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Cycle News 2021 Issue 36 September 8

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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VOLUME 58 ISSUE 36 SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 P33 and won, for a few hours at least. Rea set a new lap record, of 1:36.374 to boot. Behind the leading two, Lowes made up for his race-one fall with his first podium since Donington. Best 2021 rookie Locatelli was fourth this time. Fifth was Scott Redding, who had a nightmare race one after falling in the midfield and re- mounting for 12th place. Lowes was in a fighting mood for race two and passed Razgatlioglu to lead in the first frantic lap, but he was to fall on lap two as Razgatlioglu and Rea took the lead and ran away from the rest. Rea then hit the lead himself on lap four, as he tried to stay with the Turkish rider in a long race, not just the sprint. But then, three wins was not to be, just after the top riders had completed their race-two final press conferences. KRT had made a complaint about Razgatlioglu touching the green paint on the final lap, which means that the rider must lose one place. So Razgatlioglu, it was soon confirmed, was now second in the Superpole race, that was finished before lunchtime. The stewards either did not notice at the time or did not think it a transgression (although both Razgatlioglu and Locatelli were pe- nalized at Assen for just this very thing in the final chicane in July). So, KRT flagged it up themselves. There was no shortage of ag- grieved Yamaha staff members to call out what had happened and claim bad sportsmanship. It was a bitter and messy way to end a great day, but the rules are clear, if also wrong in most people's eyes. But, it did set the Twittersphere ablaze like an Au- rora Borealis as everybody gave their opinions. Razgatlioglu was clear about what happened, even after losing his 13-point championship lead to Rea, and leaving with a much reduced seven-point margin. "For me, an incredible weekend, because this was my dream—to make three wins together in one weekend, and I am really happy," he said. "Okay, somebody else decided we did not win the Su- perpole race but for me, I won the race and I enjoy this fight a lot." Rea did not comment after- wards, but he already knew he was beaten on track three times, and actually heaped praise on Razgatlioglu for his pace and consistency. The controversy did not wipe out the fact that the racing was great at Magny, all through the field. Locatelli's race-two fourth- place consolidated him into fourth in the championship points. As far as American Garrett Ger- loff, the GRT Yamaha rider had a quiet weekend. "The morning be- gan in a really positive way on Sat- urday," he said, "it was nice to be inside the top-three and the bike felt good. It was unfortunate that I couldn't replicate it in the Super- pole, it was just a bit too difficult to extract the full potential of the qualifying tire like I had done with the race tire. In the race, I had an okay start. I found myself in a big group with many other fast riders and did my best to stay with them and make some overtakes, but in the end all my efforts were in vain. I just had a difficult time out there Defending champ Jonathan Rea (1) didn't quite have the pace as Razgatlioglu. He now trails the Yamaha rider by seven points.

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