Jerez MotoGP: Scott Redding just misses Moto2 top 15

Scott Redding was denied his first points-scoring finish in the Moto2 world championship by just 0.2s in Jerez yesterday.   

The British teenager lost out in a race long scrap with former factory Kawasaki MotoGP rider Anthony West to finish 16th in an action-packed shortened 17-lap race.

The race had to restarted after a second lap crash involving nine riders left oil on the track. A collision between championship leader Shoya Tomizawa and Simone Corsi as they braked for Dry Sack corner at the end of the main straight saw both riders crash. Tomizawa’s bike leaked fuel onto the track, which brought down at least five following riders and caused the race to be stopped. Race bosses cut the race to 17 laps from the scheduled 26 and the restart was a captivating affair.

Restarting from 26th position on the grid, Redding fought his way through the field and into a battle with West and Stefan Bradl.

The 17-year-old dropped off the back of the group at mid-race distance, after being pushed wide by West and then being hit by at least four riders.

But he regrouped and managed to rejoin the battle for 14th as the race drew to a close. In the final stages the Marc VDS rider pushed hard, but was unable to get the better of West and take the final points scoring position.

Redding said: “That was some race. It was carnage out there early on, with people banging into you from all sides at almost every corner.

“From the restart, and once the field had sorted itself out a bit, I managed to find a good rhythm and I was lapping at the same time as the guys at the front of the race and having a good battle with Westy into the bargain.

“Then the tyres started to go off, I got pushed wide and I dropped off the back of the group a little bit. The feeling was the same as in practice and qualifying, but this time I carried on pushing and there was still some grip to be had.

“Unfortunately I couldn’t overhaul Westy at the end for my first championship points, but I enjoyed myself today, learnt a lot in the race and it’s all good experience. I’m looking forward to getting to Le Mans now and, hopefully, picking up my first championship points there.”

The race was won by Toni Elias, with Tomizawa second and Swiss rider Thomas Luthi third.