Gresini’s Fabio Di Giannantonio claimed his first ever Moto2 win in Jerez after dominating the SpanishGP from the first corner.

Late-race comebacks allowed Marco Bezzecchi and Sam Lowes to join the Italian on the emotional Andalucian podium as they bested the KTMs of Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez in the closing stages.

The Moto2 race disappointingly began without missing Brit Jake Dixon, after the Petronas rider was declared unfit and suffering with concussion following his turn seven crash in this morning’s incident-filled warm up session.

As the lights released the grid, it was championship-leader Gardner who launched from pole on his 100th Grand Prix start, Di Giannantonio, Bezzecchi and fellow KTM, Fernandez all hunting down the Australian into the first corner with Di Giannantonio getting the hole shot.

A blistering start from Augusto Fernandez saw the Marc VDS rider up to third with his namesake behind, Xavi Vierge and Lowes sitting fifth and sixth after Andalucian Marcos Ramirez clipped the back of the second VDS machine.

The second lap saw Di Giannantonio hold a half a second lead over Gardner with the two Fernandez’ behind, Lowes moved up to fifth as Vierge fell into the clutches of Bezzecchi with Ai Ogura, Ramirez and Joe Roberts completing the early top-10. The promising start was unfortunately short-lived for Augusto Fernandez as the Spaniard fell at turn six on lap three with Nicolò Bulega following suit into the gravel as his front end gave way moments later.

Lowes set the fastest lap of the race so far as he pushed to catch the leading group, from fourth - the KTM’s three-tenths ahead with the dominant Gresini over a second out in front. Somkiat Chantra and Hector Garzo the next to suffer crashes, with the Honda rider holding his wrist in the aftermath.

1.7s separated Di Giannantonio from Gardner as lap seven began, with a matter of tenths splitting Fernandez and Lowes behind while a rear end slide gave Bezzecchi the opportunity to strike on his old rival for fourth as the lap played out.

Further back and the Americans were both on strong pace, Roberts advancing to eighth while Cameron Beaubier claimed 12th, Aron Canet, Ramirez and Marcel Schrotter the riders in between them.

Fernandez made a move on his teammate as lap nine unfolded, the Spaniard stealing second, 2.5 down on the lead, as Bezzecchi and Lowes continued to bicker behind while simultaneously reeling in the struggling Australian. Two laps later and the Sky rider struck at Gardner to claim third as the principle group began to spread out, almost half a second now separating each of the chasing top-five riders.

A turn eight crash put paid to a disappointing weekend for Albert Arenas as the reigning Moto3 champion retired from the back of the standings with 11 laps to go.

A masterclass of consistency continued at the head of the field as Di Giannantonio set repeated 1’41.6 pace to maintain his dominant 2.5s lead, Simone Corsi suffering opposing fortunes with a massive turn 11 crash two laps later.

Seven to go and there was little change at the front as the rapid pace prevented the challengers from finding their way through, Bezzecchi the first to break the pattern as he finally got the better of the leading KTM, dispatching Fernandez for second after a twitch at the final corner allowed him a glimmer of hope.

The closing five saw Lowes hard on the wheels of the KTM duo, the Brit pushing past his Australian rival half way round the following lap with the rookie, and the podium, now firmly in his sights. The three-rider-battler continued as the race wound up before a turn two move saw Lowes through, Gardner following as he bested his teammate with the Australian pushing to stay on the back of the Marc VDS machine.

The final lap saw Lowes fighting hard to break the tow as he reeled in Bezzecchi ahead, the gap too much to overcome with the time remaining, as late-race heartbreak befell Beaubier in the final seconds as he crashed out at turn nine fighting for top-10 contention.

Di Giannantonio secured his first victory in Moto2 by 1.7s at the flag, having reduced the gap from an impressive there-seconds in the final lap, as Bezzecchi and Lowes shared the podium celebrations. Gardner maintaining his championship lead by a mere three points thank to his fourth place finish. Fernandez led Vierge across the line with Ogura, Roberts, Canet and Schrotter concluding the top-10. Ramirez claimed 11th at his home race from Jorge Navarro, Stefano Manzi and Lorenzo Baldassarri with Bo Bendsneyder collecting the final point in 15th. Lorenzo Dalla Porta, Hafizh Syahrin, Celestino Vietti, Tom Luthi, Yari Montella, Tony Arbolino, Taiga Hada and Tommaso Marcon completed the field.