Monday, May 20, 2013

Moto 2: France

Here are the highlights of the Moto 2 race from the Bugatti Circuit at Le Mans.  Tito Rabat has a one point lead in the championship at the moment after winning last time out in Spain.  This race will be 26 laps.  It is likely to be a dry race.

On pole, is Takaaki Nakagami.  Gino Rea is making his first start of 2013.  The bikes are on their warmup lap as the track seems to be drying out.  The skies over the Bugatti circuit are dark.  Will rain play a factor in the Moto 2 race?

At the start, it's Rabat leading.  Pol Espargaro is up to second as Scott Redding has fallen to tenth.  Pol Espargaro shot to second behind Nakagaami.  Scott Redding also got bogged down and is nith.  Dominik Aegerter is going forward, too.  Nakagaami wants a first win in Grand Prix racing as Johann Zarco has also done well to get into a top place.  Espargaro is trying, as the rain is coming.  Xavier Simeon and Nico Terol are both going well, too.  With Le Mans, the track can be wet in one spot and dry on another as the bikes go through Garage Vert.  Tito Rabat wants by Nakagami.  Mika Kallio is battling with Scott Redding.

Nakagami is hassling Pol Espargaro right now.  Maybe he missed a shift or something.  With a motorcycle, you are shifting with your foot of course.  Toni Elias is 18th.  Gino Rea also seems to be moving up.  But, it's Tito Rabat and Pol Espargaro taking each other out!  This is a disaster!  Is it weather?  Is it a real crash?  Pol Espargaro is back on his bike.  Both these guys fell down in totally separate incidents in the Museum corner.  Synchronized crashing!

Scott Redding might take over the points lead.  Someone else has a tank slapper, too.  Not sure which bike it was.  Thomas Luthi also crashes.  Yikes.  He low sides his bike.  Tito Rabat is in the pits with a busted handlebar among other issues.  Four laps complete of 26 scheduled as Mike DiMeglio, Mika Kallio, and Scott Redding, are all going to come to the fore in this one.  Johann Zarco runs second with Dominik Aegerter and Xavier Simeon also up there.  No Spaniards to be found.

Simone Corsi wants to win his first Moto 2 race.  Pol Espargaro is way back in the field.  But, he'll keep clicking off laps.  Xavier Simeon is going well, too, as Tito Rabat is back on track.  Taki Nakagaami runs a 1:39.5 for fastest lap so far.  Scott Redding is also moving up, steadily.  Nakagaami runs fast lap, but he crashes!  Yikes!  Never speak too soon!  He slides off the track.  Johann Zarco leads the French Grand Prix for Moto 2.  The French fans are going bananas.  Johann Zarco has the lead.

The riders are getting into lapped traffic, going past Rafid Topan Socipto from Indonesia.  Now, Scott Redding is in the race lead.  All three of the crashes in this race so far, have occurred at the Museum corner.  Sixteen laps to go, and it seems the weather will dry out for the time being.  Redding is followed by Zarco, and Xavier Simeon third.  Not sure who was the last Belgian to win a motorcycle Grand Prix.  Julian Simon, Randy Krummenacher, Alex de Angelis, and others, are having notable races.

Gino Rea pits.  Steven Odendahl and Anthony West are also having respectable races.  Louis Rossi and Danny Kent also run well.  Johann Zarco is closing.  Scott Redding is into a pace now.  Redding exits the Blue Esses, as there are 15 laps to go.  Mika Kallio passes Dominik Aegerter.  Julian Simon, Anthony West, Randy Krummenacher, and Alex de Angelis, all battle.  Sandro Cortese is struggling, and has a broken finger.

Redding gaps Johann Zarco by a few seconds.  Steven Odendaal crashes as Scott Redding runs quicker again.  It's going to be a battle between Redding, Zarco, and Simeon.  Twelve laps remain.  Axel Pons has crashed.  Johann Zarco is going faster, and he's even quicker  now than he was in qualifying.  1:39.137 is the time.  Ten laps remain.  Redding wants to win this race.  But, he also needs to keep the championship scenario in mind.

Redding STILL hasn't won in this division.  Xavier Simeon still wants by Zarco.  Nicolas Terol crashes out, with Julian Simon going forward.  This fall is in Museum corner again.  Scott Redding runs his personal best lap.  Mika Kallio is pressuring Simeon, and passes.  Mika Kallio gets better towards the end of the race.  So, Marc VDS Racing could have two bikes in top places for Moto 2 in France.  Fortunately, the rain is staying away.  Seven laps remain as Scott Redding runs another quick lap.  Randy Krummenacher has fallen down the order.

Mika Kallio is now second as Scott Redding sets fast lap.  Now, it's the Marc VDS team mates who will hound each other.  Redding is gapping Kallio as they run 1:39.2 (both of them).  Six laps to go as Xavier Simeon passes Johann Zarco.  Mika Kallio has already won in the old 125cc and 250cc classes.  Gino Rea is back on track, albeit ten laps down.  No.  He's back in the garage.  It's still Redding and Kallio.  But, there's rain coming.  Maybe at the back of the track.  No.  On both sides.

Will this race be red flagged?  There are yellow dlags out.  The race director will have to take a look.  Xavier Simeon takes second from Mika Kallio.  How wet is the track?  Redding might win this.  But, Xavier Simeon also has a shot at it.  Three laps left now.  No rain yet.  Redding runs a 1:43, which is five seconds slower than what was run for the rest of the race, running 1:38s.  The race is red flagged.

Scott Redding wins his first Moto 2 Grand Prix!

#45 Scott Redding     GBR     Kalex Quedegley

The next Moto 2 race is the Italian Grand Prix at the Mugello circuit in the Tuscany countryside in Italy.  That race is in two weeks. 

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