Despite recording his best Qualifying result to date Lorenzo once again missed a clear run through the awkward first turn at Kegums to start outside the top twenty but a succession of resolute passing moves saw him advance to eighth by the end of the race. Finally getting through turn one unscathed in turn two the Venezuelan was highly optimistic of a really good result but a single error as he hit the rollers on the first full lap launched him over the bars. Battered and bruised but with his determination undeterred he rejoined the race a minute behind the pack and determinedly advanced to nineteenth by the finish.
 
Lorenzo Locurcio: “Actually it was a pretty positive day apart from the first lap of race two. My qualifying was much better in tenth so that gives me confidence for the future. I got a really bad start in the first race but I could move through the pack to eighth, and in race two I finally got a good start. I think I was sixth and it was shaping up to be a really good race for me but I just got a spot wrong in the rollers and went over the bars; I looked back quickly and saw I could get to safety off the side of the track so at least I didn’t get run over. I was dead last and my lap times were OK to get to nineteenth but I was just in too much discomfort to push even harder. So now it’s time to go home and work on the weaknesses. I know I have the speed to be battling for podiums; I just need to get through those first laps.“
 
Pierre Goupillon, who dislocated a hip at the last round on Tuesday, was inevitably a non-starter but he was attending the race to support his team mate and could be back training in three weeks time.