GARDNER ON PODIUM IN FRANCE

Aussie Remy Gardner recovered strongly after being nearly knocked off his bike on the opening lap to finish in second in the Moto2 race at Le Mans.

His KTM Ajo teammate Raul Fernandez took the race victory and closed to within one point of Gardner at the head of the championship.

Starting from seventh Gardner made a strong start however he found himself on the receiving end of a knock from Xavi Vierge at Turn 4 on the opening lap which shuffled Gardner down to 10th place.

Gardner knew he had a strong race pace and was not rattled by the collision, he methodically made his way through the top 10 as he saw many of his title rivals fall down the road.

Former championship leader Sam Lowes crashed at Turn 8 taking out Vierge in the process, while Joe Roberts and Aron Canet crashed out early also.

All this allowed Gardner to move his way up to fourth position by the end of lap five and on the tail of Dutchman Bo Bendsneyder.

For lap after lap Gardner sat behind the Dutchman unable to find a way past, however his persistence paid off taking the place on lap 16 and quickly caught up to the rear of Marco Bezzecchi.

On lap 19 of 25 the Italian ran wide at Turn 8 and allowed Gardner into second place.

Gardner started to cut into his teammate’s lead out front, however the Spaniard had it covered and recorded his second victory. Gardner came home just 1.49s shy of victory, with Bezzecchi third.

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