The win was a bridge too far for Collin Veijer. But the Moto2 driver from Staphorst delivered a regal performance on the Jerez circuit with a third place.
Translating pole position into a top ranking, that is the trick. Especially in the Moto2 class, where the differences between the top riders and the worriers are small, in the entire field there is a battle for every meter.
Veijer was able to convert his flourishing position – the first Dutchman with pole position at this level since Wilco Zeelenberg in 1991 – thanks to a strong start. Early in the 21-lap race, the KTM Ajo rider from Staphorst distanced himself from Senna Agius and Manuel Gonzalez, two teammates at Intact-Kalex.
Halfway through the race, the trio had opened a five-second gap.
Veijer was occasionally passed by his rivals in the first part of the race, but he always hit back hard in the next corner on the narrow circuit, where overtaking was difficult. The Australian Agius turned out to be the most difficult customer to shake off.
In the fourteenth lap, Veijer lost first place within two corners and was left with third place. Agius, winner of the previous race in Austin, shook off his teammate and decisively took the victory.
Veijer did not get the chance to surprise the two competitors again, more than clinging was not possible. Third place was not in danger despite a catch-up race by David Alonso.
Veijer climbed to ninth place in the World Cup standings and showed himself to be realistic in his first reaction. “I tried to follow the pace of the fastest men, but that was all I could do. In the last laps I had enormous forearm problems, I could hardly brake. But after the race in Austin, which yielded nothing, this is a wonderful result.”
