Luthi seals top spot in qualifying

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After leading all three practice sessions Thomas Lüthi booked pole position on the Moto2™ grid for Sunday's Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar, just ahead of Marc Márquez and Andrea Iannone.

1 Thomas LUTHI Interwetten-Paddock 2'00.187

2 Marc MARQUEZ Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol 2'00.259 0.072 / 0.072

3 Andrea IANNONE Speed Master 2'00.296 0.109 / 0.037

4 Pol ESPARGARO Pons 40 HP Tuenti 2'00.597 0.410 / 0.301

5 Mike DI MEGLIO S/Master Speed Up 2'00.625 0.438 / 0.028

6 Max NEUKIRCHNER Kiefer Racing 2'00.658 0.471 / 0.033

7 Esteve RABAT Pons 40 HP Tuenti 2'00.793 0.606 / 0.135

8 Claudio CORTI Italtrans Racing Team 2'00.874 0.687 / 0.081

9 Takaaki NAKAGAMI Italtrans Racing Team 2'00.898 0.711 / 0.024

10 Simone CORSI Came IodaRacing Project 2'00.986 0.799 / 0.088

11 Julian SIMON Blusens Avintia 2'00.992 0.805 / 0.006

12 Bradley SMITH Tech 3 Racing 2'01.015 0.828 / 0.023

13 Scott REDDING Marc VDS Racing Team 2'01.031 0.844 / 0.016

14 Mika KALLIO Marc VDS Racing Team 2'01.111 0.924 / 0.080

15 Alex DE ANGELIS NGM Mobile Forward Racing 2'01.181 0.994 / 0.070

16 Dominique AEGERTER Technomag-CIP 2'01.374 1.187 / 0.193

17 Toni ELIAS Mapfre Aspar Team 2'01.618 1.431 / 0.244

18 Xavier SIMEON Tech 3 Racing 2'01.718 1.531 / 0.100

19 Johann ZARCO JIR Moto2 2'01.910 1.723 / 0.192

20 Roberto ROLFO Technomag-CIP 2'02.018 1.831 / 0.108

21 Randy KRUMMENACHER GP Team Switzerland 2'02.097 1.910 / 0.079

22 Angel RODRIGUEZ Desguaces La Torre SAG 2'02.142 1.955 / 0.045

23 Ricard CARDUS Arguiñano Racing Team 2'02.500 2.313 / 0.358

24 Axel PONS Pons 40 HP Tuenti 2'02.535 2.348 / 0.035

25 Yuki TAKAHASHI NGM Mobile Forward Racing 2'02.637 2.450 / 0.102

26 Nicolas TEROL Mapfre Aspar Team 2'02.811 2.624 / 0.174

27 Gino REA Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 2'02.934 2.747 / 0.123

28 Ratthapark WILAIROT Thai Honda Gresini Moto2 2'03.031 2.844 / 0.097

29 Anthony WEST QMMF Racing Team 2'03.621 3.434 / 0.590

30 Alexander LUNDH Cresto Guide MZ Racing 2'04.130 3.943 / 0.509

31 Marco COLANDREA SAG Team 2'04.424 4.237 / 0.294

32 Elena ROSELL QMMF Racing Team 2'05.183 4.996 / 0.759

33 Nasser Hasan AL MALKI QMMF Racing Team 2'05.591 5.404 / 0.408

source: MotoGP Official

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Luthi makes it a clean sweep in practice

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Thomas Lüthi, fastest in both of Thursday's Moto2 sessions, was quickest in the third and final practice on Friday ahead of Pol Espargaró, Esteve Rabat and Scott Redding.

Thomas Lüthi's (Interwetten Paddock) strong form at the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar rolled on in FP3 on Friday, as the Swiss rider topped the final session before Saturday's qualifying with the fastest lap of the weekend so far. Lüthi's time of 2'00.479 meant he completed a clean sweep in all three Moto2 practice sessions, after topping the first and second runs the previous day.

Pons 40 HP Tuenti team-mates Pol Espargaró and Esteve Rabat were also in the mood for setting fast times, as the former clocked in at just 0.040s off Lüthi. Espargaró was the only other rider under 2'01” in the session, with Rabat in third posting a best effort of 2'01.118.

Scott Redding (Marc VDS Racing Team) was fourth in the order in 2'01.230, with Italians Claudio Corti (Italtrans), Simone Corsi (Came IodaRacing Project) and Andrea Iannone (Speed Master) closely grouped from fifth to seventh.

Bradley Smith (Tech 3 Racing) took a step forward and was the last rider within one second of Lüthi's scorching lap, and Marc Márquez (Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol) and Alex de Angelis (NGM Mobile Forward Racing) completed the top 10.

Ratthapark Wilairot (Thai Honda Gresini Moto2) escaped unharmed from a crash early in the session and went on to time in at 14th fastest, just behind Julián Simón (Blusens Avintia).

The Moto2 riders will be back on track at 6.55pm local time on Saturday for qualifying.

source: MotoGP Official

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Luthi confirms pace in second practice

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After topping the first Moto2 practice session at the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar on Thursday, Thomas Lüthi (Interwetten Paddock) was again the quickest in FP2 as the Swiss rider led the timesheet with a best effort of 2'00.767.

Lüthi led a top three which included Claudio Corti (Italtrans Racing Team) and Pol Espargaró (Pons 40 HP Tuenti), with the Italian also getting under 2'01” in a best time of 2'00.918. Espargaró and team-mate Esteve Rabat, who was fourth fastest, were the last riders to lap within 0.5s of Lüthi.

Marc VDS Racing Team riders Scott Redding and Mika Kallio were separated by just 0.024s in fifth and sixth positions respectively, with 2011 Championship runner-up Marc Márquez (Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol) seventh.

Mike di Meglio (S/Master Speed Up), Takaaki Nakagami (Italtrans Racing Team) and former Moto2 World Champion Toni Elías (Mapfre Aspar Team) completed the top 10 with Japanese rider Nakagami just under a second off Lüthi.

British rider Bradley Smith (Tech 3 Racing) ended the session 15th, whilst Gino Rea (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) closed in 27th after having a crash towards the end of the session. Belgian rider Xavier Simeon (Tech 3 Racing) also had a tumble towards the end of the practice.

source: MotoGP Official

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Luthi leads opening Moto2 session

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The 2012 Moto2™ season kicked off with Thomas Lüthi (Interwetten Paddock) fastest in the first practice session of the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar on Thursday, as the Swiss rider put his Suter top of the timesheet in FP1 with a time of 2'01.284.

Pons 40 HP Tuenti team-mates Esteve Rabat and Pol Espargaró both recorded top-three lap times with efforts of 2'01.686 and 2'01.925 respectively as they placed their Kalex machines in second and third position, with last year's Championship runner-up Marc Márquez (Team Catalunyacaixa Repsol) fourth and timing in at 2'02.068.

Italian riders Simone Corsi (Came Iodaracing Project) and Andrea Iannone (Speed Master) were the final two within a full second of Lüthi's marker, with Mika Kallio (Marc VDS Racing Team), Scott Redding (Marc VDS Racing Team), Mike di Meglio (S/Master Speed Up) and Takaaki Nakagami (Italtrans Racing Team) completing the top ten.

British rider Bradley Smith (Tech 3 Racing) was 11th in the order at 1.343s from the top, with 2010 Moto2 World Champion Toni Elías (Mapfre Aspar Team) in 19th as he began his reintroduction to the category. Third Brit on the grid rookie Gino Rea (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) was 23rd in his first practice session.

There was a crash at the end of the session for Marco Colandrea (SAG Team), who walked away from his fall.

The Moto2 riders return to the track later on Thursday for a second practice session.

source: MotoGP Official

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Lüthi remains top of Moto2 field

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Thomas Lüthi was the fastest Moto2™ rider for the second day in a row at Jerez, with Claudio Corti and an ever-increasingly fit Marc Márquez completing the top three.

Windier conditions on Tuesday made for a slightly trickier task for the Moto2™ riders at Jerez, although that seemed to do little to hinder Thomas Lüthi's strong pre-season form as the Swiss rider again topped the timesheet. Lüthi (Interwetten Paddock GP), quickest on Monday as well, set a time of 1'42.158 in the afternoon session, leaving him almost four-tenths clear as the leading rider.

Claudio Corti (Italtrans Racing Team), who was fastest at the midway stage of the second day, ended Tuesday second with a time of 1'42.548, and Marc Márquez (CatalunyaCaixa Repsol) was third at just 0.009s off the Italian. The Spaniard, who is continuing to improve rapidly despite having a shortened pre-season due to injury, walked away unhurt from a late crash at Turn 10.

Another rider to fall at the same spot late on was Scott Redding, and the Marc VDS Racing rider also escaped injury, closing the second day fourth fastest with a best lap of 1'42.638. Just 0.018s behind in the order was Pol Espargaró (Pons 40 HP Tuenti), fifth overall and the final rider within half-a-second of Lüthi's marker.

Takaaki Nakagami (Italtrans Racing) and Mika Kallio (Marc VDS Racing) were the final riders under 1'43" on Tuesday in sixth and seventh positions respectively, with Bradley Smith (Tech 3 Racing), Julián Simón (Avintia Racing Moto2) and Esteve Rabat (Pons 40 HP Tuenti) completing the top 10.

2010 World Champion Toni Elías (Mapfre Aspar) and Alex de Angelis (NGM Mobile Forward Racing) were the final two riders within a second of Lüthi, and Brit Gino Rea (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) took a big step forward, posting a best time of 1'43.486 – the 14th fastest time of the day.

source: MotoGP Official

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Luthi leads Moto2 field on day one

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Swiss rider Thomas Luthi was the fastest Moto2™ man on track at Jerez on Monday, where he led a top five which also included Takaaki Nakagami, Claudio Corti, Pol Espargaró and Marc Márquez.

Thomas Luthi got the final pre-season Test at Jerez off to the best possible start by setting the fastest Moto2™ time on Monday. The Interwetten Paddock GP rider set his best lap, a 1’42.627, in the morning session during which the Moto3™ bikes were also on track, prior to the later afternoon session which saw each category get its own run.

Japanese rider Takaaki Nakagami continued his progress with the Italtrans team by posting the second quickest time of the day at +0.266s off Luthi, with his team-mate Claudio Corti just behind in a best time of 1’42.963.

Pons 40 HP Tuenti rider Pol Espargaró was the last man under 1’43” as he ducked below the barrier by 27-thousandths of a second, with the fit-again Marc Márquez making positive progress in his first official Test of the pre-season. The CatalunyaCaixa Repsol rider completed the top five, just under half a second off Luthi’s time in 1’43.080.

Finn Mika Kallio (Marc VDS Racing), a podium finisher in the final race of 2011 at Valencia, Andrea Iannone (Speed Master), Esteve Rabat (Pons HP 40 Tuenti), Alex de Angelis (NGM Mobile Forward Racing) and Toni Elías (Mapfre Aspar Moto2) completed the top ten times, combined across the two sessions ran on Monday.

Scot Redding (Marc VDS Racing) closed the day 11th fastest, ahead of Simone Corsi (Ioda Racing Project) who recovered from a morning-session crash to go 12th quickest. Johann Zarco (JiR Moto2), runner-up in the 2011 125cc World Championship, placed 14th on the timesheet, 12 positions and almost two seconds ahead of former 125 rival and champion Nico Terol.

Brits Bradley Smith (Tech 3) and Gino Rea (Gresini Racing) ended the opening day in 17th and 22nd positions respectively.

source: MotoGP Official

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Suter Moto2 MMXII technical innovations 2012

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The Moto2 World Champion in 2010 and 2011 Constructors is renewed. Suter Racing for the 2012 season has revised its pecualiarità MMXII, initiating the development even since last September with the onset in the race, by Marc Marquez, on the occasion Grand Prix of Motorland Aragon.

The new Suter MMXII Moto2 differs from the previous version (MMXI) for a reinforcement of carbon in the front section of the double frame spar aluminum and for a swing-arm on the style "upside-down" (USD) studied by the team led by Reto Karrer, responsible Suter Racing Moto2 project.

This has allowed teams to "customers" Suter to make several changes to the setup with new geometry of the frame, with the clear intention to improve two essential points to do well in Moto2: stability at the front and rear traction out of corners .

In Moto2 World will run on the Suter MMXII teams Monlau Competicion (Marc Marquez), Forward Racing (Alex De Angelis and Yuki Takahashi), Aspar (Nico Terol and Toni Elias), Technomag CIP (Roberto Rolfo and Dominique Aegerter) and Interwetten Paddock ( Thomas Luthi, pictured).

source: bikeracing.it

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Luthi on top in Moto2™ at Jerez

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The Circuito de Jerez plays host to the second round of 2012 testing for the Moto2™ class, where today Thomas Luthi lead the intermediate class as the riders continue their work ahead of the 2012 season commencement.

Although the southern circuit presented better weather conditions than the test last week in Valencia, a cold morning delayed work for Moto2 field until the track temperature rose to a suitable level. By the afternoon, however, all riders were putting in lap after lap in an effort to prepare themselves and their bikes for the season ahead.

Thomas Luthi held the highest reported time, taking his Interwetten Paddock Suter around with a best effort of 1’43.0, two tenths quicker than the Italtrans Racing Kalex of Claudio Corti and six tenth faster than Takaaki Nakagam, the second rider of the same Italian team.

The Marc VSD Racing duo completed the top five, with Mika Kallio leading team mate Scott Redding. Redding, who topped the times in last week’s test in Valencia, used the day to work on solutions for some chatter he experienced on his Kalex.

Tech 3 Racing’s Bradley Smith reported the eighth fastest time despite a few technical problems with the new Tech 3 chassis preventing him from completing as many laps as the team wanted. The Briton remained upbeat, saying of the problems "that´s what tests are for".

Julian Simón is still adjusting to the switch to the FTR bike (from Suter), and he and the Avintia Racing Moto2 crew spent the first day in Jerez busy looking for an ideal base setting in the chassis geometry. The team did not provide lap times.

The Aspar Team Moto2 team focused on different goals for their riders, looking to find more top speed for former Moto2 champ Toni Elias, who ranked 16th of the day, and developing settings for better rear grip for Nico Terol, who finished the day in 14th.

2011 Moto2 runner up and 2012 season favorite, Marc Marquez, continues to recover from eye surgery and did not attend this test.

Unofficial Moto2 lap times Thursday (recorded by teams). Teams missing from this list did not provide times:

1. Thomas Luthi, INTERWETTEN PADDOCK, 1’43.0 (63 laps) 

2. Claudio Corti, ITALTRANS RACING TEAM, 1’43.2 (66 laps) 

3. Takaaki Nakagami, ITALTRANS RACING TEAM, 1’43.6 (65 laps) 

4. Mika Kallio, MARC VDS RACING TEAM, 1’43.6 (65 laps) 

5. Scott Redding, MARC VDS RACING TEAM , 1’43.6 (72 laps) 

6. Andrea Iannone, SPEED MASTER, 1’43.7 (48 laps) 

7. Alex De Angelis, NGM MOBILE FORWARD RACING, 1’43.8 (53 laps) 

8. Bradley Smith, TECH 3 RACING , 1’43.8 (61 laps) 

9. Simone Corsi, IODARACING PROJECT , 1’43.9 (42 laps) 

10. Yuki Takahashi, NGM MOBILE FORWARD RACING, 1’44.1 

11. Randy Krummenacher, GP TEAM SWITZERLAND, 1’44.2

12. Mike Di Meglio, SPEED UP, 1’44.2 (50 laps) 

13. Xavier Simeon, TECH 3 RACING, 1’44.2 (61 laps) 

14. Nico Terol, ASPAR TEAM Moto2, 1’44.3 (55 laps) 

15. Gino Rea, GRESINI RACING Moto2, 1’44.4 

16. Toni Elías, ASPAR TEAM Moto2, 1’44.5 (85 laps) 

17. Max Neukirchner, KIEFER RACING, 1’44.8 

18. Ricky Cardus, ARGUIÑANO RACING TEAM, 1’45.2 (63 laps) 

19. Johann Zarco, JIR Moto2, 1’45.4 (49 laps) 

20. Roberto Rolfo, TECHNOMAG-CIP, 1’45.7 (60 laps) 

21. Dominique Aegerter, TECHNOMAG-CIP, 1’46.0 (77 laps) 

22. Eric Granado, JIR Moto2, 1’47.0 (43 laps) 

23. Damian Cudlin, QMMF RACING TEAM, 1’47.4 (75 laps) 

24. Elena Rosell, QMMF RACING TEAM, 1’47.7 (84 laps)

source: MotoGP Official

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Pol Espargaró on top in paused warm up

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Pol Espargaró topped the morning warm up ahead of Esteve Rabat and Thomas Lüthi as the Moto2 field prepared for the Shell Advance Malaysian Grand Prix this afternoon.

A red flag caused by Joan Olivé (Aeroport de Castello) paused the 20 minute session as the rider’s bike lay mid track following a crash. Warm up resumed with just over three minutes remaining, and the session concluding Pol Espargaró (HP Tuenti Speed Up), who starts from his best grid position since moving up to the Moto2 class, topping the field with a lap of 2’08.752.

12th place starter Rabat (Blusens-STX) followed by 0.006, with pole man Lüthi bringing up third.

Aleix Espargaró (Pons HP 40), who starts next to his brother Pol on row two, ranked fourth in the outing, ahead of third row starter Scott Redding (Marc VDS Racing) and Championship leader Stefan Bradl (Viessmann Kiefer Racing).

Title rival Marc Márquez (CatalunyaCaixa Repsol) did not participate in the session and the Spanish star has been declared unfit to race after failing to pass a medical examination prior to warm up. With his non-participation in this round, this means that Bradl can potentially take the title today should he win the race.

source: motogp official

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First Moto2 pole for Lüthi, Márquez 36th

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Thomas Lüthi (Interwetten Paddock Moto2) clinched his first pole position in the Moto2 class, beating Stefan Bradl and Michele Pirro in qualifying for the Shell Advance Malaysian Grand Prix. Marc Márquez completed just two laps to ensure himself a spot on the grid.

Leading the field for the second time this weekend, 2005 125cc World Champion Lüthi (Interwetten Paddock Moto2) took over the top spot from Bradl (Viessmann Kiefer Racing) with a lap of 2'07.512, a two-tenths margin over the Championship leader. Gresini Racing Moto2’s Pirro followed Bradl by two-tenths to clinch his best starting position of the season with third just before crashing out of the qualifying outing.

Yuki Takahashi (Gresini Racing) posted a lap of 2'08.069 to land at the head of row two, with both Espargaró brothers following the Japanese rider, with junior Pol (HP Tuenti Speed Up) ahead of senior Aleix (Pons HP 40) by four-hundredths.

Completing the session in seventh with a best effort of 2'08.240 was Mika Kallio (Marc VDS Racing), with Claudio Corti (Italtrans Racing) and Scott Redding (Marc VDS Racing) joining the Finn on row three. Mattia Pasini (Ioda Racing Project) rounded out the top ten with a time nine-tenths off the pole time set by Lüthi.

With just three points separating title rivals Bradl and Márquez (Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol), the Spanish rider’s decision to sit out two practice session and to circulate just enough in QP to claim a spot on the grid indicates that the Championship may not remain as close as it sits now going into the final race of the season due to the physical demands of the Sepang circuit. However, after the 18 year old has an additional night of recuperation from his highside in FP1, his fitness might be recovered enough to see a repeat of his last-to-podium performance at the Australian GP.

source: motogp official

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Márquez edges Lüthi in Japan

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Marc Márquez starts from pole for the seventh time this season, after stealing the top spot from Thomas Lüthi in the final lap of qualifying. The two are joined by Andrea Iannone, the Italian’s second front row appearance this year.

The final three quarters of the Moto2 qualifying session for the Grand Prix of Japan saw a battle for pole ensue between Interwetten Paddock Moto2 rider Lüthi and Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol’s Márquez, with the Spanish rider stepping into the top spot by a margin of just under two tenths of a second with a time of 1'52.067. The 18 year old rookie nearly crashed during a fast lap though saved the fall with his knee in a remarkable display of riding talent.

Andrea Iannone is sure to be a contender in tomorrow’s race, the 22 year old Speed Master taking the third spot on the grid with a best lap 3 tenths off the pole position time. Bradley Smith (Tech 3 Racing), who had a moment but controlled the near crash, was two tenths off the Italian in fourth, with last year’s sixth place finisher Yuki Takahashi (Gresini Racing) and Simone Corsi (Ioda Racing Project) joining the British rider on row two).

Alex de Angelis (JiR Moto2), who finished fourth at Motegi last year, leads row three ahead of Stefan Bradl (Viessmann Kiefer Racing) and Dominique Aegerter (Technomag-CIP). Mattia Pasini (Ioda Racing Project) completed the top ten, ahead of Jordi Torres (Mapfre Aspar) and Mika Kallio (Marc VDS Racing).

Pol Espargaró (HP Tuenti Speed Up) went down after running off the edge of the track and Kenny Noyes (Avintia-STX), who was following very closely behind just managed to avoid hitting Espargaró and his bike, threading between them as they both slide across the track.

Sergeo Gadea (Desguaces La Torre G22) and Randy Krummenacher (GP Team Switzerland Kiefer Racing) went down in separate incidents and were both taken to the medical center.

source: motogp official website

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Lüthi leads again at Motegi

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The Swiss rider continued his fine form of the day before, posting the fastest time of the weekend ahead of Marc Márquez and Yuki Takahashi.

Interwetten Paddock Moto2’s Thomas Lüthi surfaced at the top of the Moto2 pile, improving his previous day’s time by 5 tenths with a best lap of 1’52.670 to successfully hold off the late challenge by Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol rider Márquez, who ranked second in the outing just 0.028s behind the 25 year old Lüthi.

Yuki Takahashi (Gresini Racing) again took third with a time two tenths behind Márquez, while Bradley Smith (Tech 3 Racing), who has not been outside the top six thus far this weekend, remained unshaken by an early run off to rank fourth. The British rider was followed by another rider who has had a prominent showing at the front this weekend, Dominique Aegerter (Technomag-CIP), who posted a time 1’52.977, half a second quicker than his best time on Friday.

In sixth was Andrea Iannone (Speed Master) who stepped up his pace by almost a full second, while Esteve Rabat (Blusens-STX) ranked seventh again, followed by Stefan Bradl (Viessmann Kiefer Racing) and Scott Redding (Marc VDS Racing), both of whom followed Rabat by less than one hundredths of a second.

Simone Corsi (Ioda Racing Project) completed the top ten, ahead of Jordi Torres (Mapfre Aspar) and Alex de Angelis (JiR Moto2).

source: MotoGP official website

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