Tito Rabat has completed a controlled weekend in the Moto2™ Shell
Advance Malaysian Motorcycle GP, topping every session before winning a
shortened race. Pol Espargaro finished second with Scott Redding
seventh, meaning the Englishman’s championship advantage decreases from
twenty points to nine.
Originally scheduled to be a 19-lap encounter, the race distance was
shortened to 12 tours following a delay after a multiple collision on
the opening lap. After the initial incident for Axel Pons (Tuenti HP
40), Fadli Immammuddin (JIR Moto2) collected the stranded bike before
Ezequiel Iturrioz (Blusens Avintia), Zaqhwan Zaidi (Technomag carXpert)
and Decha Kraisart (Singha Eneos Yamaha Tech 3) also became involved.
Thankfully, all riders escaped major injury.
At the restart, Espargaro took advantage by clinching the lead, only for Rabat to slide back ahead and remain in front for the rest of the race. His third victory of the season moves him to within 28 points of the championship leader with a maximum of 75 still on offer across the final trio of Grands Prix. After overhauling Interwetten Paddock Moto2 Racing’s Luthi at the start of the penultimate tour, Espargaro clinched second place to reduce Redding’s championship lead yet further.
Redding (Marc VDS Racing Team) lost another point when Johann Zarco (Came Iodaracing Project) slipstreamed his way into sixth place on the finish line, while fourth and fifth positions were filled by Redding’s teammate Mika Kallio and Technomag carXpert’s Dominique Aegerter, who at the restart appeared to have triggered an incident which took both Alex de Angelis (NGM Mobile Forward Racing) and Xavier Simeon (Maptaq SAG Zelos Team) out of the race.
Reigning Moto3™ World Champion Sandro Cortese (Dynavolt Intact GP) fell at the final corner following a battle with Danny Kent (Tech3) who finished 12th, while Anthony West was 13th for QMMF Racing Team to pick up points in his 200th World Championship start. Three races remain in the 2013 season, starting with the Tissot Australian Grand Prix from Phillip Island next weekend.
At the restart, Espargaro took advantage by clinching the lead, only for Rabat to slide back ahead and remain in front for the rest of the race. His third victory of the season moves him to within 28 points of the championship leader with a maximum of 75 still on offer across the final trio of Grands Prix. After overhauling Interwetten Paddock Moto2 Racing’s Luthi at the start of the penultimate tour, Espargaro clinched second place to reduce Redding’s championship lead yet further.
Redding (Marc VDS Racing Team) lost another point when Johann Zarco (Came Iodaracing Project) slipstreamed his way into sixth place on the finish line, while fourth and fifth positions were filled by Redding’s teammate Mika Kallio and Technomag carXpert’s Dominique Aegerter, who at the restart appeared to have triggered an incident which took both Alex de Angelis (NGM Mobile Forward Racing) and Xavier Simeon (Maptaq SAG Zelos Team) out of the race.
Reigning Moto3™ World Champion Sandro Cortese (Dynavolt Intact GP) fell at the final corner following a battle with Danny Kent (Tech3) who finished 12th, while Anthony West was 13th for QMMF Racing Team to pick up points in his 200th World Championship start. Three races remain in the 2013 season, starting with the Tissot Australian Grand Prix from Phillip Island next weekend.