Senna stars in Moto2 as JuniorGP World Champs get underway in Portugal

2022 FIM JuniorGP World Championship Round 1
Circuito Estoril, Portugal

The 2022 season of the FIM JuniorGP World Championship kicked off over the weekend at Circuito Estoril, in Portugal, with old faces returning alongside new riders, as riders duked it out Saturday for their spot on the grid for Sunday’s racing with five races across three classes scheduled in.

Snatching JuniorGP pole position was Jose Rueda (Team Estrella Galicia), his second pole of his career, while Lukas Tulovic (Liqui Moly Intact JuniorGP Team) and Joel Esteban (Aspar Junior Team) took pole in the Moto2 European Championship and the Hawkers European Talent Cup respectively.

Tatchakorn Buasri took top honours on Sunday however, winning the sole JuniorGP race, ahead of Jose Antonio Rueda and David Salvador.

Aussie Jacob Roulstone came home in 21st which countryman Harrison Voight crashed out of the race, high-siding on the exit of the chicane from a commanding position near the front.

In the Moto2 European championship Lukas Tulovic took the race win ahead of Senna Agius and Alex Escrig in the opening race, with a repeat performance in Race 2. Although Agius did close down that gap to the leader in the second bout.  There was daylight between Agius and the rest, thus the pecking order has been established as Tulovic top dog while Agius is nipping at his heels while behind them is a battle for the best of the rest…

The European Talent Cup saw Joel Esteban win both races. The first from Dodo Boggio and Guido Pini, and the second from Hakim Danish and Rico Salmela. Australia’s Carter Thompson finished race one in eighth, with a sixteenth place finish in race two.

JuniorGP

With the track temperatures rising throughout the day, the qualifying one session times from the cooler morning track action looked to be the times to beat. Indeed, none of the front-runners could get down to the pace of the opening session, thus seeing Jose Rueda on pole in JuniorGP, although he also topped the second session anyway.

Joining the Spaniard on the front row was a truly international mix as Australian Harrison Voight (SIC 58) takes a career-first front row, one place ahead of Thai star Tatchakorn Buasri (Asia Talent Team), who also took a career-first front row and a first for Thailand since Somkiat Chantra took pole at Albacete in 2017. Buasri suffered a crash at Turn 1 in the second qualifying session which brought out the red flag, but he was able to walk away and readies for his first front row on Sunday.

In the sole JuniorGP race, it was the usual tight racing that’s been enjoyed in past seasons. After the pack settled down, Harrison Voight (SIC 58) was one of the early race leaders, along with David Alonso (Aspar Junior Team) and pole-sitter Jose Antonio Rueda (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0).

However, a crash on the exit of the chicane for 15-year-old Voight who highsided on lap four left Angel Piqueras (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) nowhere to go, putting an end to both of their races. In the closing stages and having been at the front sporadically, Tatchakorn Buasri came to the fore and was second on the last lap, with Rueda crossing the line first.

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However, the Spaniard was denied a career-first victory as he was demoted one place for exceeding track limits on the final lap, thus giving Buasri the win.

Completing the podium was David Salvador (Laglisse Academy), edging out David Alonso (Aspar Junior Team) by 0.005s. Rookies Adrian Cruces (Cuna de Campeones) and Facundo Llambias (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0), who were in the leading group, completed the top six.

17-year-old Jacob Roulstone from Wollongong was the top Aussie finisher in 21st.

Harrison Voight – DNF

“Gutted… after such a good weekend unfortunately I made a little mistake and it was a costly one. Sorry to my team, family, sponsors and also Angel Piqueras. Many positive things to take out of this weekend, I was able to do all my lap times alone and consistent so this is something I’m very happy with. Onto the next one.”

JuniorGP Race Result

JuniorGP Standings

Moto2 ECh

The Moto2 ECh class welcomed a third career pole for Lukas Tulovic, as the 21-year-old German made it back-to-back poles at Estoril. Tulovic has become a pole position specialist at the Portuguese venue, with all of his poles in the class coming there (2017, 2021 and 2022).

It was an impressive debut for 16-year-old rookie Senna Agius (Promoracing), with second place, making it the first Australian front row start since Remy Gardner in Barcelona, back in 2016. Completing the front row was Polish rider Piotr Biesiekirski (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Euvic Racing Team), a career and country-first front row in third.

Sunday was a busy day for the Moto2 ECh, with both races disrupted by red flags. Race 1 first saw the red flag waved for Tommaso Marcon (MMR), after he collided with Roberto Garcia (SKX Cardoso Racing) going to Turn 1 on the first lap.

On the restart, Lukas Tulovic pulled away from Senna Agius (Promoracing), before the red flag was waved again during the 12-lap restart. This time, for a crash involving Piotr Biesiekirski (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Euvic Racing Team) and Xavi Cardelus (Promoracing).

The podium saw Tulovic take a first win by four-seconds ahead of Agius and a much more distant Alex Escrig (Yamaha Philippines Stylobike Racing Team), the latter two taking their first podiums in the class.

Race 2 saw a red flag in the early stages for a crash involving Sam Wilford (AGR Team), while on the restart, Tulovic again dominated, ahead of Agius and Mattia Rato (MMR), who was elated with a first podium in a tight finish with Alex Toledo (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Euvic Racing Team). In the Stock class, Alex Ruiz (FAU55 Tey Racing) took honours in both races.

Agius closed down the gap to Tulovic in race two, but was still 2.5-s off the leader, while Rato was a further 10-seconds in arrears.

Senna Agius – P2 (2-2)

“So happy to be on the podium for my first races with a Moto2 in this championship. A huge thanks to my team for all the efforts in helping me adapt to this bike so quickly. Still lots to improve on with myself but with this solid crew I’m looking forward to it. Onto Valencia next week!”

Moto2 ECh Race 1

Moto2 ECh Race 2

Moto2 ECh Standings

Hawkers European Talent Cup

It was Joel Esteban who took a dominant pole position in the ETC, his first in the class – his previous best being fifth on his debut at Estoril in 2021. Second on the grid was supposed to be Alberto Ferrandez (Finetwork Mir Junior Team), having finished top in Group B. However, a back of the grid penalty was given to the Spaniard for riding slowly in five sectors and in excess of the 114% limit of his fastest sectors.

Therefore, reigning Champion Maximo Martinez (Team Honda Laglisse) takes up second on the grid as he looks to kick off his title defence in fine style. The Spaniard, who will go from his fifth front row start of his career, heads off Gonzalo Perez (Finetwork Mir Junior Team), who takes a career-best third, far and away an improvement on his previous best starting position of 15th from 2021.

On Sunday the Hawkers European Talent Cup saw reigning Champion Maximo Martinez (Team Honda Laglisse) crash out of both races with spectacular highsides; thankfully he was OK.

Race 1 wasn’t short of drama as Alberto Ferrandez (Finetwork Mir Junior Team) tangled with Brian Uriarte (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) into Turn 1 with three to go, ending their races.

Out front, Joel Esteban was in a class of his own, breaking clear early on to take a first ever win by over 13 seconds ahead of teammate Dodo Boggio and Italian Guido Pini (AC Racing Team), both taking a first rostrum.

14-year-old Carter Thompson finished in eighth, chasing Pau Alsina, well ahead of the pack of six riders battling for ninth. New Zealand’s Cormac Buchanan was 16th.

Esteban again dominated in Race 2 while Casey O’Gorman (MLav VisionTrack Academy) crashed out of second after a fourth in the Race 1.

Esteban doubled up ahead of Malaysian Hakim Danish (SIC Racing) and Finnish star Rico Salmela (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) who both go first podiums; Salmela was promoted to the Race 2 rostrum after a late penalty for Pini, who exceeded track limits.

It was a rougher race two for Carter Thompson in 16th, while Cormac Buchanan was 20th.

Carter Thompson – P13 (8-16)

“First round HETC, left it a bit hard for myself with poor qualifying but happy with the end result for the weekend. Managed to push from P21 to P8 race 1, race 2 P22 to P16 and came away with points for my first race meet in Europe. Huge thanks goes to the whole AGR Team, it is great working with you and can’t wait to see what we can so in round 2 at Valencia.”

Cormac Buchanan – 16-20

“My European Talent Cup debut is complete. It’s been a gnarly weekend with some obstacles to overcome but I will be stronger for it. Positives:  Qualified for the races from a field of 52, progress in each race, advancing from my grid position of P26, just 0.1-sec off a PB in a hot race two, caught the group and had some strong battles, when things didn’t go our way, I never quit. Negatives: Already processed and locked away. We reset and prepare for the next one. You either win or you learn. Round two at Valencia now beckons and we will aim for greater improvement. When it all goes to plan, I know what I’m capable of and I remain focused on that. Thank you to everyone who supports me through the good, the bad and the ugly. And my incredible Kiwi crew – Squadra Mac Attack.”

HETC Race 1

HETC Race 2

HETC Standings