2012 Indianapolis Moto2 | Preview

2012 Red Bull Grand Prix Moto2

After nearly five weeks off, the Moto2 grid will once again be rearing to go as the intermediate-class descends on the famous Brickyard for the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix.

Team Catalunya Caixa Repsol’s Marc Marquez heads to the U.S. with a sizable 34-point lead at the top of the championship standings, and will once again be one of the favorites at the circuit where he won last year.

The Spaniard, along with Interwetten-Paddock’s fellow Suter rider Tom Luthi, did not relax completely during the summer break, as they both carried out vital tests at Portugal’s Portimao circuit to prepare for the second half of the season.

The main rivals heading into the race will be Speed Master’s Andrea Iannone, fresh off his win in Mugello, and Pons 40 HP Tuenti’s Pol Espargaro, who are both tied on points behind Marquez.

Espargaro will have fond memories of the Indianapolis track, as it was there that he took his first ever Moto2 podium last year in second. Marc VDS Racing Team’s Scott Redding, who tested a MotoGP Ducati bike during his time off, will be aiming for his third podium spot this season, whilst holding off the challenge from his teammate Mika Kallio.

Tech 3 Racing’s Bradley Smith, who just missed out on a podium at the Brickyard last year will hope his surge in form continues at the track, and that he can snatch his first rostrum of the season. Italtrans Racing Team’s Claudio Corti and Technomag CIP’s Dominique Aegerter will however look to mix it up at the front once more, with Espargaró’s teammate Esteve Rabat likely to challenge as well. Rabat has a good record at the circuit, having taken third place last year.

The Moto2 line up also sees some changes, with Spaniard Jordi Torres filling the vacant Mapfre Aspar Team seat, which became available after the departure of Toni Elias. Marcel Schrotter is a permanent replacement for Massimo Roccoli in the Desguaces La Torre SAG team, while the entry list sees wildcard Tommy Aquino scheduled to make an appearance on the Fogi Racing team FTR.

2012 Moto2 Point Standings (heading into Indy):

Pos.	Rider	Bike	Nation	Points
1.	Marc MARQUEZ	Suter	SPA	163
2.	Pol ESPARGARO	Kalex	SPA	129
3.	Andrea IANNONE	Speed Up	ITA	129
4.	Thomas LUTHI	Suter	SWI	123
5.	Scott REDDING	Kalex	GBR	96
6.	Mika KALLIO	Kalex	FIN	77
7.	Bradley SMITH	Tech 3	GBR	69
8.	Claudio CORTI	Kalex	ITA	59
9.	Dominique AEGERTER	Suter	SWI	52
10.	Esteve RABAT	Kalex	SPA	51
11.	Alex DE ANGELIS	FTR	RSM	48
12.	Johann ZARCO	Motobi	FRA	47
13.	Simone CORSI	FTR	ITA	40
14.	Takaaki NAKAGAMI	Kalex	JPN	36
15.	Toni ELIAS	Suter	SPA	34
16.	Randy KRUMMENACHER	Kalex	SWI	24
17.	Xavier SIMEON	Tech 3	BEL	17
18.	Julian SIMON	Suter	SPA	17
19.	Mike DI MEGLIO	Speed Up	FRA	10
20.	Anthony WEST	Moriwaki	AUS	9
21.	Max NEUKIRCHNER	Kalex	GER	8
22.	Ratthapark WILAIROT	Suter	THA	8
23.	Nicolas TEROL	Suter	SPA	8
24.	Ricard CARDUS	AJR	SPA	5
25.	Gino REA	Moriwaki	GBR	1