After his big crash in qualifying at Circuit of the Americas, Karel Abraham will give racing a shot this weekend at Jerez. Here's the story.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Abraham+to+try+and+compete+at+Jerez
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
MOTOGP: Spanish Heroes Take Fight Home
This weekend will mark a hometown battle between Repsol Honda team mates Dani Pedrosa and the sensational Marc Marquez who won last time out at Circuit of the Americas. The MotoGP stars will run at the Jerez circuit in Spain this coming Sunday. Look for race reports from all three divisions, right here.
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp-marquez-lorenzo-pedrosa-take-fight-home/
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp-marquez-lorenzo-pedrosa-take-fight-home/
Sunday, April 28, 2013
World Superbike round 3: Assen
Tom Sykes for Kawasaki, and Eugene Laverty for Aprilia, were the winners in round three of the 2013 FIM World Superbike Championship at the Assen TT circuit in Assen, Holland this weekend. Here are the winners from each race.
World Superbike race 1: #66 Tom Sykes GBR. Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX10R
World Superbike race 2: #58 Eugene Laverty IRL. Aprilia Racing Team Aprilia RSV4 Factory
World Supersport race: #11 Sam Lowes GBR. Yaknich Motorsport Yamaha YZF R6
Superstock 1000 race: #47 Eddi La Marra ITA. Barni Racing Team Ducati 1199 Panigale R
Superstock 600 race: #52 Gauthier Duwelz BEL MTM-MVR Racing Team Yamaha YZF R6
The next round of the World Superbike championship, and it's support series, will be in Italy, at the legendary Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in Monza, Italy. It takes place in two weeks, on Mother's Day weekend.
World Superbike race 1: #66 Tom Sykes GBR. Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX10R
World Superbike race 2: #58 Eugene Laverty IRL. Aprilia Racing Team Aprilia RSV4 Factory
World Supersport race: #11 Sam Lowes GBR. Yaknich Motorsport Yamaha YZF R6
Superstock 1000 race: #47 Eddi La Marra ITA. Barni Racing Team Ducati 1199 Panigale R
Superstock 600 race: #52 Gauthier Duwelz BEL MTM-MVR Racing Team Yamaha YZF R6
The next round of the World Superbike championship, and it's support series, will be in Italy, at the legendary Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in Monza, Italy. It takes place in two weeks, on Mother's Day weekend.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Espargaro still striving to beat prototypes
Aleix Espargaro is doing his very best to beat the prototype bikes with his CRT machine in each and every MotoGP race. He was successful, last time out at Circuit of the Americas. Here's the full story on Espargaro.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Espargaro+still+striving+to+beat+prototypes
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Espargaro+still+striving+to+beat+prototypes
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
WSBK: Guintoli Leads Into Assen
Here is a preview of the FIM World Superbike race coming up this weekend at the legendary Assen circuit in Holland. A brief summary of the action will be featured on this blog, when the results of each race for Superbikes, Supersport, and the two Super Stock classes, can be found.
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/wsbk-guintoli-leads-into-assen/P1
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/wsbk-guintoli-leads-into-assen/P1
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Moto 3 U.S.A. (Circuit of the Americas)
It's time for Moto 3 at Circuit of the Americas. These are the young guns. The future stars that we'll see in MotoGP sooner or later. Moto 3 is the first step on the ladder. These are single cylinder bikes with 250cc displacement, producing 50 horsepower or so. Luis Salom has been very quick. Maverick Vinales is also on the front row. But, Alex Rins has scored his second pole position. Jack Miller and Alex Marquez are going to be in this fight. These bikes have a combined weight of 325 pounds.
This is going to be a good one. We are ready for the race. The bikes are on track. This is a moment in history for Circuit of the Americas as Alex Rins, is on pole as mentioned. The racing line is on the right side of the grid. This track is really wide. Moto 3 bikes carry a lot of speed, and the paint on track has sand in it, and that's why these guys can carry so much speed over the curbs. 18 laps scheduled. Valentino Rossi is watching this race. We're ready to race.
At the start, going uphill, it's Alex Rins being pushed by Luis Salom already. How will these guys get through the esses? One corner flows into the next one. Through the fast kink and into the braking zone at turn eleven. The back straight is nearly a mile long. These guys are now single file, drafting, ready to hit the brakes through the speed trap. Maverick Vinales, Alex Rins, and Luis Salom are all at the top of the order right now. All KTM's at the front. Niklas Ajo makes a pass as Rins runs a 2:17.3. Arthur Sissis is also coming, in seventh.
A couple riders have crashed. Alessandro Tonucci picks up his bike and continues. Florian Alt also went down. Both of them will keep racing. These guys come from Red Bull Rookies Cup, and also, 125cc bikes. Everyone wants to show what they can do. Rins runs a 2:16.9 as he's got a half a second lead. Zulfami Khairuddin is running well. Arthur Sissis runs seventh as Florian Alt heads to pit lane. It's Rins, Vinales, and Salom. Florian Alt is out of the race.
The lean angle through the corners will wear the tires down. Rins, Vinales, and Salom are 1-2-3. Isaac Vinales (Maverick's brother), is also running down the order. The esses on this track are critical. You've got to keep up a rhythm as a rider. Keep momentum up. Matteo Ferrari runs back in 27th. Brad Binder is also starting to move up. The top three is starting to gap Jonas Folger at the moment. Fourteen laps remaining. This is a very physically and mentally taxing track. But, these younger riders on smaller bikes, seem to be doing very well.
As a rider, you have to get down behind the fairing, making yourself very aerodynamic. Salom is sizing up Vinales and Rins, asking, "are these dudes sandbagging? Can I get around them? Are they really as fast as they can be?" Jonas Folger is a second adrift from the leaders. Danny Webb is up to thirteenth behind Romano Fenati and Miguel Oliviera. Jakub Kornfeil is eighth at the moment going through the turn ten kink. 12 laps completed. Toni Finsterbusch falls. He loses the front end. Alex Rins is in command as Luis Salom might be falling behind just a shade.
Eight laps done. Ten remain. So the next lap, it'll be halfway. The fastest bike is 145 miles an hour, compared to 211 miles an hour for MotoGP. That's a 65-66 mile an hour difference. Jack Miller passes Jakub Kornfeil. The bikes wind through turn 15. Turn 19 is another good passing zone. Right now, these guys are running to a pace as Luis Salom has fallen back. It's not hard to overwork a tire because you as a rider are on edge in terms of the adhesion on this track.
Make a move into turn 12. But, wait. This race is right at halfway now. Alain Techer of France falls off his bike. There's a bunch of runoff on this track. Techer fell in turn 11 after the esses. Rins is gapping Vinales. Vinales will have to make a move earlier than he anticipates. Four Spanish riders, lead it. We are now under a red flag. How did this happen? Dutchman Jasper Iwema has crashed. Race control determined that five laps will decide this race, after the riders pitted for tires and fuel. Iwema is being examined, and he's in good shape.
The grid reforms and everyone has new tires. It's a whole new race now. It's a five lap sprint on the restart. Luis Salom has the hole shot. He's gained everything he needs as they go through the esses in turns three, four, and five. Jonas Folger is going to push like crazy as Alex Rins goes wide to avoid a wiggling Maverick Vinales. He's going to have to catch up. Luis Salom is going to extend his race lead it seems. Get a good drive off of turn 20 to get down the front straight.
Jasper Iwema will have a CT scan, but his muscles are fine. He'll be back to race again. Niklas Ajo is fifth being passed by Maverick Vinales. Alex Rins looks down the inside as Alex Marquez has an issue, stopping, and starting the bike again. Four laps left. Tony Finsterbusch will be OK after his early crash. A lot of these corners in the middle of the track, are stop and go. Rins is pushing up the inside. Salom has good drive. Will he go for it? Yes. They're side by side! Who gets it? Vinales runs fast lap at 2:16.8. Folger is fourth. Ajo is fifth. Miller is sixth. Binder, Kornfeeil and others are in contention.
It's game over for Alex Marquez. He comes to pit lane. Salom has a draft and he's made a pass. But, Alex Rins is not giving up. Rins points to Salom saying, "follow me. Don't make a stupid move and crash." The two frontrunners are making hay while the sun shines with two laps left. This has been a whale of a race! They're back through turns ten and elevn. Vinales is coming. They're flip flopping positions. It's a three way fight for the win. Vinales follows Rins and Salom. One lap remains now. Salom has to pass, now. He can't wait. He pushes it down the inside and makes it work. But, Vinales is challenging. He runs wide.
Watch Rins. He can't let this race end like Qatar did last time out. It's got to be a last minute move in turn 12 for Rins. Maverick Vinales is still there. Here we go. Maverick Vinales tries slipstreaming. Here he comes! Through turn fifteen, the double apex corner. Turn 19 is risky. Rins has to cover the inside. Salom is up the inside and there's Rins and Vinales! Rins wins it! Salom had it all and lost it all in one fell swoop!
#42 Alex Rins ESP KTM
The next race for Moto 3 will be in Spain at the Jerez circuit, coming up in two weeks.
This is going to be a good one. We are ready for the race. The bikes are on track. This is a moment in history for Circuit of the Americas as Alex Rins, is on pole as mentioned. The racing line is on the right side of the grid. This track is really wide. Moto 3 bikes carry a lot of speed, and the paint on track has sand in it, and that's why these guys can carry so much speed over the curbs. 18 laps scheduled. Valentino Rossi is watching this race. We're ready to race.
At the start, going uphill, it's Alex Rins being pushed by Luis Salom already. How will these guys get through the esses? One corner flows into the next one. Through the fast kink and into the braking zone at turn eleven. The back straight is nearly a mile long. These guys are now single file, drafting, ready to hit the brakes through the speed trap. Maverick Vinales, Alex Rins, and Luis Salom are all at the top of the order right now. All KTM's at the front. Niklas Ajo makes a pass as Rins runs a 2:17.3. Arthur Sissis is also coming, in seventh.
A couple riders have crashed. Alessandro Tonucci picks up his bike and continues. Florian Alt also went down. Both of them will keep racing. These guys come from Red Bull Rookies Cup, and also, 125cc bikes. Everyone wants to show what they can do. Rins runs a 2:16.9 as he's got a half a second lead. Zulfami Khairuddin is running well. Arthur Sissis runs seventh as Florian Alt heads to pit lane. It's Rins, Vinales, and Salom. Florian Alt is out of the race.
The lean angle through the corners will wear the tires down. Rins, Vinales, and Salom are 1-2-3. Isaac Vinales (Maverick's brother), is also running down the order. The esses on this track are critical. You've got to keep up a rhythm as a rider. Keep momentum up. Matteo Ferrari runs back in 27th. Brad Binder is also starting to move up. The top three is starting to gap Jonas Folger at the moment. Fourteen laps remaining. This is a very physically and mentally taxing track. But, these younger riders on smaller bikes, seem to be doing very well.
As a rider, you have to get down behind the fairing, making yourself very aerodynamic. Salom is sizing up Vinales and Rins, asking, "are these dudes sandbagging? Can I get around them? Are they really as fast as they can be?" Jonas Folger is a second adrift from the leaders. Danny Webb is up to thirteenth behind Romano Fenati and Miguel Oliviera. Jakub Kornfeil is eighth at the moment going through the turn ten kink. 12 laps completed. Toni Finsterbusch falls. He loses the front end. Alex Rins is in command as Luis Salom might be falling behind just a shade.
Eight laps done. Ten remain. So the next lap, it'll be halfway. The fastest bike is 145 miles an hour, compared to 211 miles an hour for MotoGP. That's a 65-66 mile an hour difference. Jack Miller passes Jakub Kornfeil. The bikes wind through turn 15. Turn 19 is another good passing zone. Right now, these guys are running to a pace as Luis Salom has fallen back. It's not hard to overwork a tire because you as a rider are on edge in terms of the adhesion on this track.
Make a move into turn 12. But, wait. This race is right at halfway now. Alain Techer of France falls off his bike. There's a bunch of runoff on this track. Techer fell in turn 11 after the esses. Rins is gapping Vinales. Vinales will have to make a move earlier than he anticipates. Four Spanish riders, lead it. We are now under a red flag. How did this happen? Dutchman Jasper Iwema has crashed. Race control determined that five laps will decide this race, after the riders pitted for tires and fuel. Iwema is being examined, and he's in good shape.
The grid reforms and everyone has new tires. It's a whole new race now. It's a five lap sprint on the restart. Luis Salom has the hole shot. He's gained everything he needs as they go through the esses in turns three, four, and five. Jonas Folger is going to push like crazy as Alex Rins goes wide to avoid a wiggling Maverick Vinales. He's going to have to catch up. Luis Salom is going to extend his race lead it seems. Get a good drive off of turn 20 to get down the front straight.
Jasper Iwema will have a CT scan, but his muscles are fine. He'll be back to race again. Niklas Ajo is fifth being passed by Maverick Vinales. Alex Rins looks down the inside as Alex Marquez has an issue, stopping, and starting the bike again. Four laps left. Tony Finsterbusch will be OK after his early crash. A lot of these corners in the middle of the track, are stop and go. Rins is pushing up the inside. Salom has good drive. Will he go for it? Yes. They're side by side! Who gets it? Vinales runs fast lap at 2:16.8. Folger is fourth. Ajo is fifth. Miller is sixth. Binder, Kornfeeil and others are in contention.
It's game over for Alex Marquez. He comes to pit lane. Salom has a draft and he's made a pass. But, Alex Rins is not giving up. Rins points to Salom saying, "follow me. Don't make a stupid move and crash." The two frontrunners are making hay while the sun shines with two laps left. This has been a whale of a race! They're back through turns ten and elevn. Vinales is coming. They're flip flopping positions. It's a three way fight for the win. Vinales follows Rins and Salom. One lap remains now. Salom has to pass, now. He can't wait. He pushes it down the inside and makes it work. But, Vinales is challenging. He runs wide.
Watch Rins. He can't let this race end like Qatar did last time out. It's got to be a last minute move in turn 12 for Rins. Maverick Vinales is still there. Here we go. Maverick Vinales tries slipstreaming. Here he comes! Through turn fifteen, the double apex corner. Turn 19 is risky. Rins has to cover the inside. Salom is up the inside and there's Rins and Vinales! Rins wins it! Salom had it all and lost it all in one fell swoop!
#42 Alex Rins ESP KTM
The next race for Moto 3 will be in Spain at the Jerez circuit, coming up in two weeks.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Moto 2: U.S.A. (Circuit of the Americas)
After a wicked MotoGP race, here are the highlights of Moto 2 at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
As we know, Moto 2 bikes are smaller and lighter, with 600cc motors. This race will be scheduled for 19 laps, and is going to be a good one to be sure.
Scott Redding has pole for this race. Pol Espargaro is seventh. Scott Redding has pole, and is the first British rider to have pole in the second tier class since Jeremy McWilliams in 1999. What will the tires do? Dunlop provides tires for the Moto 2 championship. The field rolls off on their formation lap. There will be about 30 bikes on this grid. This will be a good one. There was no tire testing for the Dunlop tires on this course. 19 laps scheduled for a distance of 65 miles.
At the start, Scott Redding comes back after getting shuffled at the start. So far so good on the wide, uphill turn one. Redding leads and Taki Nakagaami gets second. Nico Terol, Dominik Aegerter and others run single file down the order. These 600cc machines will be going 167 miles an hour down the straights. Dominik Aegerter is pushing hard, and Redding wants to have control of this race. Aegerter makes a move as the bikes and riders settle down.
This is a real physical race course as spoken about in the MotoGP race in the last feature. Three bikes won't go into the first turn. You can block pass as Nakagami goes to the lead over Redding. Sandro Cortese languishes in 20th spot. Aegerter is running well, as Redding is trying to pass for the lead. Redding and Aegerter are battling. Redding says, "no, no, sunshine. Let me in." Nico Terol tries to pass and can't quite do it. Swing the bike back to the left to set up for the triple apex turn 18. Mika Kallio is coming. Carry momentum. Don't accelerate too hard. Cortese will be penalized for a jumped start as Redding runs a 2:13.007.
Pol Espargaro is moving up. Cortese serves his penalty. Nico Terol is still second, wanting to pass Scott Redding. These guys are doing a lot with lean angle, too, as Terol tries. But, calm down. This is good stuff. Any of the top six are on par to have a shot here. Espargaro tries passing Aegerter. But, he can't quite do it. Mika Kallio is up to third. Pol Espargaro falls in turn six. He's hurt, possibly. Let's hope he'll be OK. Terol, Redding, and others, are battling. Anthony West is running well. He's coming. Right now, Kallio is third, behind Redding, followed by Aegerter.
Mika Kallio has 180 or so races in the FIM championship. He's very experienced. Kallio takes second from Redding who may be overriding the bike. Nico Terol pulls out, catching Redding off guard. Dominik Aegerter is still going for it. Simone Corsi is up there, too. These bikes have a minimum weight requirement. Aerodynamics is big with these bikes, as all the motors are the same. They're all 600cc bikes. Kallio wants to go for it. Pol Espargaro is limping. But he should be fine. Dominik Aegerter slides the bike all over.
He'll need to be careful. Thirteen laps to go. Taki Nakagaami is out. He learned from the great Kenny Roberts, about how to race. Nakagaami almost falls off. The rear tire might be at fault. It's an abused tire that the Dunlop technicians will need to look at. It's how you set the bike up, and how you ride it. Kallio and Aegerter run laps in teh 2:12 range as Simone Corsi falls. Anthony West is up to fifth place. The gap is
1.8 seconds. Nicolas Terol, the Spaniard, leads it.
Nicolas Terol has a 2.4 second lead. Dominik Aegerter still slides the bike. Taki Nakagaami had a tranmission issue. But, Tito Rabat is running quick. Can he get to a podium? He's got no one else around him, with clear race track. Terol runs a 2:12.8. Aegerter tries to pass Redding. Kallio breaks away from these two. Toni Elias is 16th and has had a fraught season so far. Randy Krumenacher from Switzerland has crashed, low siding the bike. The more body you use, the less lean angle you carry.
Do your moves to ride the motorcycle more precisely if the tires go off. Aegerter passes Redding, and Dominik Aegerter is going to try Mika Kallio next. Turns nine and ten are very tricky corners. This is quite a performance from Mika Kallio. But, Nicolas Terol is going for it. Esteve Rabat remains fifth. The gap is 2.9 seconds. Aegerter is 8/10ths quicker than the leader. He's coming for Mika Kallio. Dominik Aegerter could get a podium. He is under pressure from Tito Rabat. Seven laps left now.
Will Aegerter last without running his tires ragged? The long duration corners have really stressed the tires. Scott Redding will still need to search for his first Moto 2 win. The gap is closing now between Kallio and Aegerter. Nico Terol has his bike set up well. He's been in the zone. Friday testing was wiped out because it was too cold. Mika Kallio goes wide, but holds on well. These guys have to use throttle control and their bodies. They don't have the traction control and the bells and whistles of a MotoGP machine. Aegerter still wants by Redding.
Rabat cuts the gap down and Aegerter has held his line over Redding. Now, Esteve (Tito) Rabat, is going to have more chances. He's run a 2:12.4. Esteve Rabat is right on it now. Mika Kallio is still pushing. Nico Terol has a decent gap, coming to the finish of this race. Three laps remain. Nico Terol has a 2.7 second lead. He's checked out. Dominik Aegerter sweeps by Mika Kallio. Esteve Rabat is also coming. Mika Kallio is also trying hard. Kallio lost his braking spot, allowing Rabat to pass. The clutches on the Moto 2 bikes are adjustable.
Kallio can't keep the wheels in line. Mika Kallio is going for it. He's run MotoGP before, so he knows these 600cc bikes will be a piece of cake. Rabat is up to third, sliding past Aegerter. There is a corner on this track where a car or bike is prone to sliding. That was seen in the F1 Grand Prix last fall. Less than two laps remaining. Rabat is behind Kallio. It seems Terol is going to win. Kallio goes sideways. Nico Terol will very likely win his first Moto 2 race here at COTA. Kallio under pressure and Rabat gets second. Kallio is still going for it. Who will get the advantage?
In turn 12, Kallio might be able to do it. He does. No. Wait. Yes, he does. Rabat gets loose and Aegerter is touched by Kallio! Rabat wants by Kallio. No dice. Kallio gets second. But, Nico Terol wins his first Moto 2 race!
#18 Nico Terol ESP Suter Alcoy
The next Moto 2 race will be the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez, coming up in three weeks or so, the first weekend in May.
As we know, Moto 2 bikes are smaller and lighter, with 600cc motors. This race will be scheduled for 19 laps, and is going to be a good one to be sure.
Scott Redding has pole for this race. Pol Espargaro is seventh. Scott Redding has pole, and is the first British rider to have pole in the second tier class since Jeremy McWilliams in 1999. What will the tires do? Dunlop provides tires for the Moto 2 championship. The field rolls off on their formation lap. There will be about 30 bikes on this grid. This will be a good one. There was no tire testing for the Dunlop tires on this course. 19 laps scheduled for a distance of 65 miles.
At the start, Scott Redding comes back after getting shuffled at the start. So far so good on the wide, uphill turn one. Redding leads and Taki Nakagaami gets second. Nico Terol, Dominik Aegerter and others run single file down the order. These 600cc machines will be going 167 miles an hour down the straights. Dominik Aegerter is pushing hard, and Redding wants to have control of this race. Aegerter makes a move as the bikes and riders settle down.
This is a real physical race course as spoken about in the MotoGP race in the last feature. Three bikes won't go into the first turn. You can block pass as Nakagami goes to the lead over Redding. Sandro Cortese languishes in 20th spot. Aegerter is running well, as Redding is trying to pass for the lead. Redding and Aegerter are battling. Redding says, "no, no, sunshine. Let me in." Nico Terol tries to pass and can't quite do it. Swing the bike back to the left to set up for the triple apex turn 18. Mika Kallio is coming. Carry momentum. Don't accelerate too hard. Cortese will be penalized for a jumped start as Redding runs a 2:13.007.
Pol Espargaro is moving up. Cortese serves his penalty. Nico Terol is still second, wanting to pass Scott Redding. These guys are doing a lot with lean angle, too, as Terol tries. But, calm down. This is good stuff. Any of the top six are on par to have a shot here. Espargaro tries passing Aegerter. But, he can't quite do it. Mika Kallio is up to third. Pol Espargaro falls in turn six. He's hurt, possibly. Let's hope he'll be OK. Terol, Redding, and others, are battling. Anthony West is running well. He's coming. Right now, Kallio is third, behind Redding, followed by Aegerter.
Mika Kallio has 180 or so races in the FIM championship. He's very experienced. Kallio takes second from Redding who may be overriding the bike. Nico Terol pulls out, catching Redding off guard. Dominik Aegerter is still going for it. Simone Corsi is up there, too. These bikes have a minimum weight requirement. Aerodynamics is big with these bikes, as all the motors are the same. They're all 600cc bikes. Kallio wants to go for it. Pol Espargaro is limping. But he should be fine. Dominik Aegerter slides the bike all over.
He'll need to be careful. Thirteen laps to go. Taki Nakagaami is out. He learned from the great Kenny Roberts, about how to race. Nakagaami almost falls off. The rear tire might be at fault. It's an abused tire that the Dunlop technicians will need to look at. It's how you set the bike up, and how you ride it. Kallio and Aegerter run laps in teh 2:12 range as Simone Corsi falls. Anthony West is up to fifth place. The gap is
1.8 seconds. Nicolas Terol, the Spaniard, leads it.
Nicolas Terol has a 2.4 second lead. Dominik Aegerter still slides the bike. Taki Nakagaami had a tranmission issue. But, Tito Rabat is running quick. Can he get to a podium? He's got no one else around him, with clear race track. Terol runs a 2:12.8. Aegerter tries to pass Redding. Kallio breaks away from these two. Toni Elias is 16th and has had a fraught season so far. Randy Krumenacher from Switzerland has crashed, low siding the bike. The more body you use, the less lean angle you carry.
Do your moves to ride the motorcycle more precisely if the tires go off. Aegerter passes Redding, and Dominik Aegerter is going to try Mika Kallio next. Turns nine and ten are very tricky corners. This is quite a performance from Mika Kallio. But, Nicolas Terol is going for it. Esteve Rabat remains fifth. The gap is 2.9 seconds. Aegerter is 8/10ths quicker than the leader. He's coming for Mika Kallio. Dominik Aegerter could get a podium. He is under pressure from Tito Rabat. Seven laps left now.
Will Aegerter last without running his tires ragged? The long duration corners have really stressed the tires. Scott Redding will still need to search for his first Moto 2 win. The gap is closing now between Kallio and Aegerter. Nico Terol has his bike set up well. He's been in the zone. Friday testing was wiped out because it was too cold. Mika Kallio goes wide, but holds on well. These guys have to use throttle control and their bodies. They don't have the traction control and the bells and whistles of a MotoGP machine. Aegerter still wants by Redding.
Rabat cuts the gap down and Aegerter has held his line over Redding. Now, Esteve (Tito) Rabat, is going to have more chances. He's run a 2:12.4. Esteve Rabat is right on it now. Mika Kallio is still pushing. Nico Terol has a decent gap, coming to the finish of this race. Three laps remain. Nico Terol has a 2.7 second lead. He's checked out. Dominik Aegerter sweeps by Mika Kallio. Esteve Rabat is also coming. Mika Kallio is also trying hard. Kallio lost his braking spot, allowing Rabat to pass. The clutches on the Moto 2 bikes are adjustable.
Kallio can't keep the wheels in line. Mika Kallio is going for it. He's run MotoGP before, so he knows these 600cc bikes will be a piece of cake. Rabat is up to third, sliding past Aegerter. There is a corner on this track where a car or bike is prone to sliding. That was seen in the F1 Grand Prix last fall. Less than two laps remaining. Rabat is behind Kallio. It seems Terol is going to win. Kallio goes sideways. Nico Terol will very likely win his first Moto 2 race here at COTA. Kallio under pressure and Rabat gets second. Kallio is still going for it. Who will get the advantage?
In turn 12, Kallio might be able to do it. He does. No. Wait. Yes, he does. Rabat gets loose and Aegerter is touched by Kallio! Rabat wants by Kallio. No dice. Kallio gets second. But, Nico Terol wins his first Moto 2 race!
#18 Nico Terol ESP Suter Alcoy
The next Moto 2 race will be the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez, coming up in three weeks or so, the first weekend in May.
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