th +0.674 sec.
“We were fast and consistent throughout the weekend. In the race we tried to impose a good pace to make the group as small as possible. At first I was getting it, but then -as usual- we started getting in each other’s way and a group of eight was formed. From the middle of the race, I started to have problems with the rear; I couldn’t corner as I wanted. We have to continue in this way, to keep learning. The last lap was a bit chaotic, because Enea [Bastianini] overtook me and we impeded each other a little. The positive thing is that we were with the front group again and we are achieving more than the goal we set out at the beginning of the season. Little by little we have to set higher targets. I made a mistake in the last part of the race, but a fifth place at home is something with which to be satisfied.”
