Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Huqsvarna Intact GP) is back on the top step!
The Dutchman put in a perfect final lap to hold off David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) at the Gran Premio Estrella Galicia 0,0 de España, taking his second Grand Prix win in style. Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) completed the podium on home turf, with a shock early crash – rider ok and remounting – for polesitter David Alonso (CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team).
Muñoz got the start and then banged bars with Alonso, pushing the number 80 down to second. But the Colombian hit back later that on Lap 1 before he and Muñoz started to make a small gap, but the dream was over by the end of the very first. The number 80 slid off at the final corner, rider ok and able to rejoin but the freight train of riders disappearing into the distance. The race was on.
That had left Muñoz in the lead, but Veijer soon attacked and made his way through. Veijer, Muñoz, Ortola, Joel Esteban (CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team), Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) and Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) were the leading group of six in the early stages as Dani Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) tried to move his way through the second group on his fight back from P18 on the grid.
On Alonso watch, the fight back was also on. The Colombian was on the move and by eight laps to go was homing in on the points. By five to go, he was well within them in P12, trying to make up the gap to the next group. But it was some distance up the road.
Meanwhile, the fight at the front was now a four-rider group, with Esteban and Kelso fading slightly into their own private duel for fifth. Veijer led Muñoz led Ortola led Yamanaka, before another few laps later it became a trio as Yamanaka also started to lose ground. Three riders, three places on the podium, and one win. It was going to the wire.
Onto the final lap, Veijer led Muñoz, with Ortola at a few bike lengths. The fight for victory seemed set to be a duel. The #64 looming but the Dutchman held strong – and his unbelievable pace through the fast final right handers was enough to avoid getting attacked into the final corner. It all went down to the drag to the line as Muñoz tucked in behind the #95, but Veijer kept the edge to take his second Grand Prix win 0.045. Ortola was forced to settle for third, not quite able to get back in that battle.
Yamanaka takes what became a lonely fourth place to equal his best GP result so far, just like COTA. Kelso came out on top in what became a big group fight just behind, the Australian heading Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), Championship leader Holgado, Nicola Carraro (LEVELUP – MTA and Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA) after last corner heartbreak for rookie Esteban as he crashed out unaided.
Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) completed the top ten, with Alonso’s comeback seeing him make it up to P11. With Holgado taking P7, that puts the Colombian six points off the Spaniard’s lead, with Veijer moving into third overall – 22 points off Alonso. Can he make up more ground at Le Mans? Tune in in two weeks to find out!
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