DOHA: German rider Jonas Folger picked up his maiden Moto2 win in his 19th start yesterday as a crash-marred opening race of the season sent defending champion Tito Rabat home without points.
Folder, riding for AGR Team, topped the 20-lap race with a time of 40 minutes and 18.532 seconds as the 21-year-old German finished his win ahead of Belgium’s Xavier Simeon and Thomas Luthi of Switzerland.
Simeon, who is riding for Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 this season, finished 5.051 seconds behind Folger.
Luthi, atop his Derendinger Racing Interwetten, was 12.123 seconds adrift of Folger after the opening race of the season saw Rabat crashing out on lap three.
The Spaniard retired immediately as did QMMF Racing Teams chief pilot Anthony West who encountered bike troubles on lap nine. West, 33, rejoined the race but stopped moments later.
In what was a dramatic Moto2 race that saw title favourite and pole-winner Sam Lowes of Britain crash out, Folger took the race win after Johann Zarco experienced mechanical issues and lost ground to finish in a dismal eighth spot.
Folger took advantage of Zarco’s mechanical issues after the Frenchman had established a comfortable lead, to take the checkered flag and claim his first Moto2 victory.
Alex Rins (+12.202s) launched an incredible attack at the end to almost steal a podium spot but had to settle for fourth on the Paginas Amarillas HP40 bike, ahead of Franco Morbidelli and last year’s Moto2 Championship runner-up Mika Kallio in sixth on the Italtrans Racing Team Kalex.
Lowes, who managed his maiden pole position in Saturday’s qualifying, was dejected after yesterday’s early exit.
“I went on to a part of the track which is dusty and tucked the front. I am devastated at the moment as Tito Rabat also crashed out so it would nice to have made a solid start and get some points,” Lowes said.
“I am really upset but I will come back stronger in America. All weekend I have been fastest and, maybe, I let it get to me a little bit. I know everyone is going to say I crash too much but I have proved people wrong already this season and I will do it again in the next couple of races.
“Today was one stupid mistake but I felt better, a lot more in control. I can ride the bike much easier, which was a stupid mistake. I hold my hands up to criticism for that but I will prove to everyone I am not a crasher and can mount a serious title defence,” he added.
QMMF Racing Team’s Julian Simon finished in 13th spot with a gap of 25.573 seconds from the leader. THE PENINSULA
