The Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider moves to fifth place in the championship standings with rookie teammate Joan Mir coming home in sixth.

It was a hot and exhausting race for Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS riders Alex Marquez and Joan Mir under clear and sunny skies at the MotorLand circuit for round 14 of the Moto2 World Championship

Alex Marquez was primed for a strong race in front of home fans after being fourth in the warm-up for the 21 lap race. With a fast start from the second row of the grid Marquez was immediately second on the opening lap before taking the lead on lap two. For the next 13 laps Marquez engaged Brad Binder in a thrilling battle for the lead but went back to second on lap 15. Then with fading grip over the final two laps Marquez eventually slipped back to fourth fourth at the finish and is now fifth in the standings with 126 points.

Joan Mir had set the 11th fastest time in the warm-up but was in a tenacious mood for his 50th career grand prix start. From position 15 on the grid Mir charged to ninth at the end of lap one and settled into a fast pace with another series of clever overtakes to secure sixth place on lap six. Despite rear brake problems Mir consolidated this sixth position to hold off a late charge from Miguel Oliveira and is now sixth the standings with 124 points.

The next Moto2 World Championship race will be held from October 5 to 7 at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand.

Alex Marquez: 4th, +2.396

“I gave 110% for the whole race”

“The early laps of the race were complicated because I wanted the victory too much. At this long track if you take the slipstream you can save your tyres and I pushed too much in the beginning, that was the problem. But I’m satisfied because I gave 110% for the whole race although it is a pity to miss the podium and the victory.”

Joan Mir: 6th, +6.205

“This result saved my weekend after a poor qualifying”

“I am quite happy with my race because this result saved my weekend after my poor qualifying. It was shame that I lost my rear brake after some laps and lost time because I was catching the front group so I think I could have been closer to the top guys. We need to understand what happened to the rear brake and look to the next race.”