Compétition

Gasparovics wins the DD2 Masters Final ahead of Louveau

Poleman Paul Louveau (FRA) finished the first lap of the DD2 Masters Final in the lead ahead of Martynas Tankevicius (LTU), Kristaps Gasparovics (LVA) and Fernando Guzzi (BRA). Vivien Cussac-Picot (FRA) was already back in the top five. Tankevicius and Gasparovics immediately put pressure on Louveau who had to protect his back. Tankevicius tried to overtake without thinking. He lost seven places, but Louveau was now 2nd behind Gasparovics with Guzzi in his wake. Cussac-Picot was back in 4th place in the fight, but a spin sent him back to the back of the pack. At half-distance Gasparovics was 8 tenths ahead of the slightly faster Louveau. Guzzi was 3rd, Claudio Pagliarani (ITA) was 4th ahead of Troy Bretherton (AUS). Joao Cunha (BRA) had caught Derek Wang (USA) and both retired. In the lead, Gasparovics responded to the fast laps by Louveau and the gap did not change much in favour of the Frenchman. Charles Seguin (FRA) had a solid race in 12th position (+4 pl). Pagliarani overtook Guzzi for 3rd position, a second behind Louveau. With two laps to go, the positions did not seem likely to change in the top three. Gasparovics won 7 tenths ahead of Louveau who had seen his deserved victory slip away because of Tankevicius’ impetuosity. Pagliarani finished 3rd after a magnificent 10-place comeback. Guzzi and Bretherton completed the top five. Seguin was 12th and Cussac-Picot 29th.