Moto2 Germany: Dominant Marquez returns to winning ways

Alex Marquez regained his championship lead after running things from the front in the Moto2 German Grand Prix.

The EG 0,0 Marc VDS Kalex rider was on pole but fell back into the pack at the start of the race, lucky to avoid contact with team-mate Xavi Vierge.

The Spaniard then worked hard, as he did to get pole after some challenging practice sessions, to lead and then put in a controlled performance to pull out a comfortable gap, which fell to just over 1.2s as he eased off over the closing laps.

It marks a return to winning ways for Marquez, who had won three races in a row before being collected by Lorenzo Baldassarri last weekend in Assen. He now holds an eight point advantage over Tom Luthi in the overall standings.

The battle for second was an exciting three-way affair with Brad Binder coming out on top as he continues to get to grips with the improving KTM. The Red Bull Ajo rider had started 17th on the grid but muscled his way into contention, he felt he had the pace to stay with Marquez but was instead pulled into a battle with his race rivals on his way to a second consecutive second place finish.

German Marcel Schrotter (Dynavolt Intact GP) gave the home crowd plenty to cheer, taking the final podium spot.

Iker Lecuona was the unlucky man who missed out - the unfortunate American Racing KTM rider gave everything to be in contention, but then slid into the gravel at the final corner and failed to finish the race.

Fabio Di Giannantonio (MB Conveyors Speed Up) was again the top rookie finisher, leading the chasing pack over the line in fourth.  

With sixteen laps to go, Luthi (Dynavolt IntactGP) misjudged his pass at turn one and clipped the side of Xavi Vierge, taking him out of the race, the incident was investigated by race direction - his long loop penalty dropped him to fifth.

The Pons (Flexbox HP 40) team-mates had a race long battle with each other - Assen winner Augusto Fernandez came out on top for sixth, just ahead of Baldassarri.

Jorge Navarro survived some early contact to come back for eighth, showing he had the pace of the leaders on the Speed Up had he not got caught up on track.

Jorge Martin brought the second Red Bull entry home in ninth, with early leader Luca Marini (Sky Racing VR46) doing enough to hold on to a top ten finish.

Sam Lowes spent much of the race out of the points places, but rallied late on to climb to eleventh for Federal Oil Gresini at the chequered flag, though the group he was battling in were over thirteen seconds adrift of winner Marquez.

The Brit held off Testuta Nagashima (Onexox TKKR SAG Team) who continued his run of points finishes in twelfth, only missing out in Qatar.

He in turn kept his team-mate Remy Gardner at bay, the Australian forced to settle for 13th.

Enea Bastianini took 14th, well ahead of fellow Italtrans rider Andrea Locatelli, who claimed the final point on offer.

Bo Bendsneyder just missed out in 16th on the NTS after fading in the latter stages.

Jonas Folger again replaces Khairul Idham Pawi at Petronas, he finished 17th.

Jake Dixon was the only other faller, exiting on the first lap.

Dimas Ekky Pratama took no further part in the race weekend as he continued to feel the effects of the concussion he sustained when Stefano Manzi took him out in Assen.