FIM JuniorGP™ honours went the way of Alvaro Carpe (STV Laglisse Racing) and polesitter Guido Pini (SeventyTwo Artbox Racing Team) after two captivating battles, while Roberto Garcia (Fantic Cardoso Racing) completed the double in the Moto2™ European Championship. There was plenty of joy too for Carlos Cano (SeventyTwo Artbox Racing Team) in the European Talent Cup, while birthday boy Archie McDonald (MRE Talent) went from pole to P1 in the Stock European Championship.
FIM JuniorGP™
Having secured a last gasp victory in Barcelona, Alvaro Carpe repeated the trick in the opening race of the FIM JuniorGP™ category in the south of Portugal. The STV Laglisse rider played his cards to perfection, having battled with a large group before he formed part of a breakaway trio alongside polesitter Guido Pini and Casey O’Gorman (Team Estrella Galicia 0’0).
As the race entered the endgame, O’Gorman faded slightly to a comfortable third, but it was riveting stuff as it looked like class debutant Pini would do enough to hold off his Spanish rival, but once again, Carpe produced some last corner fireworks to snatch victory on the line.
In terms of the Championship, Championship leaders Marcos Uriarte (CFMoto Aspar Junior Team) and Jesus Rios (MRE Talent) both failed to see the chequered flag, though Uriarte remained the title leader by just six points.
The second race of the day proved just as exciting, though this time Guido Pini ensured history didn’t repeat itself as the Italian held out for the win. The Italian kept it cool out front and avoided late dramas this time around by keeping three tenths in his back pocket coming out of the final corner. Maximo Quiles (Team Estrella Galicia 0’0) crossed second, beating Carpe in a dash to the line, with Jesus Rios, a three-time race winner already in 2023, just missing out on the podium.
In terms of the Championship, Uriarte’s frustrating day continued as he could only muster a P10 finish, meaning Carpe takes over as Championship frontrunner, with Rios moving into second at the expense of the former leader.
European Talent Cup
Carlos Cano came out on top of a thrilling multi-rider battle for victory in the European Talent Cup. The Spaniard started second on the grid and proved a consistent race threat, leading over the line for more than half the race. In classic ETC fashion, a large group of riders huddled up with podium and victory ambitions, but it was Cano, Giulio Pugliese (CFMoto Aspar Junior Team) and polesitter David Gonzalez (AC Racing Team) who were the main protagonists out front. The likes of Pau Alsina (Team Estrella Galicia 0’0), Alex Longarela (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP Junior Team) and Valentin Perrone (Frando Racing VHC Team) all played a part in the fight for honours, but it was Cano who ultimately proved good value for the win, as he beat Pugliese and Gonzalez in a dash to the line.
It means the Spaniard is right back in Championship contention, slashing Marco Morelli’s advantage to just four points, with the Argentinian coming home in seventh as he had a quiet race relative to the high standards he has set in the current campaign.
Stock ECh
It proved the perfect birthday weekend for Archie McDonald, as the Australian rider backed up his maiden Stock ECh pole with victory following a thrilling last lap shootout with Mario Mayor (Yamaha GV Racing). Having led every lap, McDonald slipped to second place as Mayor made his move as they came across the line for the penultimate time, with both riders almost colliding down the front straight. It seemed Mayor had done enough for the victory, but McDonald invented a brilliant final corner maneuver to poke his nose in front as they took the chequered flag, helping crown the perfect weekend in Portugal for the #69.
Mayor’s second place and 20 points sees him go level with the absent Lorenzo Dalla Porta atop the Championship standings, while Adrian Rodriguez crossed the line in third, helping him move to P3 in the standings.
You can also find all the results, videos, photos and information regarding the championship on the official website: www.fimjuniorgp.com