AUSTRIAN GP

Torres keeps his advantage despite a difficult weekend

The Openbank Aspar Team rider gets through a difficult weekend for him and keeps a 15-point lead in the overall standings

 

Mattia Casadei has taken a double victory in Austria that allows him to fight for the World Championship. The Italian has achieved his third win in a row and is now second in the overall standings, 15 points behind Openbank Aspar Team rider Jordi Torres. In the first race, the Italian has been relegated to third place, but after overtaking Eric Granado and taking advantage of Matteo Ferrari's crash, he has crossed the finish line with a gap of more than a second over his pursuers. In the afternoon, Casadei has moved up to the lead at the start of the race and has not let go of it until the chequered flag. Despite Ferrari's effort to overtake him in the final part, Casadei pockets 50 points before leaving the Red Bull Ring. Kevin Zannoni has finished on the podium in both races. The Italian has had a special weekend in Austria after taking his first pole position and making his debut on the podium.

Openbank Aspar Team rider Jordi Torres has managed to keep the MotoE lead despite not having his best weekend. In the first race he has finished fifth after riding in the second group. The Spanish has had a battle with Okubo that has stopped his progression and has ended with the Japanese crashing. At this moment, Torres was in sixth position. However, the crash of his title rival Matteo Ferrari on the last lap, when he was leading the race, has made that the Openbank Aspar Team rider finish in the top 5. In the afternoon, Torres has tried to reach the front group, but aware that his position was enough to keep him in the lead, he has decided not to take any risks and has crossed the finish line in sixth position. Torres now faces the last two Grands Prix with confidence and on circuits that are more favourable to him. There are still 100 points at stake, but Torres feels strong enough to hold on to the top spot.

His Openbank Aspar teammate, María Herrera, has scored another point in the overall standings after finishing fifteenth in the morning race. The Spanish, who has ended up seventeenth in the afternoon, will try to take the step forward that she is looking for in Cataluña.

 

Jordi Torres (5th / 6th): “It has not been an easy weekend. We knew we were going to struggle, especially because of my size. Maybe we have focused too much on getting a good set-up for the corners where it was difficult for me. I have tried to overtake as much as possible and we have saved the situation. In the end we have achieved a fifth and sixth position that allows us to leave Austria as leaders.”

María Herrera (15th / 17th): “In the second race I knew where I had to improve. I couldn't ride in the dry in the qualifying and I have arrived at the first race with not enough information. We haven't managed to keep a consistent pace to stay in the group yet. I want to thank the team for the way they are helping me.”