Zarco makes it 6 Backflips this season, with Victory in Misano

The Intermediate class didn’t have its favourite Italian racing this weekend, as Mr Franco Morbidelli is still injured. However, Simone Corsi, a man you could say is a veteran in Moto2, found himself in second place behind Johann Zarco after seven laps of racing. This was because the front two of Dominique Aegerter and Alex Rins crashed out after Rins tried passing the Swiss, but instead took them both out. Both riders were ok, and remounted, although Aegerter was forced to retire due to his exhaust being disconnected. 

Zarco was again out in front, and behind him Tito Rabat was carving his way through the field, and finished in second place, meaning he’s now ahead of Rins in the standings. Nakagami took a well deserved 3rd place, his first podium in a long, long time! Zarco’s sixth win of the season meant it was also his sixth backflip of the season…

Enea Bastianini stormed to pole position in front of a crowd that couldn’t be more home based, as the man who is second in the standings comes from Rimini…a small 5 miles away. As always in the lightweight class of Moto3, as long as you start in the top 10, get a good start, you’ve a chance of staying with the front group.

  
   
   
Pictures: Dorna Sport TV

Race Results:

1. Johann Zarco FRA Ajo Motorsport (Kalex) 42m 38.099s 

2. Tito Rabat SPA EG 0,0 Marc VDS (Kalex) 42m 41.949s 

3. Takaaki Nakagami JPN IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia (Kalex) 42m 43.487s 

4. Simone Corsi ITA Forward Racing (Kalex) 42m 45.157s 

5. Julian Simon SPA QMMF Racing Team (Speed Up) 42m 47.324s 

6. Jonas Folger GER AGR Team (Kalex) 42m 48.565s 

7. Lorenzo Baldassarri ITA Forward Racing (Kalex) 42m 51.883s 

8. Sandro Cortese GER Dynavolt Intact GP (Kalex) 42m 54.433s 

9. Luis Salom SPA Paginas Amarillas HP 40 (Kalex) 42m 55.995s 

10. Thomas Luthi SWI Derendinger Racing Interwetten (Kalex) 42m 56.452s 

11. Axel Pons SPA AGR Team (Kalex) 43m 2.128s 

12. Xavier Simeon BEL Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 (Kalex) 43m 5.708s 

13. Azlan Shah MAL IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia (Kalex) 43m 7.136s 

14. Randy Krummenacher SWI JIR Racing Team (Kalex) 43m 10.239s 

15. Anthony West AUS QMMF Racing Team (Speed Up) 43m 11.411s 

16. Mattia Pasini ITA Gresini Racing Moto2 (Kalex) 43m 14.414s 

17. Marcel Schrotter GER Tech 3 (Tech 3) 43m 15.344s 

18. Hafizh Syahrin MAL Petronas Raceline Malaysia (Kalex) 43m 22.046s 

19. Louis Rossi FRA Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2 (Tech 3) 43m 22.085s 

20. Thitipong Warokorn THA APH PTT The Pizza SAG (Kalex) 43m 30.453s 

21. Luca Marini ITA Pons Racing Junior Team (Kalex) 43m 39.270s 

22. Florian Alt GER E-Motion IodaRacing Team (Suter) 43m 43.267s 

23. Xavi Vierge SPA Tech 3 (Tech 3) +1 lap 

24. Dominique Aegerter SWI Technomag Racing Interwetten (Kalex) +3 laps 

Federico Caricasulo ITA Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) DNF 

Sam Lowes GBR Speed Up Racing (Speed Up) DNF 

Jesko Raffin SWI sports-millions-EMWE-SAG (Kalex) DNF 

Alex Marquez SPA EG 0,0 Marc VDS (Kalex) DNF 

Robin Mulhauser SWI Technomag Racing Interwetten (Kalex) DNF 

Mika Kallio FIN Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) DNF 

Ricard Cardus SPA JPMoto Malaysia (Suter) DNF 

Alex Rins SPA Paginas Amarillas HP 40 (Kalex) DSQ 

Zarco keeps Rabat behind to take victory in Brno

To be perfectly honest, the intermediate class of Moto2 hasn’t delivered the same mouth watering, close racing that the Moto3 class has this year, but the Czech Race today did at least show us the arrival of Alex Marquez at the front end of the pack. The ultra calm, ice cool Championship leader, Frenchman Johann Zarco led from start to finish, albeit getting caught now and again by Tito Rabat in the second half of the race. Ex Estrella Galicia Moto3 Teammates Alex Rins, and current Moto3 Champion Alex Marquez finished 3rd and 4th. After Marquez spent half the year really struggling to get to grips with the Kalex Moto2 machine, but really showed what he is capable of this weekend, time will tell if his place near the front will be permanent.

Sam Lowes rode to a classy fifth having started in 15th place, and now moves up to 4th in the standings just ahead of Tom Luthi. With Silverstone up next, Sam will be aiming for at least a podium finish. 

Race Results:

1. Johann Zarco FRA Ajo Motorsport (Kalex) 41m 2.500s 

2. Tito Rabat SPA EG 0,0 Marc VDS (Kalex) 41m 3.921s 

3. Alex Rins SPA Paginas Amarillas HP 40 (Kalex) 41m 4.285s 

4. Alex Marquez SPA EG 0,0 Marc VDS (Kalex) 41m 6.893s 

5. Sam Lowes GBR Speed Up Racing (Speed Up) 41m 10.344s 

6. Jonas Folger GER AGR Team (Kalex) 41m 10.556s 

7. Thomas Luthi SWI Derendinger Racing Interwetten (Kalex) 41m 12.382s 

8. Sandro Cortese GER Dynavolt Intact GP (Kalex) 41m 12.574s 

9. Luis Salom SPA Paginas Amarillas HP 40 (Kalex) 41m 14.421s 

10. Franco Morbidelli ITA Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) 41m 14.979s 

11. Simone Corsi ITA Forward Racing (Kalex) 41m 20.194s 

12. Takaaki Nakagami JPN IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia (Kalex) 41m 20.263s 

13. Dominique Aegerter SWI Technomag Racing Interwetten (Kalex) 41m 20.852s 

14. Hafizh Syahrin MAL Petronas Raceline Malaysia (Kalex) 41m 21.022s 

15. Mika Kallio FIN Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) 41m 21.877s 

16. Xavier Simeon BEL Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 (Kalex) 41m 23.311s 

17. Axel Pons SPA AGR Team (Kalex) 41m 23.772s 

18. Julian Simon SPA QMMF Racing Team (Speed Up) 41m 24.619s 

19. Marcel Schrotter GER Tech 3 (Tech 3) 41m 28.446s 

20. Randy Krummenacher SWI JIR Racing Team (Kalex) 41m 29.086s 

21. Anthony West AUS QMMF Racing Team (Speed Up) 41m 41.925s 

22. Edgar Pons SPA Paginas Amarillas HP 40 (Kalex) 41m 46.790s 

23. Azlan Shah MAL IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia (Kalex) 41m 47.157s 

24. Ricard Cardus SPA JPMoto Malaysia (Suter) 41m 47.247s 

25. Thitipong Warokorn THA APH PTT The Pizza SAG (Kalex) 41m 49.460s 

26. Jesko Raffin SWI sports-millions-EMWE-SAG (Kalex) 41m 56.047s 

Xavi Vierge SPA Tech 3 (Tech 3) DNF 

Lorenzo Baldassarri ITA Forward Racing (Kalex) DNF 

Florian Alt GER E-Motion IodaRacing Team (Suter) DNF 

Louis Rossi FRA Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2 (Tech 3) DNF 

Robin Mulhauser SWI Technomag Racing Interwetten (Kalex) DNF 

Zarco pips Rabat in Assen to take another Moto2 victory

After just 1 lap after the Moto2 race started, it was Red Flagged due to Luis Salom’s oil spillage at the first corner. Britain’s Sam Lowes was unable to challenge for the victory, but managed to overhaul the likes of Simeon, Rins, and Folger to take third place behind ice cool race winner Johann Zarco and 2014 Moto2 World Champion Tito Rabat. 

Restarted race due to oil on track following an accident for Luis Salom… 

Race Results:

1. Johann Zarco FRA Ajo Motorsport (Kalex) 26m 13.410s 

2. Tito Rabat SPA EG 0,0 Marc VDS (Kalex) 26m 14.167s 

3. Sam Lowes GBR Speed Up Racing (Speed Up) 26m 15.490s 

4. Alex Rins SPA Paginas Amarillas HP 40 (Kalex) 26m 17.148s 

5. Thomas Luthi SWI Derendinger Racing Interwetten (Kalex) 26m 17.940s 

6. Xavier Simeon BEL Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 (Kalex) 26m 18.455s 

7. Jonas Folger GER AGR Team (Kalex) 26m 19.550s 

8. Mika Kallio FIN Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) 26m 21.515s 

9. Alex Marquez SPA EG 0,0 Marc VDS (Kalex) 26m 21.786s 

10. Simone Corsi ITA Athinà Forward Racing (Kalex) 26m 23.080s 

11. Julian Simon SPA QMMF Racing Team (Speed Up) 26m 25.159s 

12. Dominique Aegerter SWI Technomag Racing Interwetten (Kalex) 26m 30.947s 

13. Takaaki Nakagami JPN IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia (Kalex) 26m 31.514s 

14. Randy Krummenacher SWI JIR Racing Team (Kalex) 26m 33.878s 

15. Hafizh Syahrin MAL Petronas Raceline Malaysia (Kalex) 26m 34.304s 

16. Azlan Shah MAL IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia (Kalex) 26m 35.815s 

17. Sandro Cortese GER Dynavolt Intact GP (Kalex) 26m 36.340s 

18. Marcel Schrotter GER Tech 3 (Tech 3) 26m 39.073s 

19. Franco Morbidelli ITA Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) 26m 44.341s 

20. Robin Mulhauser SWI Technomag Racing Interwetten (Kalex) 26m 48.424s 

21. Jesko Raffin SWI sports-millions-EMWE-SAG (Kalex) 26m 48.699s 

22. Axel Pons SPA AGR Team (Kalex) 26m 58.204s 

23. Thitipong Warokorn THA APH PTT The Pizza SAG (Kalex) 27m 1.043s 

24. Ratthapark Wilairot THA JPMoto Malaysia (Suter) 27m 7.459s 

25. Jasper Iwema NED Abbink GP (Speed Up) 27m 23.489s 

Lorenzo Baldassarri ITA Athinà Forward Racing (Kalex) DNF 

Anthony West AUS QMMF Racing Team (Speed Up) DNF 

Louis Rossi FRA Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2 (Tech 3) DNF 

Ricard Cardus SPA Tech 3 (Tech 3) DNF 

Florian Alt GER E-Motion IodaRacing Team (Suter) DNF 

Luis Salom SPA Paginas Amarillas HP 40 (Kalex) DNS

Tito Rabat finally takes his first win of the Year in Italy

Sam Lowes returned to top form with his pole position yesterday, but a poor start meant he was back in fourth fighting with Simone Corsi, who hasn’t been on the podium all year. The two collided after a few laps, with Corsi crashing into the gravel of San Donato, turn 1. This looked like a racing incident, but still it was under investigation with race direction. Sam’s race was now compromised but he was able to stay with the front group. That was until Rabat and Zarco pulled away, and Sam wasn’t close enough to attack the impressing Aegerter for 3rd.

On the last lap Zarco was riding out of his skin to get within striking distance on Rabat, but it was yet to be, and Tito Rabat finally took his first win this year, as defending champion. Aegerter fended off Lowes, who it’s fair would have finished higher if it had not been for his incident with Corsi.

Race Results:

1. Tito Rabat SPA EG 0,0 Marc VDS (Kalex) 39m 40.545s 

2. Johann Zarco FRA Ajo Motorsport (Kalex) 39m 40.853s 

3. Dominique Aegerter SWI Technomag Racing Interwetten (Kalex) 39m 45.825s 

4. Sam Lowes GBR Speed Up Racing (Speed Up) 39m 46.099s 

5. Luis Salom SPA Paginas Amarillas HP 40 (Kalex) 39m 48.038s 

6. Xavier Simeon BEL Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 (Kalex) 39m 48.441s 

7. Julian Simon SPA QMMF Racing Team (Speed Up) 39m 51.040s 

8. Sandro Cortese GER Dynavolt Intact GP (Kalex) 39m 57.925s 

9. Axel Pons SPA AGR Team (Kalex) 39m 58.320s 

10. Lorenzo Baldassarri ITA Athinà Forward Racing (Kalex) 39m 59.381s 

11. Alex Rins SPA Paginas Amarillas HP 40 (Kalex) 40m 1.243s 

12. Alex Marquez SPA EG 0,0 Marc VDS (Kalex) 40m 1.468s 

13. Takaaki Nakagami JPN IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia (Kalex) 40m 2.978s 

14. Randy Krummenacher SWI JIR Racing Team (Kalex) 40m 3.307s 

15. Azlan Shah MAL IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia (Kalex) 40m 8.260s 

16. Marcel Schrotter GER Tech 3 (Tech 3) 40m 12.006s 

17. Ricard Cardus SPA Tech 3 (Tech 3) 40m 12.125s 

18. Mattia Pasini ITA Gresini Racing (Kalex) 40m 13.323s 

19. Anthony West AUS QMMF Racing Team (Speed Up) 40m 26.572s 

20. Louis Rossi FRA Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2 (Tech 3) 40m 27.102s 

21. Thitipong Warokorn THA APH PTT The Pizza SAG (Kalex) 40m 27.474s 

22. Robin Mulhauser SWI Technomag Racing Interwetten (Kalex) 40m 27.507s 

23. Jesko Raffin SWI sports-millions-EMWE-SAG (Kalex) 40m 55.546s 

24. Florian Alt GER E-Motion IodaRacing Team (Suter) +1 lap 

Hafizh Syahrin MAL Petronas Raceline Malaysia (Kalex) DNF 

Jonas Folger GER AGR Team (Kalex) DNF 

Simone Corsi ITA Athinà Forward Racing (Kalex) DNF 

Franco Morbidelli ITA Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) DNF 

Mika Kallio FIN Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) DNF 

Thomas Luthi SWI Derendinger Racing Interwetten (Kalex) DNF 

Zaqhwan Zaidi MAL JPMoto Malaysia (Suter) DNF 

Thomas Luthi dominates Moto2 Race at Le Mans

Moto2 tire supplier Dunlop weren’t in Sam Lowes’s good books after he received a faulty tire at Jerez and couldn’t even finish in the points. Naturally Sam was determined to get back to the front in France, and after qualifying 2nd, he got off to an okay start. Championship leader Johann Zarco nailed his start and was up for a home win as he chased down the flying Luthi who seemed particularly hungry for a win today. 

Pole sitter Alex Rins didn’t get near the front after his diabolical start, and spent most of his race unable to catch Lowes in 4th, and was stalked by teammate by Salom and Italian Franco Morbidelli. Rins and Salom would later crash out of the race, both being unhurt. Luthi rode to an inch perfect win from Tito Rabat who is still yet to win in 2015 after winning the title last year. The French crowd had something to cheer about as Zarco was able to hold on for 3rd ahead of Lowes. Good news for us Brits as Sam Lowes is now up to 4th in the standings.

1. Thomas Luthi SWI Derendinger Racing Interwetten (Kalex) 42m 27.011s
2. Tito Rabat SPA EG 0,0 Marc VDS (Kalex) 42m 28.778s
3. Johann Zarco FRA Ajo Motorsport (Kalex) 42m 30.771s
4. Sam Lowes GBR Speed Up Racing (Speed Up) 42m 31.087s
5. Franco Morbidelli ITA Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) 42m 41.503s
6. Julian Simon SPA QMMF Racing Team (Speed Up) 42m 41.692s
7. Takaaki Nakagami JPN IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia (Kalex) 42m 41.856s
8. Xavier Simeon BEL Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 (Kalex) 42m 42.146s
9. Hafizh Syahrin MAL Petronas Raceline Malaysia (Kalex) 42m 46.254s
10. Dominique Aegerter SWI Technomag Racing Interwetten (Kalex) 42m 46.542s
11. Anthony West AUS QMMF Racing Team (Speed Up) 42m 56.489s
12. Randy Krummenacher SWI JIR Racing Team (Kalex) 42m 56.657s
13. Marcel Schrotter GER Tech 3 (Tech 3) 42m 57.231s
14. Sandro Cortese GER Dynavolt Intact GP (Kalex) 42m 57.702s
15. Axel Pons SPA AGR Team (Kalex) 43m 0.108s
16. Ricard Cardus SPA Tech 3 (Tech 3) 43m 0.615s
17. Alex Rins SPA Paginas Amarillas HP 40 (Kalex) 43m 5.304s
18. Simone Corsi ITA Athinà Forward Racing (Kalex) 43m 6.012s
19. Azlan Shah MAL IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia (Kalex) 43m 10.470s
20. Robin Mulhauser SWI Technomag Racing Interwetten (Kalex) 43m 24.753s
21. Lorenzo Baldassarri ITA Athinà Forward Racing (Kalex) 43m 36.410s
22. Thitipong Warokorn THA APH PTT The Pizza SAG (Kalex) 43m 44.258s
23. Florian Alt GER Octo Iodaracing Team (Suter) 43m 44.657s
24. Jesko Raffin SWI sports-millions-EMWE-SAG (Kalex) 43m 44.848s
25. Zaqhwan Zaidi MAL JPMoto Malaysia (Suter) 44m 0.203s
26. Louis Bulle FRA Promoto Sport (Transfiormers) +1 lap
Luis Salom SPA Paginas Amarillas HP 40 (Kalex) DNF
Mika Kallio FIN Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) DNF
Jonas Folger GER AGR Team (Kalex) DNF
Louis Rossi FRA Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2 (Tech 3) DNF
Alex Marquez SPA EG 0,0 Marc VDS (Kalex) DNF

Folger beats Rabat for Jerez win as Rins crashes

Photo: Dorna TV still

After a poor start to his title defence, Esteve ‘Tito’ Rabat returned to form at his home race. Topping practice sessions and qualifying on pole position, his start was clean and fast, with  the spaniard led the opening laps from Jonas Folger, the man who won in Qatar. Britain’s Sam Lowes got bad start from the second row, and never recovered and continued to drift back down the field, way down in 20th position. 

With 5 laps to go, Jonas Folger who had passed Rabat halfway through the race, started to leave him behind, with Rins and Zarco starting to hunt him down. Every year, and every race at Jerez, there seems to deliver drama delivered at the final turn, turn 13, and this race was no exception. Rins caught Rabat and tried to outbreak him, diving underneath him but he wasn’t close enough, and hit the back of Tito. Rins ended up crashing in the gravel, with Zarco taking advantage of the ruffed up Rabat, stealing second place off him! Jonas Folger took his second win of the year, a great achievement for the under funded AGR Team. 

1. Jonas Folger GER AGR Team (Kalex) 45m 1.873s
2. Johann Zarco FRA Ajo Motorsport (Kalex) 45m 3.804s
3. Tito Rabat SPA EG 0,0 Marc VDS (Kalex) 45m 4.095s
4. Thomas Luthi SWI Derendinger Racing Interwetten (Kalex) 45m 8.706s
5. Xavier Simeon BEL Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 (Kalex) 45m 12.959s
6. Franco Morbidelli ITA Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) 45m 14.352s
7. Luis Salom SPA Paginas Amarillas HP 40 (Kalex) 45m 14.838s
8. Simone Corsi ITA Athinà Forward Racing (Kalex) 45m 16.307s
9. Alex Marquez SPA EG 0,0 Marc VDS (Kalex) 45m 19.946s
10. Marcel Schrotter GER Tech 3 (Tech 3) 45m 23.831s
11. Julian Simon SPA QMMF Racing Team (Speed Up) 45m 23.999s
12. Hafizh Syahrin MAL Petronas Raceline Malaysia (Kalex) 45m 27.212s
13. Lorenzo Baldassarri ITA Athinà Forward Racing (Kalex) 45m 28.652s
14. Randy Krummenacher SWI JIR Racing Team (Kalex) 45m 29.819s
15. Anthony West AUS QMMF Racing Team (Speed Up) 45m 32.746s
16. Dominique Aegerter SWI Technomag Racing Interwetten (Kalex) 45m 35.899s
17. Takaaki Nakagami JPN IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia (Kalex) 45m 35.978s
18. Alex Rins SPA Paginas Amarillas HP 40 (Kalex) 45m 37.441s
19. Edgar Pons SPA Paginas Amarillas HP 40 (Kalex) 45m 39.463s
20. Sam Lowes GBR Speed Up Racing (Speed Up) 45m 42.884s
21. Azlan Shah MAL IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia (Kalex) 45m 48.492s
22. Thitipong Warokorn THA APH PTT The Pizza SAG (Kalex) 45m 49.616s
23. Robin Mulhauser SWI Technomag Racing Interwetten (Kalex) 46m 1.724s
24. Florian Alt GER Octo Iodaracing Team (Suter) 46m 13.334s
25. Jesko Raffin SWI sports-millions-EMWE-SAG (Kalex) 46m 13.386s
26. Zaqhwan Zaidi MAL JPMoto Malaysia (Suter) 46m 27.576s
Mika Kallio FIN Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) DNF
Sandro Cortese GER Dynavolt Intact GP (Kalex) DNF
Ricard Cardus SPA Tech 3 (Tech 3) DNF
Axel Pons SPA AGR Team (Kalex) DNF

Britain’s Sam Lowes smashes the Moto2 Pole Record at Qatar

Photo by Scott Jones

Many experts in the MotoGP paddock predicted this year would be dominated by Esteve Rabat in Moto2, but testing showed us it may not be, and today’s Moto2 Qualifying session at Losail proved to us it wasn’t going to be. Sam Lowes absolutely dominated the proceedings, flinging his Speed Up around the track like it was the last lap he’d ever ride. Sam crashed with 3 minutes left but he’d already set a time well ahead of second fastest Johann Zarco. World Champion Rabat showed us he’s still in the running for victory tomorrow with a solid 3rd fastest time.

1. Sam Lowes GBR Speed Up Racing (Speed Up) 1m 59.423s
2. Johann Zarco FRA Ajo Motorsport (Kalex) 1m 59.755s
3. Tito Rabat SPA EG 0,0 Marc VDS (Kalex) 1m 59.813s
4. Sandro Cortese GER Dynavolt Intact GP (Kalex) 1m 59.845s
5. Jonas Folger GER AGR Team (Kalex) 1m 59.938s
6. Xavier Simeon BEL Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 (Kalex) 2m 0.232s
7. Thomas Luthi SWI Derendinger Racing Interwetten (Kalex) 2m 0.284s
8. Franco Morbidelli ITA Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) 2m 0.396s
9. Alex Rins SPA Paginas Amarillas HP 40 (Kalex) 2m 0.479s
10. Simone Corsi ITA Athinà Forward Racing (Kalex) 2m 0.584s
11. Axel Pons SPA AGR Team (Kalex) 2m 0.593s
12. Alex Marquez SPA EG 0,0 Marc VDS (Kalex) 2m 0.604s
13. Louis Rossi FRA Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2 (Tech 3) 2m 0.605s
14. Ricard Cardus SPA Tech 3 (Tech 3) 2m 0.713s
15. Luis Salom SPA Paginas Amarillas HP 40 (Kalex) 2m 0.791s
16. Mika Kallio FIN Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) 2m 0.844s
17. Marcel Schrotter GER Tech 3 (Tech 3) 2m 0.948s
18. Takaaki Nakagami JPN IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia (Kalex) 2m 0.985s
19. Hafizh Syahrin MAL Petronas Raceline Malaysia (Kalex) 2m 1.000s
20. Lorenzo Baldassarri ITA Athinà Forward Racing (Kalex) 2m 1.030s
21. Julian Simon SPA QMMF Racing Team (Speed Up) 2m 1.112s
22. Anthony West AUS QMMF Racing Team (Speed Up) 2m 1.267s
23. Azlan Shah MAL IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia (Kalex) 2m 1.397s
24. Randy Krummenacher SWI JIR Racing Team (Kalex) 2m 1.465s
25. Dominique Aegerter SWI Technomag Racing Interwetten (Kalex) 2m 2.055s
26. Thitipong Warokorn THA APH PTT The Pizza SAG (Kalex) 2m 2.589s
27. Zaqhwan Zaidi MAL JPMoto Malaysia (Suter) 2m 2.817s
28. Robin Mulhauser SWI Technomag Racing Interwetten (Kalex) 2m 3.052s
29. Jesko Raffin SWI sports-millions-EMWE-SAG (Kalex) 2m 3.483s
30. Florian Alt GER Octo Iodaracing Team (Suter) 2m 3.486s 

Luthi wins drama filled Moto2 race as Vinales takes out Kallio

Already crowned World Champion, and yesterday’s record breaking pole sitter Tito Rabat led into first corner from Swiss ace Thomas Luthi. Tito’s teammate and race winner Mika Kallio was taken out by MotoGP bound Maverick Vinales, who out braked himself, both riders were ok, but Mika out of the race. Vinales later walked down to their garage apologise. Mika was understandingly very angry at the Spanish rider, who tried rejoining the race, but soon came back into the pits. On the live feed the stewards declared the incident would be reviewed after the race.

With two of the fastest Moto2 riders out of the race, the battle at the front consisted only of Rabat and Luthi. Luthi was setting fastest laps and not letting the champion pull away. One attempt to pass failed as he drifted wide, and Tito regained the lead. This actually happened another 3 times, and twice at turn 1.

Clearly Luthi had to rethink his overtaking strategy…but it turned out he didn’t need to. Coming out of the last corner, on the last lap, with a four bikes length lead, Tito Rabat was seen to slow down either for a wheelie or some sort of celebration, Luthi went straight passed and took a very lucky, and very unusual win! It was still unclear wether or not he missed a gear, or had some other technical issue.

Later on the paddock learnt it was a fuelling issue with Tito Rabat’s Marc VDS Kalex machine.

1. Thomas Luthi SWI Interwetten Sitag (Suter) 43m 8.366s
2. Esteve Rabat SPA Marc VDS Racing Team (Kalex) 43m 8.499s
3. Johann Zarco FRA AirAsia Caterham (Caterham Suter) 43m 19.094s
4. Luis Salom SPA Paginas Amarillas HP 40 (Kalex) 43m 21.380s
5. Xavier Simeon BEL Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 (Suter) 43m 22.055s
6. Dominique Aegerter SWI Technomag carXpert (Suter) 43m 23.072s
7. Sam Lowes GBR Speed Up (Speed Up) 43m 27.191s
8. Marcel Schrotter GER Tech 3 (Tech 3) 43m 38.551s
9. Anthony West AUS QMMF Racing Team (Speed Up) 43m 38.593s
10. Lorenzo Baldassarri ITA Gresini Moto2 (Suter) 43m 38.970s
11. Jordi Torres SPA Mapfre Aspar Team Moto2 (Suter) 43m 38.981s
12. Ricard Cardus SPA Tech 3 (Tech 3) 43m 41.788s
13. Jonas Folger GER AGR Team (Kalex) 43m 41.960s
14. Takaaki Nakagami JPN IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia (Kalex) 43m 42.363s
15. Louis Rossi FRA SAG Team (Kalex) 43m 42.373s
16. Hafizh Syahrin MAL Petronas Raceline Malaysia (Kalex) 43m 43.944s
17. Robin Mulhauser SWI Technomag carXpert (Suter) 43m 44.057s
18. Nicolas Terol SPA Mapfre Aspar Team Moto2 (Suter) 43m 55.362s
19. Ratthapark Wilairot THA AirAsia Caterham (Caterham Suter) 43m 59.016s
20. Roberto Rolfo ITA Tasca Racing Moto2 (Suter) 44m 0.243s
21. Franco Morbidelli ITA Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) 44m 1.174s
22. Randy Krummenacher SWI Octo IodaRacing Team (Suter) 44m 1.794s
23. Florian Marino FRA NGM Forward Racing (Kalex) 44m 1.801s
24. Gino Rea GBR AGT REA Racing (Suter) 44m 16.070s
25. Roman Ramos SPA QMMF Racing Team (Speed Up) 44m 21.979s
26. Tetsuta Nagashima JPN Teluru Team JiR Webike (NTS) 44m 23.343s
27. Azlan Shah MAL IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia (Kalex) 44m 23.504s
28. Thitipong Warokorn THA APH PTT The Pizza SAG (Kalex) 2 laps

Vinales takes another commanding win as Rabat becomes Champion

World Championship leader and pole sitter Tito Rabat made the perfect start in Sepang, and set the pace early on, although 7th place is all he needed to take the title.

His closest rivals all year, were the ones stalking him in this race, as Vinales, Kallio who is the only one who could deny Tito the title, and Aegerter follow suit. Half way through the race, Kallio piled on the pressure in second place, hoping he can force Tito into a mistake. All Rabat needed was a 7th place finish or better. Kallio though, had nothing to loose, and it was showing as he took the lead and started to pull a gap, with Maverick Vinales joining him.

Tito sat back as the Fin and Spaniard rode off into the distance. With 6 laps left, Maverick made his move, igniting the battle between them as Kallio retaliated immediately. Another move from Vinales was a it took though, and after pulling a gap on Kallio he took a great win in Malaysia.

Tito Rabat took the title then, a very well deserved one at that. Some say he is only as fast as he is because of the massive amount of track time he gets at Almeria, but if it’s at your disposal you’re going to use it!

As well as being Rabat’s first title, it’s also Marc VDS Racing Teams first title!

1. Maverick Viñales SPA Paginas Amarillas HP 40 (Kalex) 40m 46.754s
2. Mika Kallio FIN Marc VDS Racing Team (Kalex) 40m 49.448s
3. Esteve Rabat SPA Marc VDS Racing Team (Kalex) 40m 54.808s
4. Johann Zarco FRA AirAsia Caterham (Caterham Suter) 40m 57.344s
5. Dominique Aegerter SWI Technomag carXpert (Suter) 40m 57.417s
6. Julian Simon SPA Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) 40m 57.523s
7. Sandro Cortese GER Dynavolt Intact GP (Kalex) 41m 2.411s
8. Thomas Luthi SWI Interwetten Sitag (Suter) 41m 5.593s
9. Jonas Folger GER AGR Team (Kalex) 41m 6.240s
10. Marcel Schrotter GER Tech 3 (Tech 3) 41m 11.641s
11. Luis Salom SPA Paginas Amarillas HP 40 (Kalex) 41m 14.988s
12. Ricard Cardus SPA Tech 3 (Tech 3) 41m 17.092s
13. Mattia Pasini ITA NGM Forward Racing (Kalex) 41m 17.287s
14. Roberto Rolfo ITA Tasca Racing Moto2 (Suter) 41m 17.302s
15. Jordi Torres SPA Mapfre Aspar Team Moto2 (Suter) 41m 21.523s
16. Florian Marino FRA NGM Forward Racing (Kalex) 41m 23.367s
17. Lorenzo Baldassarri ITA Gresini Moto2 (Suter) 41m 25.623s
18. Anthony West AUS QMMF Racing Team (Speed Up) 41m 28.955s
19. Xavier Simeon BEL Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 (Suter) 41m 34.630s
20. Azlan Shah MAL IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia (Kalex) 41m 39.704s
21. Thitipong Warokorn THA APH PTT The Pizza SAG (Kalex) 41m 39.917s
22. Roman Ramos SPA QMMF Racing Team (Speed Up) 41m 46.753s
23. Tomoyoshi Koyama JPN Teluru Team JiR Webike (NTS) 41m 50.085s
24. Nicolas Terol SPA Mapfre Aspar Team Moto2 (Suter) 41m 55.029s
25. Decha Kraisart THA Singha Eneos Yamaha Tech 3 (Tech 3) 42m 3.750s
26. Randy Krummenacher SWI Octo IodaRacing Team (Suter) +1 lap

Luthi wins Moto2 Race as Rabat extends championship lead

Spanish championship leader Esteve Rabat couldn’t quite lead from pole position as rival Thomas Luthi on the Suter passed him followed by Johann Zarco. Mika Kallio who started on the second row joined the front too, dragging with him Suzuki MotoGP bound Maverick Vinales.

Luthi went on to pull a 2 second lead as the following group continued to trip over each other. As the race progressed though, Vinales started to catch Luthi and Tito Rabat stuck with him to join the battle.

But with two laps left, Vinales had still not caught Luthi as the gap had been stabilised by the Swiss ace. It was all too late for Vinales as Luthi took his first win in over 2 years! Rabat took third extending his lead over Kallio in the Championship.

1. Thomas Luthi SWI Interwetten Sitag (Suter) 42m 50.219s
2. Maverick Viñales SPA Paginas Amarillas HP 40 (Kalex) 42m 51.428s
3. Esteve Rabat SPA Marc VDS Racing Team (Kalex) 42m 53.850s
4. Johann Zarco FRA AirAsia Caterham (Caterham Suter) 42m 58.016s
5. Mika Kallio FIN Marc VDS Racing Team (Kalex) 42m 58.691s
6. Julian Simon SPA Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) 42m 59.100s
7. Franco Morbidelli ITA Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) 43m 1.422s
8. Hafizh Syahrin MAL Petronas Raceline Malaysia (Kalex) 43m 7.728s
9. Ricard Cardus SPA Tech 3 (Tech 3) 43m 8.643s
10. Xavier Simeon BEL Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 (Suter) 43m 11.411s
11. Jordi Torres SPA Mapfre Aspar Team Moto2 (Suter) 43m 12.865s
12. Jonas Folger GER AGR Team (Kalex) 43m 13.522s
13. Takaaki Nakagami JPN IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia (Kalex) 43m 16.296s
14. Gino Rea GBR AGT REA Racing (Suter) 43m 16.927s
15. Luis Salom SPA Paginas Amarillas HP 40 (Kalex) 43m 19.140s
16. Louis Rossi FRA SAG Team (Kalex) 43m 19.531s
17. Lorenzo Baldassarri ITA Gresini Moto2 (Suter) 43m 21.411s
18. Dominique Aegerter SWI Technomag carXpert (Suter) 43m 24.175s
19. Ratthapark Wilairot THA AirAsia Caterham (Caterham Suter) 43m 31.825s
20. Florian Marino FRA NGM Forward Racing (Kalex) 43m 32.250s
21. Randy Krummenache SWI Octo IodaRacing Team (Suter) 43m 32.352s
22. Nicolas Terol SPA Mapfre Aspar Team Moto2 (Suter) 43m 34.787s
23. Tomoyoshi Koyama JPN Teluru Team JiR Webike #N/A 43m 35.790s
24. Azlan Shah MAL IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia (Kalex) 43m 42.163s
25. Thitipong Warokorn THA APH PTT The Pizza SAG (Kalex) 43m 42.617s
26. Yuki Takahashi JPN Moriwaki Racing (Moriwaki) 43m 43.379s
27. Roman Ramos SPA QMMF Racing Team (Speed Up) 43m 48.307s
28. Robin Mulhauser SWI Technomag carXpert (Suter) 43m 56.908s
29. Marcel Schrotter GER Tech 3 (Tech 3) 44m 6.156s
30. Chalermpol Polamai THA Singha Eneos Yamaha Tech 3 (Tech 3) 44m 12.904s