After the previous Moto3 race had been driven in damp but dry conditions, the Le Mans track was so dry that the 25-lap Moto2 competition was declared dry.
Marco Bezzecchi jumped Poleman Fernandez off the line in the first corners, while Joe Roberts finished third on the Italtrans Kalex.
Aron Canet relegated Roberts to third place in the Musee hairpin, although the Aspar driver’s race ended just moments later at the Chemin aux Boeufs esses.
Bezzecchi was able to pull out a lead of over seven tenths on his VR46 Kalex straight away, Roberts drove ahead of Fernandez on the fourth lap to track down the Italian in front.
However, Roberts crashed on lap five at Chemin aux Boeufs while Fernandez nailed his run through the chicane to get a pass to take the lead on Bezzecchi at the Blue esses.
Behind them, World Championship leader Remy Gardner on the sister Ajo KTM survived contact in the first lap and steadily worked his way up to the championship.
Gardner’s contact was with Petronas Sprinta’s Xavi Vierge, who was wiped out on lap five by title protagonist Lowes in the Garage Vert double-apex right-hander.
Fernandez’s lead stayed around the 1-second mark for much of the middle part of the race, although teammate Gardner put pressure on a little later when he was in second place.
Gardner’s route to second place was handed to him on a plate when Bezzecchi ran far in Garage Vert on lap 19.
Despite the attention of his teammate, Fernandez reacted strongly in the final laps to rebuild his lead of almost two seconds.
Fernandez wouldn’t come under pressure on the final lap on his way to the checkered flag to take his second win of his rookie Moto2 season.
Gardner’s lead is at one point after crossing the finish line in second, while Bezzecchi held onto third despite late grip problems.
The intact GP rookie Tony Arbolino fought his way up from 19th place and took fourth place of the season ahead of Bo Bendsneyder from SAG Racing, while Marcel Schrotter on the other Intact Kalex took the top after a late fall for Cameron Beuabier from American Racing Six completed.
Honda Team Asia’s Ai Ogura continued his impressive rookie run as the Japanese led his Kalex to seventh place ahead of Jerez winner Fabio Di Giannantonio – the Gresini rider had to hit one on lap seven after contact with Pons’ Hector Garzo serve a long penalty loop.
Simone Corsi got his best result of the season with ninth place on the MV Agusta, Jorge Navarro completed the top 10 on his speed-up machine.