Moto2 Argentina: The Tito Show as Rabat cruises to the win

Tito Rabat has made an imperious ride to victory in the motor race in Argentina, with the Spaniard extending his championship lead from the first corner to the chequered flag to win by 2.4 seconds from Xavier Simeon.

Rabat said at the end: “I enjoyed it a lot, but it was a very difficult race. We had to make a good start, keep a good rhythm form the start, and keep the tyres good. But I make a good job, and I now I go to my home race in Jerez happy!”

Simeon was able to maintain the pace behind Rabat for the opening stages of the race, but the eventual winner was able to put the pace up and distance him, pulling out a gap when he ended to.

The battle for the final podium spot was a lot closer, with Luis Salom dicing with Dominic Aegerter and Simone Corsi, before breaking at the end. Aegerter was able to pip Corsi on the last lap to take the fourth spot.

De Angelis was sixth and Kallio seventh, while Sam Lowes was able to make the most of a terrible grid position back in 22nd to breeze forwards to eighth, after a race long battle with Jordi Torres and Sandro Cortese. Fellow Brit Gino Rea was second last in 30th.

Lowes said afterwards “This being a new track and having to go onto the dirt to make passes meant I kept losing the front and couldn’t make precise moves like I wanted. I’ll take 8th after the grid position, but we were a few sessions behind all weekend after going the wrong direction with the bike, and i’m looking forward to Jerez, where we’ve already tested.”

It was a disastrous day for a number of the top riders, though, with Maverick Vinales, winner last time out, crashing out, while Nico Terol was 14th, Nakagami 15th, Zarco 18th and Luthi 19th.