chad reed crash: 2011 Assen Moto2 Race Result: Clear Victory After Three-Way Battle

Sunday, June 26, 2011

2011 Assen Moto2 Race Result: Clear Victory After Three-Way Battle

Results and summary of the Moto2 race at Assen:

Marc Marquez has taken his second victory of the season, taking charge of the race in the final laps after a race-long scrap with Kenan Sofuoglu, Bradley Smith and Yuki Takahashi.

It was Stefan Bradl who got off the line first, holding off a charging Marquez into turn 1, but that would be the last of the German’s resistance. As the pack made their way through the tight northern loop, Bradl got shuffled back through the pack, quickly losing touch with the leaders.

A group quickly formed, consisting of Simone Corsi, Marc Marquez, Kenan Sofuoglu, Bradley Smith, Yuki Takahashi and Mike Di Meglio, Di Meglio the first to leave the group by crashing out. Corsi was the next to go, suddenly going backwards and losing touch, leaving Marquez, Sofuoglu, Smith and Takahashi to fight for the lead. Takahashi followed Corsi’s example at first, but though he dropped off the back of the group, he always had them in sight.

Marquez, Sofuoglu and Smith all took turns at the lead, passing each other through De Bult, the Ramshoek, the GT chicane. But on lap 18, Marquez finally took control of the race, putting a brilliant pass on Smith through Hoge Heide, the fastest corner on the track, and a terrifying right-left flick. Takahashi – who had now recaught the group again – followed Marquez through, only to crash out two laps later. Sofuoglu got past Smith with a tough pass round the outside at the GT, but by then, Marquez’ lead was too great. The Catalunya Caixa rider took victory by a comfortable margin, while Technomag CIP rider Sofuoglu ended well ahead of Tech 3′s Bradley Smith. MZ’s Ant West, riding the 2010 FTR, came home to take 4th, a very respectable result for the Australian.

Stefan Bradl ended up crashing out, with a little help from a tough pass by Blusens STX rider Tito Rabat, but as Marquez has only scored points three times, the German continues to lead the championship by 57 points.

Results:

Pos.	No.	Rider	Manufacturer	Time	Diff
1	93	Marc MARQUEZ	SUTER	44’30.409	�
2	54	Kenan SOFUOGLU	SUTER	44’32.806	2.397
3	38	Bradley SMITH	TECH 3	44’36.827	6.418
4	13	Anthony WEST	MZ-RE HONDA	44’53.212	22.803
5	15	Alex DE ANGELIS	MOTOBI	44’56.291	25.882
6	75	Mattia PASINI	FTR	44’57.260	26.851
7	34	Esteve RABAT	FTR	44’58.534	28.125
8	12	Thomas LUTHI	SUTER	44’59.121	28.712
9	4	Randy KRUMMENACHE	KALEX	45’00.153	29.744
10	76	Max NEUKIRCHNER	MZ-RE HONDA	45’10.176	39.767
11	25	Alex BALDOLINI	SUTER	45’17.567	47.158
12	29	Andrea IANNONE	SUTER	45’21.255	50.846
13	68	Yonny HERNANDEZ	FTR	45’27.527	57.118
14	3	Simone CORSI	FTR	45’31.184	1’00.775
15	71	Claudio CORTI	SUTER	45’36.719	1’06.310
16	40	Aleix ESPARGARO	PONS KALEX	45’37.173	1’06.764
17	51	Michele PIRRO	MORIWAKI	45’37.232	1’06.823
18	77	Dominique AEGERTER	SUTER	45’46.705	1’16.296
19	88	Ricard CARDUS	MORIWAKI	45’51.933	1’21.524
20	31	Carmelo MORALES	MORIWAKI	45’52.698	1’22.289
21	49	Kev COGHLAN	FTR	46’08.570	1’38.161
22	66	Michael VAN DER MARK	TEN KATE	46’12.297	1’41.888
23	21	Javier FORES	SUTER	46’12.598	1’42.189
24	45	Scott REDDING	SUTER	44’33.423	1 lap
25	95	Mashel AL NAIMI	MORIWAKI	44’35.214	1 lap
26	39	Robertino PIETRI	SUTER	44’43.949	1 lap
Not Classified
�	65	Stefan BRADL	KALEX	37’26.902	4 laps
�	97	Steven ODENDAAL	SUTER	38’36.702	4 laps
�	72	Yuki TAKAHASHI	MORIWAKI	35’17.549	5 laps
�	44	Pol ESPARGARO	FTR	35’40.497	5 laps
�	9	Kenny NOYES	FTR	36’36.221	5 laps
�	19	Xavier SIMEON	TECH 3	33’46.670	6 laps
�	36	Mika KALLIO	SUTER	25’21.587	11 laps
�	80	Axel PONS	PONS KALEX	13’45.678	17 laps
�	14	Ratthapark WILAIROT	FTR	9’55.846	19 laps
�	53	Valentin DEBISE	FTR	10’05.005	19 laps
�	64	Santiago HERNANDEZ	FTR	6’04.528	21 laps
�	63	Mike DI MEGLIO	TECH 3	3’56.902	22 laps
�	16	Jules CLUZEL	SUTER	4’04.865	22 laps