Qatar MotoGP: Nicolas Terol wins 125GP clash

Nicolas Terol drew first blood in the 125GP world championship in Qatar tonight, the Spaniard triumphing after a brilliant late attack in an enthralling season opener to register Aprila’s 275th Grand Prix success.

The Aspar Aprilia rider was part of a thrilling scrap between seven riders for much of the race before the 21-year-old made a clinical break with four of the 18-lap encounter remaining. 

Terol first moved to the front on lap 15 when he set a fastest lap to break 0.320s clear of the chasing pack, which included pole-setter Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro. 

Terol, who last won at the Brno GP last August, continued his stunning late charge and convincingly pulled away to claim his third 125GP success by a comfortable 2.395s.

In a race dominated by a large Spanish contingent, Efren Vazquez claimed his career first podium as he claimed second spot from Marquez by just 0.025s. Derbi rider Marquez’s pole position jinx continued as he started from the top of the grid for the third time, but as yet has not won from pole.

It was a disappointing night for British rider Bradley Smith who struggled home to finish in a lowly eighth spot.

Smith was initially able to hang onto the back of the leading group before he faded off the pace having been as high as sixth on the first lap.

The pre-season favourite dropped to as low as 10th spot by lap 11 but he passed Alexis Masbou and Japanese rider Tomoyoshi Koyama in the closing stages to salvage eighth from a frustrating season opener.

Danny Webb ended in 11th after he too faded after a strong start. The Kent rider made a great start and climbed from 13th to seventh on the opening lap before he had to settle for a lonely ride to 11th on the Andalucia Cajasol Aprilia.

1 Nicolas TEROL SPA Bancaja Aspar Team Aprilia 38’25.644
2 Efren VAZQUEZ SPA Tuenti Racing Derbi +2.395
3 Marc MARQUEZ SPA Red Bull Ajo Motorsport Derbi +2.420
4 Pol ESPARGARO SPA Tuenti Racing Derbi +2.840
5 Sandro CORTESE GER Avant Mitsubishi Ajo Derbi +3.526
6 Randy KRUMMENACHER SWI Stipa-Molenaar Racing GP Aprilia +3.569
7 Esteve RABAT SPA Blusens-STX Aprilia +3.692
8 Bradley SMITH GBR Bancaja Aspar Team Aprilia +13.719
9 Tomoyoshi KOYAMA JPN Racing Team Germany Aprilia +14.337
10 Alexis MASBOU FRA Ongetta Team Aprilia +15.917
11 Danny WEBB GBR Andalucia Cajasol Aprilia +28.744
12 Johann ZARCO FRA WTR San Marino Team Aprilia +35.667
13 Alberto MONCAYO SPA Andalucia Cajasol Aprilia +36.831
14 Jasper IWEMA NED CBC Corse Aprilia +36.854
15 Jonas FOLGER GER Ongetta Team Aprilia +38.899
16 Marcel SCHROTTER GER Interwetten Honda 125 Honda +38.991
17 Louis ROSSI FRA CBC Corse Aprilia +42.056
18 Sturla FAGERHAUG NOR AirAsia – Sepang Int. Circuit Aprilia +51.351
19 Jakub KORNFEIL CZE Racing Team Germany Aprilia +56.496
20 Adrian MARTIN SPA Aeroport de Castello – Ajo Aprilia +56.750
21 Zulfahmi KHAIRUDDIN MAL AirAsia – Sepang Int. Circuit Aprilia +1’21.998
22 Luca MARCONI ITA Ongetta Team Aprilia +1’32.074
23 Quentin JACQUET FRA Stipa-Molenaar Racing GP Aprilia +1’52.842