Sam Lowes stormed to a stunning victory in the opening Moto2 race of 2021, crossing the line 2.2 seconds clear of the next best rider, Remy Gardner.

A last lap battle with Marco Bezzecchi saw Fabio Di Giannantonio claim the final podium position with a dramatic photo-finish in an emotional tribute to Fausto Gresini, while Jake Dixon dug deep to bring his Petronas home in seventh.

Over 20kph winds threatened the riders ahead of the Moto2 race as race-favourite Lowes lined up in pole but as the race fired up it was Bezzecchi who claimed the lead. Lowes sat second as Bo Bendsneyder held on to his grid position, with Raul Fernandez relegated to fourth ahead of Dixon, Di Giannantonio and Gardner. Last year’s pole-sitter Joe Roberts behind in eighth.

Fernandez wasn’t settling for crumbs, however, as the KTM immediately made his move for third, the leading pair already attempting to break the pack as they charged ahead. Marco Ramirez choosing to retire thanks to the effects of Saturday’s dramatic crash.

Lowes took his chance at the front as the fourth lap began, Bezzecchi attempting a look at the Marc VDS machine before settling in behind as Lowes quickly pulled an almost half a second gap in a matter of a few corners. With the Italian occupied with the bike in front, Fernandez made an unexpected move on the VR46 rider to take second, the rookie seeming to have his sights set on the lead as his pace ramped up further.

The next few laps saw Dixon locked firmly in a battle with Gardner for fourth, Bendsneyder and Roberts following closely behind the bickering pair as Di Giannantonio, Jorge Navarro and Somkiat Chantra rounded out the top-10.

Lowes was running mid ’59’s as he continued to carve a gap out front as Gardner concentrated his efforts on Bezzecchi with 14 laps to go, having recently dispatched Dixon to fifth. The timing screens firing up in red as the top riders continued to increase the pace.

Further back, Cameron Beaubier was making his way through the group on his debut on the world stage, sitting on the edge of the points positions, in 16th, by lap nine, having started 22nd. Lorenzo Baldassarri becoming the first faller of the intermediate class’ 2021 campaign.

The start of lap 10 saw Roberts take Dixon for fifth as the Brit’s battle against his recovering wrist looked to be fading, Di Giannantonio doing likewise half a lap later.

Back at the front and Lowes was now being trailed by two KTM’s with Gardner outmanoeuvring Fernandez for second - 1.5 seconds behind the Brit - Bezzecchi fighting the rapidly advancing Di Giannantonio in fourth as Hector Garzo became the next to fall.

Eight laps to go and Lowes continued to push the pace, over a second now separating each of the top-four riders as Dixon seemed to be regrouping. The Petronas rider set his best lap of the race so far on the 13th lap, as he looked to reel in Roberts once again, while teammate Xavi Vierge crashed out at turn 10 two laps later ,after making contact with Aron Canet.

Four laps to go and Lowes was still setting red sectors, two-seconds now the gap to the rest of the field. Beaubier was also making waves as he climbed his way up the points, the American sitting 13th and hard on the wheels of Tom Luthi.

Bezzecchi was back in the fight as the last three laps got underway, making a move on the rookie as they crossed the line, with the Gresini rider following suit shortly after as he aimed to honour the recent loss of his team legend in the best way possible.

The final lap began with Lowes dominantly ahead of the trailing Australian, 2.2s the gap as Gardner settled for second. The battle for third, however, was heating up further as Di Giannantonio looked for any opportunity to better his countryman, the attack eventually coming at turn nine with the Italian just holding on to claim the final podium from Bezzecchi with a photo-finish.

An impressive debut showing for Fernandez saw the KTM rider finish fifth from Roberts and an extremely determined Dixon, with Marcel Schrotter, Bendsneyder and Navarro concluding the top-10. Another stellar rookie performance saw Beaubier take 11th at the flag with Celestino Vietti, Aron Canet, Augusto Fernandez and Luthi claiming the final points on offer. Tony Arbolino, Ogura, Lorenzo Dalla Porta, Stefano Manzi, Yari Montella, Arenas and Nicolò Bulega completed the finishers with six riders retiring from the race.