Moto2 Losail Qatar Race: Victory for Tetsuta Nagashima after a great comeback!

Given the circumstances and in light of current events marked by the coronavirus epidemic, we will be attending an exceptional event this Sunday in Losail: a motorcycle Grand Prix! It is from Qatar that we will be able to enjoy this mechanical sport that events seem determined to deprive us of. So, let's not shy away from our pleasure with this Moto2 for once the highlight of a private MotoGP show.

For this first game of the year, it's something new Joe Roberts who qualified on pole position for the first time in his Grand Prix career. He became the first American in Grand Prix pole position since Ben Spies commanded the MotoGP starting grid at Indianapolis in 2010.

Here is a reminder of the facts so far known in Qatar:

 

Moto2™ Losail Qatar	2019	2020
FP1	1'59.591 Marcel Schrötter	1'59.168 Tom Lüthi
FP2	1'58.635 Lorenzo Baldassarri	1'58.421 Joe Roberts
FP3	1'59.596 Jorge Martin	1'59.019 Arón Canet
Q1	1'59.154 Luca Marini	1'58.422 Marcel Schrötter
Q2	1'58.585 Marcel Schrötter	1'58.136 Joe Roberts
warm up	1'59.195 Remy Gardner	1'59.565 Tetsuta Nagashima
Course	Baldassarri, Lüthi, Schrötter	Nagashima, Baldassarri, Bastianini
All time lap record	1'58.635 Lorenzo Baldassarri 2019	1'58.136 Joe Roberts

 

The pole of Roberts is also the first in the intermediate class for an American since Kenny Noyes at the 2010 French Grand Prix, and is therefore also the second American rider to qualify on pole in Moto2. He will aim to become the first American driver to win in the intermediate category since John Kocinski in Australia during the 1990 season. The last American driver to qualify on pole position in the first race of the year in the intermediate category was also John Kocinski in Japan in 1990.

Luca marini qualified in second position, his best qualifying result since he was on pole position in Japan last year, when he won his last race. He will aim to become the fourth consecutive Italian rider to win the opening race of the season on a Moto2, after Franco Morbidelli, Francis Bagnaia et Lorenzo Baldassarri. Marini finished sixth in Qatar in 2017, which is his best result to date on the track.

Enea Bastianini qualified in third position, his first front row start in Moto2. He finished ninth last year in Qatar and was the best rookie.

After going through Q1, Jorge Navarro qualified in fourth position as the best driver outside Kalex since on a Speed ​​Up. In seven of his last ten front row starts he has been on the podium, but he is still looking for his first Moto2 victory. He finished second in Nagashima at the end of the warmup.

Will Bendsneyder qualified in fifth position, which is his best qualification in the discipline. It is also the best result for a NTS in the classroom.

Remy gardner will start in sixth position, which is his best qualifying result since he was fifth in Thailand last year. Last year in Qatar he finished fourth, which is his best result to date. He aims to become the first Australian to win in Moto2 since Anthony West at Assen in 2014.

Last year's winner in Qatar, Lorenzo Baldassarri, qualified in ninth position after going through Q1. It was his best qualifying result since his third place in Thailand last year.

Aron Canet, is the first rookie on the starting grid in 16th position. Canet was on pole position in Moto3 last year at Losail and finished in third place.

It's 22,7 degrees in the air and 27,1 degrees on the track. The drivers will have 20 laps to battle it out and seek victory as night gradually falls on the Losail track.

 

 

The wild animals are released and it is Marini who emerges at the head of the peloton at the end of the 1st turn in front bastianini et Roberts. Martin et NAVARRO are 4th and 5th.

 

 

bastianini on the Kalex takes control quickly but in a straight line, Marini takes over the head of operations. Roberts manages to stay in 3rd place. Martin continues its effort and exceeds Roberts without difficulty, he is now 3rd. In the process, he passes bastianini, he is now in 2nd position. He has in his sights Marini which in front unfolds.

Fernandez crash in turn 6.

 

https://twitter.com/MotoGP/status/1236670025764950016

 

17 more laps, and ahead Marini holds on. Martin is in his wheel, Roberts got rid of bastianini which follows him in 4th position. Baldassarri, Virgo, Bezzecchi, Navarro, Gardner et Nagashima bring up the rear of the top10.

Roberts shows its fangs and bites the Kalex Martin, allowing him to take rank 2. Roberts is pressing behind Marini. The American driver seems very comfortable. He is the fastest in the race (1.59.334s against 1.59.564s for Marini)

14 laps from the goal, Roberts too greedy attempts an ambush on the Italian who fails. Marini reacts to this attack and pushes even harder.

 

 

Canet currently manages to be in the top10 with its 10th position. Fall of contraction in turn 7.

At 10 laps before passing under the checkered flag, the positions are as follows: Marini, Roberts, Martin, Bastianini, Baldassarri, Virgo, Bezzecchi, Navarro, Nagashima et Gardner. 

Devant Marini set his pace and widened the gap on his pursuers.

 

 

There are 8 rounds left and Martin seems to be struggling, suddenly relegated to 11th position, Baldassarri take advantage of the windfall as well as bastianini. These two started the hostilities and are close to each other for 3rd place. For the moment it is Baldassarri who is doing the best by retaining this 3rd place. Roberts remains in 2nd place.

Baldassarri is in contact with Roberts while in front Marini seems to have lost pace. They come back to the Italian. Nagashima, 4th, threat Baldassarri and attempts a blow but Baldassarri replies by touching him, the Italian takes back his dues. bastianini takes the opportunity to recover 4th position, Nagashima having missed it.

Marini misses and lets it infiltrate Roberts et Baldassarri.

 

 

Flexbox driver passes Roberts and takes the lead of the race with 4 laps to go. bastianini also got the better of the American, he took 2nd position. Nagashima passes him in turn and is now 3rd while Marini fall in the ranking to 9th place.

There are 5 of them fighting for victory: Nagashima seizes leadership in front Bastianini, Baldassarri, Roberts et NAVARRO. There are 2 rounds left to cover. The Japanese started from 14th position on the starting grid. His teammate, Martin is 20th.

 

 

Last lap and it's Nagashima who wins the victory Baldassarri, Bastianini, Roberts et Gardner. Marini crash in turn 16 while being overtaken by Dixon. Navarro, Schrötter, Canet, Virgin et Lüthi bring up the rear of the top10.

 

 

Ranking Qatar Moto2 Grand Prix at Losail: 

 

Classification credit: MotoGP.com