Here are the highlights of the Moto 2 race from Jerez, Spain.
This race will be 26 laps. On the pole at Jerez, will be Tito Rabat. Scott Redding and Taki Nakagaami are second and third. Redding still leads Moto 2 points.
The bikes set off on their formation lap. They're ready. Here we go.
At the start, Rabat gets passed and it seems that Nico Terol has moved up a spot. Actually, Rabat leads over Redding at the moment. Pol Espargaro needs to pass coming into Dry Sac. Rabat pulls away a bit and Redding will be able to bring everyone back going into the Ferrari croner. Ratthpark Villairot is crashed out in the Ferrari corner as Nico Terol battles Pol Espargaro. They are coming back through Sito Pons corner and into Dry Sac again.
Nico Terol battles his team mate Jordi Torres. Axel Pons is in the pits. Toni Elias slides into the corner trying to pass Mika Kallio and Simone Corsi. The bikes are running in the 1:43 range and Rabat is fastest. Rabat has had his first pole, but, he also wants his first win in Moto 2. Julian Simon passes Mike Di Meglio. Toni Elias somehow misses taking out both Kallio and Corsi in replay. Rabat resets fast lap but has Redding, Nakagami, and Espargaro, still coming. Kyle Smith pits, and might have damage to his bike. Scott Redding is beginning to close up. Redding is currently the points leader in Moto 2.
Rabat sets another fastest lap. Not sure of the time. Nakagami is 7/10ths of a second behind Scott Redding right now. Axel Pons is out of this race. Tires and heat will be a big deal in this event. Rabat resets fast lap in the 1:43 bracket. Nakagaami wants a podium again, after crashing last time out at Circuit of the Americas. Rabat brings fast lap down to a 1:43.119. There are still 19 laps to run. Make that 18. Jordi Torres battles Xavier Simeon and Mika Kallio. Julian Simon and Tom Luthi battle for position.
Scott Redding is still hanging in there in the top three, currently second, still behind Rabat. The riders have to really concentrate and push as quick as they can. Danny Kent falls off his bike, but continues. He slid off of it in a minor, low side crash. Marcel Schrotter leads Toni Elias. Elias has won in the old 250cc class before. Xavier Simeon has Dominik Aegerter and Mika Kallio, following. Rathpark Villairot, as well as another rider, might have injuries after a crash. Mike Di Meglio battles with Randy Krummenacher. The helicopter camera looking above the race track, tells the story.
Rabat still has a lead margin at the moment. Pol Espargaro is starting to close on Taki Nakagaami as Kyle Smith ditches the bike again. Is there tire wear? It's hard to tell if the tires are fading as this race has past it's half distance mark. Kallio slides off his bike, too. He's on the second Marc VDS machine. He won Jerez in 250cc competition in 2008. Twelve laps remain now. Nakagaami is being hounded by Pol Espargaro. Scott Redding runs 3/10ths quicker than Rabat, as Nakagami is slightly slower than Espargaro.
The gap is at a half a second now. Eleven laps now remain. Make that nine. Not much action in the last two laps, except for a battle between Nakagami and Espargaro. Pol Espargaro wants to pounce. Nakagami is ahead as Espargaro will not be happy about being blocked. The laps continue to click away. Rabat continues to lead here at Jerez. Xavier Simeon could get his best finish in Moto 2. Jordi Torres fends off Simeon's challenge.
Espargaro closes up. But, Nakagaami is faster. Nakagaami wiggles the motorcycle. Espargaro is half a second behind Taaki Nakagami now. This race is flowing in a way, at least at the top. However, the question is, does Nakagaami have enough? Espargaro is closing up. This is an intent battle. Yours truly is trying to keep an eye on the TV set here. They come to the Sito Pons corner. Espargaro and Nakagaami batle for the final podium place. Tito Rabat still leads this race. The bikes com e through Jorge Lorenzo corner, and now, there's three laps left.
Back through Sito Pons corner. Redding is ahead of Nakaggami. Espargaro is actually taking it to Nakaggami who comes right back by in a huge battle. This is the best battle on track right now, coming to the end of this race through the Alex Criville and Ferrari corners. Espargaro is making the home crowd happy. Into Dry Sac again. Nakagaami was surprised by Espargaro. Going back into Dry Sac, Nakagaami purposely goes wide to try and outbrake his rival.
Espargaro is now third. Tito Rabat looks as if he's going to win this thing. It's the final lap. Rabat is going to win his first Moto 2 race, and his first Grand Prix, soon. Can Nakagami make a last ditch effort to pass Espargaro? He needs to make a move, now. It's the last lap. Espargaro will be third, and here's Tito Rabat. He wins it!
#80 Esteve "Tito" Rabat ESP Kalex Barcelona
The next race for Moto 2 is in two weeks, in France. The venue, Le Mans, at the Bugatti circuit which is intended for use by motorcycles. That race, is in two weeks.
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