Qatar MotoGP: Marquez victorious in Moto2

Spaniard Marc Marquez completed a stunning return to Moto2 by taking victory in the opening race of 2012, despite having only been declared fit to race three weeks before the opening round.

Pole-setter Thomas Luthi got off to a good start, but was soon caught by the following riders, including Marquez. A race long battle between the front runners ensued, seeing four riders all take the lead at some stage in the race.

Marquez was in second spot behind Luthi coming on to the final lap. Marquez managed to outbrake Luthi going in to the first corner, but left Luthi no room, forcing the Swiss rider to run straight on. Luthi was able to rejoin and finish fifth, but he made his feelings known to Marquez on the warm down lap.

Andrea Iannone finished second, the Italian unable to fend off Marquez on the long start/finish straight. Early race leader Pol Espagaro finished third onboard his Kalex machine.

Scott Redding was the top Brit in sixth place, the Marc VDS rider on the back of the leading group for the majority of the race. Tech 3 rider Bradley Smith finished ninth. Moto2 rookie Gino Rea finished 26th onboard the Moriwaki bike, still struggling to get to grips with the new Showa suspension. 

1 25 93 Marc MARQUEZ SPA Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol Suter 159.1 40’34.225
2 20 29 Andrea IANNONE ITA Speed Master Speed Up 159.1 +0.061
3 16 40 Pol ESPARGARO SPA Pons 40 HP Tuenti Kalex 159.0 +1.412
4 13 80 Esteve RABAT SPA Pons 40 HP Tuenti Kalex 159.0 +1.639
5 11 12 Thomas LUTHI SWI Interwetten-Paddock Suter 158.9 +3.981
6 10 45 Scott REDDING GBR Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex 158.7 +6.768
7 9 63 Mike DI MEGLIO FRA S/Master Speed Up Speed Up 158.7 +6.794
8 8 3 Simone CORSI ITA Came IodaRacing Project FTR 158.7 +6.986
9 7 38 Bradley SMITH GBR Tech 3 Racing Tech 3 158.4 +10.828
10 6 36 Mika KALLIO FIN Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex 158.4 +11.379
11 5 4 Randy KRUMMENACHER SWI GP Team Switzerland Kalex 158.3 +12.750
12 4 5 Johann ZARCO FRA JIR Moto2 Motobi 158.2 +14.121
13 3 24 Toni ELIAS SPA Mapfre Aspar Team Suter 158.0 +17.634
14 2 30 Takaaki NAKAGAMI JPN Italtrans Racing Team Kalex 158.0 +17.875
15 1 60 Julian SIMON SPA Blusens Avintia FTR 158.0 +17.894
16  71 Claudio CORTI ITA Italtrans Racing Team Kalex 157.9 +19.014
17  19 Xavier SIMEON BEL Tech 3 Racing Tech 3 157.9 +19.114
18  77 Dominique AEGERTER SWI Technomag-CIP Suter 157.3 +28.802
19  72 Yuki TAKAHASHI JPN NGM Mobile Forward Racing Suter 156.8 +36.598
20  47 Angel RODRIGUEZ SPA Desguaces La Torre SAG FTR 156.8 +36.738
21  14 Ratthapark WILAIROT THA Thai Honda Gresini Moto2 Moriwaki 156.7 +37.147
22  49 Axel PONS SPA Pons 40 HP Tuenti Kalex 156.7 +37.443
23  18 Nicolas TEROL SPA Mapfre Aspar Team Suter 156.6 +39.523
24  88 Ricard CARDUS SPA Arguiñano Racing Team AJR 156.2 +45.260
25  95 Anthony WEST AUS QMMF Racing Team Moriwaki 155.7 +53.786
26  8 Gino REA GBR Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 Moriwaki 155.7 +54.008
27  10 Marco COLANDREA SWI SAG Team FTR 154.1 +1’19.054
28  7 Alexander LUNDH SWE Cresto Guide MZ Racing MZ FTR 154.1 +1’19.071
29  82 Elena ROSELL SPA QMMF Racing Team Moriwaki 153.1 +1’35.150
30  76 Max NEUKIRCHNER GER Kiefer Racing Kalex 150.3 1 Lap