2011 Sepang Moto2 Race Result: Red Flag Ends Tight Duel Early

Results and summary of the Moto2 race at Sepang:

Thomas Luthi has taken his first victory since leaving the 125cc class in a close duel with Stefan Bradl which ended when the race was red-flagged. With Marquez ruled out of the race by the doctors, Bradl has taken a lead of 23 points in the championship, and goes into Valencia needing just 3 points to become champion.

Bradl looked like winning the race for much of it. The Viessmann Kiefer rider led into the first corner and immediately pulled a gap. Behind him, Luthi led the chase with the brothers Espargaro, Mika Kallio and Michele Pirro, and after being briefly led by Pol Espargaro, Luthi retook 2nd and started to chase down Bradl. It was a long and slow process, but by lap 10, Luthi was on Bradl's tail. 

Sitting behind Bradl, Luthi seemed happy to let the German lead, sizing him up for a pass on every lap into the final corner. His patience held until lap 17, when Luthi decided it was time to make a break. He pulled out of Bradl's draft down the back straight, and slid past into the lead into the final corner, holding his line to lead as they started lap 18. His pass would prove to be prescient: that lap, Axel Pons, battling with Kenny Noyes for 16th, crashed heavily, causing the race to be red flagged. The result went back to the last full lap that had been completed by all riders on the same lap, which turned out to be the lap that Luthi edged in front of Bradl. Luthi took the win, demoting Bradl into 2nd, and delaying the championship for at least another race.

Bradl now goes into Valencia with a lead of 23 points, and needing just 3 more to wrap up the title. Marquez should be fully fit by then, and will need to win the race to take the championship from Bradl. Given Marquez' form, a win is a real possibility, but Bradl should be able to finish inside the top 13.

Results