Valencia Moto2: Rabat loses win to Luthi at the line

Tito Rabat has lost his chance for eight wins in his title-winning year right on the line, after his MarcVDS bike ran out of fuel on the run to the flag. The Spaniard had battled all race long with the Swiss rider, but the small misfire of his bike was all it took to cost him the win.

The duo had cleared off at the start of the race, leaving behind the chasing pack, headed by Johann Zarco. Luis Salom, Xavier Simeon and Dominique Aegerter made up the top six.

Sam Lowes had one of his best races of the year to finish seventh, ahead of Marcel Schrotter and the second Speed Up machine of Ant West.

The battle for second was decided early in the race, however, when a desperate lunge by Maverick Vinales left both him and rival Mika Kallio in the gravel. However, with neither rider able to restart, the points advantage went the way of Kallio, who completed a MarcVDS 1-2.

Vinales, who was fortunate to escape with more than a banged shoulder, will now test the Suzuki MotoGP machine tomorrow as he prepares to move up. He was quick to head to the Finn’s garage after the incident to apologise.