Qatar MotoGP: Espargaro beats Redding to Moto2 win

2012 Moto2 runner up Pol Espargaro kicked off 2013 in style with victory in Qatar after a race long battle with Brit Scott Redding.

It was Takaaki Nakagami who took the lead early in the race, but the Japanese rider was unable to hold off Redding and Espargaro midway through the race.

Redding took the lead with 15 laps remaining and held Espargaro off for 10 laps until the Spaniard passed on the brakes in to the first corner.

Redding tried to retake the lead on the final lap, but was forced to settle for second after almost colliding with Espargaro.

Nakagami completed the podium in third.

Tech 3 Moto2 rookie Danny Kent rode a solid race to finish 18th. Fellow Brit Kyle Smith finished 21st in his first ever Moto2 race.

Mattia Pasini did not finish the race after a collision involving Mike Di Meglio. The incident will be reviewed by race direction.

1 25 40 Pol ESPARGARO SPA Tuenti HP 40 Kalex 159.2 40’31.782
2 20 45 Scott REDDING GBR Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex 159.2 +0.844
3 16 30 Takaaki NAKAGAMI JPN Italtrans Racing Team Kalex 158.5 +12.098
4 13 77 Dominique AEGERTER SWI Technomag carXpert Suter 158.0 +18.910
5 11 36 Mika KALLIO FIN Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex 158.0 +18.933
6 10 60 Julian SIMON SPA Italtrans Racing Team Kalex 158.0 +19.018
7 9 3 Simone CORSI ITA NGM Mobile Racing Speed Up 158.0 +19.230
8 8 15 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM NGM Mobile Forward Racing Speed Up 158.0 +19.452
9 7 80 Esteve RABAT SPA Tuenti HP 40 Kalex 157.9 +20.219
10 6 19 Xavier SIMEON BEL Desguaces La Torre Maptaq Kalex 157.9 +20.972
11 5 81 Jordi TORRES SPA Mapfre Aspar Team Moto2 Suter 157.8 +21.674
12 4 5 Johann ZARCO FRA Came Iodaracing Project Suter 157.8 +22.084
13 3 23 Marcel SCHROTTER GER Desguaces La Torre SAG Kalex 157.8 +22.093
14 2 18 Nicolas TEROL SPA Mapfre Aspar Team Moto2 Suter 157.8 +22.496
15 1 24 Toni ELIAS SPA Blusens Avintia Kalex 156.9 +36.677
16  63 Mike DI MEGLIO FRA Jir Moto2 Motobi 156.9 +36.697
17  11 Sandro CORTESE GER Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex 156.5 +41.857
18  52 Danny KENT GBR Tech 3 Tech 3 156.3 +45.295
19  4 Randy KRUMMENACHER SWI Technomag carXpert Suter 156.2 +47.673
20  33 Sergio GADEA SPA Interwetten Paddock Suter 155.8 +54.197
21  9 Kyle SMITH GBR Blusens Avintia Kalex 155.5 +59.245
22  44 Steven ODENDAAL RSA Argiñano & Gines Racing Speed Up 155.2 +1’02.713
23  72 Yuki TAKAHASHI JPN IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia Moriwaki 155.1 +1’04.294
24  7 Doni Tata PRADITA INA Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 Suter 154.5 +1’14.017
25  17 Alberto MONCAYO SPA Argiñano & Gines Racing Speed Up 153.1 +1’37.009
26  97 Rafid Topan SUCIPTO INA QMMF Racing Team Speed Up 147.6 1 Lap
Not Classified
  14 Ratthapark WILAIROT THA Thai Honda PTT Gresini Moto2 Suter 154.2 5 Laps
  88 Ricard CARDUS SPA NGM Mobile Forward Racing Speed Up 157.3 12 Laps
  54 Mattia PASINI ITA NGM Mobile Racing Speed Up 155.7 12 Laps
  95 Anthony WEST AUS QMMF Racing Team Speed Up 144.7 13 Laps
  49 Axel PONS SPA Tuenti HP 40 Kalex 154.2 17 Laps
  96 Louis ROSSI FRA Tech 3 Tech 3 153.4 17 Laps