In the second MotoE race at Assen, Dominique Aegerter has to admit defeat by a narrow margin – Eric Granado wins after being stopped by red flag
LCR rider Eric Granado has won the second MotoE race at Assen. The Brazilian beat Dominique Aegerter (IntactGP) and Mattia Casadei (Pons), who completed the podium. The race lasted just three laps after it had to be stopped early following a crash.
Before the start of the race, there had been several delays due to sporadic drizzle. Unlike usual, the drivers were given the opportunity to study the conditions on a warm-up lap. However, nobody changed to rain tyres. The race distance was shortened to six laps.
With half an hour to go, the race got underway. Aegerter started from pole, but lost the lead to Casadei, who sprinted ahead from fourth. Granado initially dropped back to fourth behind Mattia Ferrari (Gresini), but quickly fought his way back to the front.
At the end of the second lap he overtook Aegerter and soon after also passed Casadei to take the lead. At turn 5 of the third lap, Granado’s teammate Miquel Pons (LCR) crashed. Jeremy Alcoba (Aspar) was unable to avoid him and ran over bike and rider. However, the race continued for the time being.
The incident created a large gap behind Granado, Casadei, Aegerter and Ferrari. At the end of the third lap, Aegerter grabbed second place from Casadei in the finish chicane and chased Granado. Moments later, however, the race was stopped with the red flag.
Red flag is out due to the crash at Turn 5! DutchGP pic.twitter.com/xO4LhD095S
– MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) June 26, 2022
The reason for the abandonment was the incident with Pons and Alcoba, in which Pons had apparently injured himself. He was lying next to the track and was conscious, but had to be taken away on a stretcher. The rest of the field then went to the pits together.
Shortly afterwards, the race control announced that there would be no restart. The result was the standings after three laps. The championship points were halved. Aegerter is still in the lead in the overall standings. 31.5 points behind, Granado is second. Ferrari is third, 45.5 points behind.
In Sunday’s race, Ferrari narrowly missed out on the podium in fourth. Niccolo Canepa (RNF) finished fifth. Behind them lined up Alx Escrig (Tech 3), Kevin Manfredi (Pramac), Maria Herrera (Aspar), Kevin Zannoni (SIC58) and Hector Garzo (Tech 3). The next MotoE race will take place in Spielberg.
