Argentina Moto2: Baldassarri scores back-to-back wins

SAG rider Gardner, son of 1987 500cc champion Wayne, led for much of the race after passing Marcel Schrotter (Intact GP) to grab the early advantage on lap two of 23.

After resisting a challenge from Schrotter on lap six, Gardner also saw off Alex Marquez on lap 11, repassing the Marc VDS rider at Turn 7 after relinquishing the lead at Turn 5.

Schrotter then passed Gardner on lap 12 to enjoy a spell out front, but was demoted again by the Australian rider at Turn 5 four laps later.

Shortly after, Baldassarri, having picked off Marquez, moved clear of Schrotter for second, and then caught up to the back wheel of Gardner.

On lap 20, the decisive move of the race came at Turn 5, as Baldassarri gently nudged Gardner out of the way at Turn 5 to grab a lead he wouldn't lose.

The Pons rider crossed the line 1.244 seconds clear to register his fourth grand prix win.

Gardner ran wide and dropped to third behind Schrotter, but managed to grab the position back before the German slipped down the order, scoring his first-ever podium.

Marquez completed the top three ahead of Iker Lecuona (American Racing), who beat Brad Binder (Ajo) to top KTM honours.

Schrotter ended up sixth after his late slump, ahead of Luca Marini (Sky Racing VR46), who lost out on the last lap running wide at Turn 7 while scrapping with Binder.

Jorge Navarro (Speed Up) and a pair of rookies, Enea Bastianini (Italtrans) and Somkiat Chantra (Team Asia), completed the top 10.

Qatar runner-up Tom Luthi (Intact) was an early retirement as he crashed after tagging Binder's rear wheel during the early exchanges.

Sam Lowes (Gresini) crashed unaided on the same lap, while reigning Moto3 champion Jorge Martin (Ajo) and both MV Agusta riders, Stefano Manzi and Dominique Aegerter, also fell.

Poleman Xavi Vierge (Marc VDS) didn't even make the start of the race as his bike shut down on the warm-up lap.

Baldassarri now holds a 17-point lead over Gardner, while Schrotter lies third, 23 points down.

UPDATE: Binder was given a one-position penalty for "riding in an irresponsible manner", the South African making contact with Schrotter at Turn 3.

He dropped down to sixth as a result, with Schrotter gaining a position.

Race results:

Pos.	#	Rider	Bike	Time/Gap
1	7	Lorenzo Baldassarri	Kalex	23 laps
2	87	Remy Gardner	Kalex	1.244
3	73	Alex Marquez	Kalex	1.817
4	27	Iker Lecuona	KTM	2.704
5	23	Marcel Schrotter	Kalex	4.839
6	41	Brad Binder	KTM	4.707
7	10	Luca Marini	Kalex	4.986
8	9	Jorge Navarro	Speed Up	7.459
9	33	Enea Bastianini	Kalex	8.724
10	35	Somkiat Chantra	Kalex	14.506
11	5	Andrea Locatelli	Kalex	16.145
12	45	Tetsuta Nagashima	Kalex	16.450
13	89	Khairul Idham Pawi	Kalex	16.613
14	64	Bo Bendsneyder	NTS	23.007
15	2	Jesko Raffin	NTS	24.736
16	72	Marco Bezzecchi	KTM	25.381
17	96	Jake Dixon	KTM	41.684
18	3	Lukas Tulovic	KTM	45.545
19	65	Philipp Ottl	KTM	45.811
20	77	Dominique Aegerter	MV	56.934
21	18	Xavi Cardelus	KTM	1'07.765
22	16	Joe Roberts	KTM	1'18.707
23	20	Dimas Ekky Pratama	Kalex	4 laps
Ret	24	Simone Corsi	Kalex	2 laps
Ret	88	Jorge Martin	KTM	5 laps
Ret	11	Nicolo Bulega	Kalex	5 laps
Ret	21	Fabio Di Giannantonio	Speed Up	11 laps
Ret	22	Sam Lowes	Kalex	18 laps
Ret	12	Thomas Luthi	Kalex	18 laps
Ret	62	Stefano Manzi	MV	22 laps
DNS	97	Xavi Vierge	Kalex	23 laps