The Estrella Galicia 0,0 team took strong results at the French Grand Prix this Sunday, which featured two starts due to an early accident involving a large section of the grid. Aron Canet and Enea Bastianini placed second and sixth, respectively, in a contest reduced from 24 to 16 laps.
Canet and Bastianini had both been caught up in the initial accident -the result of oil spilt on the track- but were able to take the restart. Canet managed to slot into the Top 10 and searched for a podium place as part of the group. The two riders at the front were his next target, and a crash for Romano Fenati made second place more obtainable. His rostrum spot was not assured, however, and he had to defend second until the final corner. The runner-up spot follows his first podium of the season, which he took with victory a fortnight ago at Jerez. It is his third career Top 3 finish. Canet moves up from fifth to third in the overall standings, behind Joan Mir and Fenati.
Thanks to the quick reaction of his crew, Bastianini was also able to take the second start -despite serious damage to his bike in the crash. He made a great start that put him in fifth position. The Italian continued to fight for the podium, as the group increased throughout the race. When he made a push for the frontrunners two laps from the end, a scare when accelerating out of a corner ended his chances of a rostrum spot. Bastianini eventually placed sixth, and demonstrated the progression he has made since the start of the season.
EMILIO ALZAMORA – Team Principal “It was a very hotly-contested race, with many riders close together”
“It was a very tough race, due to the crash on the second lap. Fortunately, the riders were unhurt and were able to quickly return to the pits. Thanks to the fast work by the mechanics, they were also able to get back out on track.
Aron had a great race and continues to demonstrate his maturity; He is a rider who knows how to be calm at critical moments, and that allowed him to come away with an excellent second position. It was a very hotly-contested race, with many riders close together. We are very satisfied because, after the victory at Jerez, a second place in Le Mans consolidates his progression.
As for Enea Bastianini, it was a shame about the scare at the end of the race, as he was also in a podium position and that prevented him from completing the job. We are equally satisfied with him because he is getting closer all the time, and he has shown us that he is determined to improve. We are sure he will be fighting for the podium on a regular basis.”
ENEA BASTIANINI – P6
“My good feeling allowed me to attack”
“The first start was good, but then we were involved in the multiple-rider crash. All of my crew worked to get my bike ready again and I was able to take part in the second race, in which I did well again -but the feeling was different. Once [Joan] Mir passed me, I got comfortable and I decided to push harder to make contact with the group. My good feeling allowed me to attack. A few laps from the end I forced things a little and I lost the rear wheel slightly, but I was able to save the crash. I pushed very hard on the last lap, but I could not reach the group of riders behind Mir again. It was a bit of an unfortunate race, but the important thing is that we already know the points at which we are strong and where we need to improve.”
ARÓN CANET – P2
“I knew I had to close off the gaps”
“There was a big crash after the start because of an oil spill, and I was also affected by it. After that I tried to stay calm, since I always try to be a calm rider in such situations. On the second start I tried to ride with the front group, who had established a small gap, but it was hard to reach the front. I was rather far back, but I recovered ground and on the last lap I was up into third. A crash for another rider gave me second place. I didn’t want to be first in that group because there was a good chance of losing my position, but I knew I had to close off the gaps. This podium feels like a win, because I love this circuit- We hope that, working in this way, many more podiums will come.”
