Bagger Race 2 in Aragon: Iannone on top again – World Cup heating up!

MotoGP Sunday in Aragon kicked off with the second round of the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup. The start of the race – which, with just ten riders, had an extremely small field – was scheduled for 8.55 am, but was postponed shortly before the start of the formation lap. Organisers blamed the track conditions for the delay. Loris Capirossi inspected the circuit in the safety car and gave the go-ahead.

The Baggers were able to start the formation lap shortly after 9.00 am. On Saturday, former MotoGP works rider Andrea Iannone of the Niti Racing Team had come out on top. Eric Granado, who started the race as championship leader, crashed on lap 2 on a dusty section of the track and subsequently had to be examined at the medical centre. Archie McDonald and Oscar Gutierrez overtook him in the overall standings. The good news was that Granado was able to compete again on Sunday.

Iannone in the lead, Gutierrez crashes out

Oscar Gutierrez, Andrea Iannone and Eric Granado made up the front row of the grid. Gutierrez won the sprint to the first corner, but Iannone accelerated better out of the first corner and took the lead. An exciting duel developed at the front between Iannone and Gutierrez, which came to an end as early as lap 2. Gutierrez went over the limit in Turn 12 and crashed.

Following Gutierrez’s crash, a leading group of four riders formed, led by Iannone. Behind them, Eric Granado, Archie McDonald and Jordi Torres battled it out. Iannone set a string of fastest race laps and pulled further and further away from his pursuers with every lap.

Excitement ahead of the World Cup final in Austria

In the closing stages, Iannone didn’t put a foot wrong, even as Granado turned up the pressure once more. After eight race laps, Iannone crossed the finish line as the winner. Granado and McDonald completed the podium.

Fourth place went to Jordi Torres. Maxwell Toth rounded off the top five on Sunday. They were followed by Filippo Rovelli, Jake Lewis, Travis Wyman and Dimas Ekky Pratama.

At the season finale at the Red Bull Ring in mid-September, four riders still have a chance of winning the championship. Aragon winner Iannone also retains a theoretical chance of claiming the title in the inaugural season of the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup.