Valencia thrills to the 2nd round of the FIM CEV

The second round of the FIM CEV Repsol this weekend at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia did not disappoint and provided some thrilling racing. Yuki Kunii (Asia Talent Team) and Ryusei Yamanaka (Junior Team Estrella Galicia 0.0) shared the victories in the FIM Moto3™ Junior World Championship.

Yuki Kunii took an almost unopposed victory in the first Moto3™ race. The Asia Talent Team rider started from the pole but was overtaken from the lights by Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo). The poleman retook first place in the early stages, while behind came a group of riders with Stefano Nepa (Fundación Andreas Perez 77), Jeremy Alcoba (Laglisse Academy), Daniel Holgado (Junior Team Estrella Galicia 0.0), Ryusei Yamanaka and Xavier Artigas (Leopard Impala Junior Team).

With five laps to go and holding on to second place, Öncü was forced to retire due to mechanical problems leaving Kunii to take his second victory in the FIM CEV Repsol. Alcoba passed Davide Pizzoli (Leopard Impala Junior Team) on the last corner to take second after joining the chasing group in a great comeback. The Repsol free fuel cheque went to Kunii as the winner of the race.

In the second Moto3™ race of the day, Ryusei Yamanaka earned his first victory in the FIM CEV Repsol after pulling clear with Kunii; Öncü, who was briefly part of the leading trio, fell on the second lap. Behind Kunii and Yamanaka came a group of riders formed by Alcoba, Artigas, Holgado, Stefano Nepa (Andreas Pérez 77 Foundation), Aleix Viu (Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team) and Barry Baltus (Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team).

Kunii led for much of the race, but on the last corner Yamanaka passed him to take the flag, with Holgado finishing third ahead of Artigas, Viu and the other members of the group. Yamanaka took the Repsol free fuel cheque as race winner. Kunii is the new leader of the category by a single point over Artigas; third is Baltus tied on points with Alcoba, only four behind the leader.

The next round of the FIM CEV Repsol will take place at the Le Mans circuit on May 18, coinciding with the Shark Helmets Grand Prix de France, where only the Moto3™ race will be held. The fourth round of the FIM CEV Repsol on June 9 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will return to its usual race format.
The full races can be seen again here.

FIM CEV Repsol