At the start of this 18 lap race, Scott Reedding got a good start into the first corner. Tom Luthi tried for second, but Taki Nakagami got around him. Redding has the early lead. Tom Luthi is running well onto Hangar straight and into Stowe. Tito Rabat and Johann Zarco also are battling through Vale. Mika Kallio and Xavier Simeon pass Pol Espargaro into Abbey. Going through Farm, Nakagami is pushing, through Village, and into The Loop and down the Wellington straight, through Brooklands.
Redding stays safe in front while there's a huge battle from fifth through ninth, back into Copse. Espargaro and Redding are on the same tires. Soft front, hard rear. Xavier Simeon has a medium rear tire. Redding has to open a gap over Espargaro. This is Redding's home Grand Prix and he has won at Silverstone. Simeon passes Kallio. But, it didn't work. Kallio gets back by him as they go back down Wellington straight and into Brooklands another time.
Into Woodcote, this completes another lap. Rabat sets fast lap in the 2:01 range. Nakagami wants to win. Can he? Espargaro is running slower than Scott Redding, and he's dispensed with Johann Zarco. Redding, Zarco, and Dominik Aegerter, are the only three riders who have scored points in all the races this year. Pol Espargaro is now eighth as in Becketts/Chapel, Alberto Moncayo falls, and his team mate, Steven Odendall didin't even start, after a crash he suffered.
Espargaro runs a 2:09.1. Redding is faster in the 2:07 range. Tito Rabat is recovering after running wide into Vale corner. Dominik Aegerter is pushing Tom Luthi right now. Is Pol Espargaro struggling? Or, is he waiting for an opportunity to pass? Nakagami resets fast lap as Scott Redding sets a personal best. Nakagami it seems, has been ill. But, he's running well so far. He wants to win a Grand Prix. Tom Luthi and Dominik Aegerter both want a piece of the action. Aegerter has had 26 straight races, finishing in the points.
Nakagami resets fast lap, again in the 2:07s. Espargaro chases Mattia Pasini. Three years ago, it was Scott Redding, running a great race with Jules Cluzel. Twelve laps left. Scott Redding keeps knocking out personal best lap times coming back through Woodcote. Espargaro passes Matteo Pasini into Copse. He's taking a second a lap out of Redding. Simone Corsi is trying Pol Espargaro. Corsi is quicker. Pol Espargaro might lose quite a few points. Gino Rea and Danny Kent are having a great race. But, it's for 21st place.
Kent will be back in Moto 2 with Tech 3 next year. The top four all set personal best laps. Zarco, Kallio, and others, are going to have to hurry if they want to gain ground. Zarco is slipping back. But, Redding is still ahead. Tom Luthi is coming, though. Can he catch Scott Redding? Redding has had great consistency during races this year. Tom Luthi resets fast lap at 2:07.32 as Simone Corsi passes Pol Espargaro, but Espargaro gets him back through Brooklands.
2:07.320 is a new fast lap. Luthi is strong at Stowe corner as they come out of Club and into Abbey and Farm. Luthi is still chipping away at Nakagami. But, Redding continues to gain an advantage. Rafid Topan Sucipto is going to be lapped. Nakagami passes Redding for the lead. He wants the win, after getting second in the last two races. They come into Copse. Six laps left in this one. Redding does best in the third sector, through Vale. Redding runs his slowest race lap at 2:08.7. Into Abbey, Redding is still pushing. Rabat passes Simeon.
Dominik Aegerter is fourth. Tito Rabat will be the new rider for Marc VDS in Moto 2 next year when Redding movs to MotoGP. Now, Rabat sets a new fast lap. Pol Espargaro is being driven crazy by Johann Zarco. They are still behind Mika Kallio, too. Redding wanted by into Stowe. Not there. Rabat passes Aegerter, resetting fast lap at 2:07.2. What can Luthi do? Will Rabat gain ground? Redding is close to Nakagami coming through Luffield.
Into Woodcote again, and down the front straight. Rabat is 6/10ths quicker than Nakagami and Redding. Into Stowe, Redding is pushing with Luthi and Nakagami ahead. Redding's crew tells him, "want it." Into Abbey, four laps left. Nakagami runs wide and Redding gets the lead back! Whoa! Nakagami went too deep into Village. Luthi is second. Nakagami is fading. Three laps left. This is getting good now. The crowd is going berserk, cheering their man on. Going into Stowe, Rabat is closing on Nakagami. Luthi is pushing, hard.
Down into Abbey, no change. Can Rabat make his move? Down the Wellington straight and into Brooklands. Nakagami might get another podium. Rabat runs a 2:07.186 for fastest lap. It's a new track record, too! Rabat almost runs wide. Yikes! Push, push, push. Redding is still leading. Into Club corner, up to Abbey, what's left in the tank? Redding set a personal best lap time. Nakagami passes Luthi. Redding escapes, and it looks like he's going to win this race. Luthi almost passes. But, it didn't work.
Through Woodcote, one lap left. The crowd wants their man to win this. Redding has a half a second over Nakagami. Luthi is now into second. Can he block Nakagami? Yes. No. Nakagami goes throuigh. Thre abreast for second. Get the champagne. Redding is going to win this. Xavier Simeon is out. He's crashed. Luthi tries passing Nakagami. No dice. Redding is through Luffield. He's going to win. The world championship leader, wins his home Grand Prix as Nakagami snatches second from Tom Luthi!
Phew! What a Moto 2 race!
#45 Scott Redding GBR Kalex Quedgeley
Redding could become the first British champion since 1977 when the late, great Barry Sheene did it.
The next Moto 2 race is the San Marino Grand Prix at the Misano circuit in Italy, coming up in two weeks.
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