2012 Motegi Moto2 | Results

By
Ron Lieback
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2012-motegi-moto2-results (1)2012 Japanese Grand Prix Moto2 Results

Spoiler Alert: 2012 Moto2 Championship results from Motegi listed below



Catalunya Caixa Repsol’s Marc Márquez staged a stunning comeback Sunday to win in an eventful and thrilling Moto2 race at the AirAsia Grand Prix of Japan in Motegi.

The Spaniard, who will join the Repsol Honda MotoGP team in 2013, finished ahead of Pol Espargaró and Esteve Rabat.

The start proved eventful, as Márquez’s bike wasn’t in gear, causing him to head into the first corner almost last, as much of the grid passed him while he put it in gear. Yet as Marc VDS Racing Team’s Scott Redding led the early stages ahead of Tuenti Movil HP 40’s Pol Espargaró, Márquez impressively fought his way up to seventh within two laps.

In frantic opening laps, the lead soon went to Espargaró’s teammate Esteve Rabat, whilst Italtrans Racing Team’s Toni Elías made his way into third.

With 19 laps to go Márquez had fought his way into fifth, while it was disappointing news for Tech 3 Racing’s Bradley Smith, who had to retire with a mechanical issue after looking strong all weekend.

Two laps on it was almost over for Espargaró as he nearly lost control of his bike at full lean, yet put in an incredible save. Márquez also did well to avoid him as he nipped into second. It was then up to Rabat to hold off the change from the championship leader, who was all over his rear wheel with 14 laps left.

A lap later Márquez made use of the slipstream to go into the lead, whilst Espargaró had closed up in third. In the meantime, SAG Team’s wildcard Kohta Nozane was black-flagged after returning to the track after having previously retired.

Redding’s teammate Mika Kallio ran wide with 11 laps to go, dropping him back down the order, while Espargaró went past Rabat to chase down Márquez. A few laps later, Mapfre Aspar Team Moto2’s Nico Terol copied Kallio and also ran wide at turn one on to the gravel. As the pack settled down, Espargaró caught up to Márquez with six laps to go as the pair rode a lonely race at the front. Three laps on and it was over for Elías as he crashed out of fifth place.

Espargaró tried to make his move half way through the penultimate lap, but nearly went into the back of Márquez. Rabat was holding strong in third, whilst Redding was trying to hold of Interwetten-Paddock’s Tom Lüthi. Espargaró kept pushing, though it was to no avail, as Márquez crossed the finish line first, with Rabat recording his first podium this season.

This now puts Márquez 53 points clear at the top of the championship standings making him the clear favourite for the title. Redding held on for fourth, ahead of Lüthi, Came IodaRacing Project’s Simone Corsi, Elías teammate Takaaki Nakagami, JiR Moto2’s Johann Zarco, Espargaró’s teammate Axel Pons and Technomag-CIP’s Dominique Aegerter.

2012 Motegi Moto2 Results:

Pos. Points Num. Rider Nation Team Bike Km/h Time/Gap
1. 25 93 Marc MARQUEZ SPA Team Catalunya Caixa Repsol Suter 154.3 42’56.171
2. 20 40 Pol ESPARGARO SPA Tuenti Movil HP 40 Kalex 154.3 +0.415
3. 16 80 Esteve RABAT SPA Tuenti Movil HP 40 Kalex 153.7 +9.584
4. 13 45 Scott REDDING GBR Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex 153.6 +11.069
5. 11 12 Thomas LUTHI SWI Interwetten-Paddock Suter 153.6 +11.595
6. 10 3 Simone CORSI ITA Came IodaRacing Project FTR 153.2 +18.383
7. 9 30 Takaaki NAKAGAMI JPN Italtrans Racing Team Kalex 153.2 +18.672
8. 8 5 Johann ZARCO FRA JIR Moto2 Motobi 152.6 +28.226
9. 7 49 Axel PONS SPA Tuenti Movil HP 40 Kalex 152.6 +28.451
10. 6 77 Dominique AEGERTER SWI Technomag-CIP Suter 152.6 +28.599
11. 5 60 Julian SIMON SPA Blusens Avintia Suter 152.6 +28.971
12. 4 95 Anthony WEST AUS QMMF Racing Team Speed Up 152.6 +29.609
13. 3 81 Jordi TORRES SPA Mapfre Aspar Team Moto2 Suter 152.5 +29.815
14. 2 19 Xavier SIMEON BEL Tech 3 Racing Tech 3 152.0 +39.783
15. 1 63 Mike DI MEGLIO FRA Kiefer Racing Kalex 152.0 +39.868
16. 72 Yuki TAKAHASHI JPN NGM Mobile Forward Racing FTR 152.0 +39.970
17. 36 Mika KALLIO FIN Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex 151.9 +40.763
18. 29 Andrea IANNONE ITA Speed Master Speed Up 151.9 +40.900
19. 18 Nicolas TEROL SPA Mapfre Aspar Team Moto2 Suter 151.7 +44.379
20. 15 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM NGM Mobile Forward Racing FTR 151.6 +46.507
21. 14 Ratthapark WILAIROT THA Thai Honda PTT Gresini Moto2 Suter 151.0 +55.561
22. 88 Ricard CARDUS SPA Arguiñano Racing Team AJR 151.0 +55.815
23. 75 Tomoyoshi KOYAMA JPN Technomag-CIP Suter 151.0 +56.051
24. 23 Marcel SCHROTTER GER Desguaces La Torre SAG Bimota 151.0 +56.492
25. 8 Gino REA GBR Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 Suter 150.9 +58.417
26. 22 Alessandro ANDREOZZI ITA S/Master Speed Up Speed Up 150.1 +1’12.398
27. 82 Elena ROSELL SPA QMMF Racing Team Speed Up 148.6 +1’39.841
28. 57 Eric GRANADO BRA JIR Moto2 Motobi 148.5 +1’40.787
29. 20 Jesko RAFFIN SWI GP Team Switzerland Kalex 147.4 1 Lap
Not Classified
24 Toni ELIAS SPA Italtrans Racing Team Kalex 153.5 4 Laps
38 Bradley SMITH GBR Tech 3 Racing Tech 3 149.6 20 Laps
Excluded
31 Kohta NOZANE JPN SAG Team FTR 0 Lap

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