- Casey O’Gorman, second, and Rico Salmela, third, completed a strong performance in the only JuniorGP™ race.
- Facundo Llambías achieved his first Moto2™ podium with a second place finish after a spectacular comeback.
- Mateo Marulanda improved in the first round of the European Talent Cup, finishing ninth.
- “The balance is very positive. It was a difficult weekend, but we improved and achieved great results. Moments like Sunday’s motivate us even more to keep pushing,” explains Jaime Serrano, CEO of the team.
Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 cruised through the third round of the FIM JuniorGP™, held at the Nevers Magny-Cours circuit (France), with three team riders taking podium finishes. The French track, a new addition to the championship, had a wet opening day, but this didn’t stop the TEG00 riders from scoring valuable results in the various categories, on a sad weekend due to the loss of Murcia-born rider Borja Gómez.
The only JuniorGP™ race was held in heavy rain from the start, and Casey O’Gorman and Rico Salmela thrived in this scenario. From eighth place on the start list, the Irishman gradually climbed to second, while the Finn was in third place when the race was red-flagged with two laps remaining.
His teammates, Dodo Boggio and Pau Alsina, finished 13th and 14th, respectively. Salmela, who achieved his fourth podium finish in four races, consolidated his second position with 68 points, while O’Gorman moved up to fourth with 40. Alsina is 13th with 15 points, and Boggio is 20th with 4.
Facundo Llambías also excelled in the wet race conditions, staging a spectacular comeback from the start in the second heat that allowed him to move from 15th to second, securing his first podium finish in Moto2™. He had previously finished 11th in the first race. With this podium finish, Llambías climbed to eighth place overall with 32 points.
In the European Talent Cup, Colombian rider Mateo Marulanda had an outstanding first race, improving as the laps progressed and finishing in 9th place with a very fast final stretch. In the second race, also shortened in laps due to the rainy conditions, he was unlucky and crashed early in the race. With this top-10 finish, Marulanda is 13th in the overall standings with 26 points. French rider Nolann Macary made his debut in the category as a wild card rider , leaving a good impression. Unfortunately, he failed to qualify for Sunday’s races, as did his teammate Oliver Cantos.
“Our assessment of Magny-Cours is very positive. It was a difficult weekend, but we improved and achieved great results. Facundo Llambías’s comeback and podium, in his debut year in the category, are very valuable. And Rico Salmela and Casey O’Gorman’s are the reward for a great weekend. Moments like Sunday’s motivate us even more to keep pushing and maintain the hard work of the entire team,” explains Jaime Serrano , CEO of the team.
The riders’ ability to adapt to the circumstances is one of the points most valued by Max Moro , Team Leader Project: “Sunday’s rain made everything difficult, but our riders proved they could overcome the obstacles. The team is very happy with Llambías’ first Moto2™ podium, the sensational podiums of Salmela and O’Gorman, and Boggio’s efforts with his new team. Also happy with Alsina, who did an impeccable job, going from strength to strength. Marulanda worked extremely hard throughout the weekend and, although luck wasn’t on his side at key moments, he showed he can compete head-to-head with the fastest.”
The demanding challenge of Magny-Cours, marked by difficult weather conditions and resulting in a positive outcome, reinforces the team’s confidence ahead of the next round of the championship, scheduled for July 27 at MotorLand Aragón. JuniorGP™ and Moto2™ riders will compete in two rounds, while the ETC will compete in one.
