2013 Qatar Moto2 Race Result: Close Dice Decided On Final Lap

Results and summary of the Moto2 race at Qatar:

Pol Espargaro has confirmed his status as the favorite for the 2013 Moto2 title by winning the first race of the season. But the effort he had to put in to hold Scott Redding off throughout the race suggests that Espargaro does become champion, he will have to work very hard for it.

Practice had drawn a picture of three men battling at the front, and that was exactly what happened. Takaaki Nakagami took off like a scalded cat, dragging Espargaro and Redding in his wake. Nakagami pushed early to get a gap, but it was never enough to hold off the chasing pair, and on lap 8, Redding had hunted the Italtrans rider down and was close enough to put a pass on him. The pass unsettled Nakagami enough to force an error on the next lap, which allowed Espargaro through to chase Redding.

Redding led for the next 8 laps, with Espargaro close on his tail, but with four laps to go, Espargaro pulled out of Redding's draft and blasted by along the main straight, Redding's greater weight a disadvantage on the HP-limited Moto2 machines. Redding had one final chance on the last lap, and he got close enough to attack in the final section, but not quite close enough to get past. Espargaro went on to take the win and the lead in the championship, with Redding left to settle for 2nd. Nakagami rode a long and lonely race to take 3rd, and his first ever Grand Prix podium.

Results: