Moto2: Marquez snatches thrilling Qatar win

The 2012 Moto2 season started with a thrilling 20 lap battle culminating in an aggressive last lap pass by Spaniard Marc Marquez (Team CatalunyaCiaxa Repsol) on Thomas Luthi (Interwetten Paddock).

Marquez took victory by a mere 0.061sec ahead of Italian Andrea Iannone (Speed Master) at the Losail circuit on Sunday night.

2011 championship runner-up Marquez slipstreamed his way to the chequered flag passing Iannone only moments before the finish line after exiting the last corner behind the Italian.

After scrapping with as many as seven riders at one point the pair were in a race of their own by the finish with third place and one time race leader, Pol Espargaro (Pons 40HP Tuenti) over a second behind. Espargaro's team mate Esteve Rabat finished in fourth.

Luthi was visibly upset at the very aggressive move put on him by Marquez, the Swiss rider slapped the Spaniard's arm on the slow down lap showing his discontent.

Luthi led the race from the start after taking only his second pole position in his career but was pushed wide onto the kerb under brakes for the first turn of the final lap by Marquez relegating him to fifth. The incident also enabled Iannone to close onto the Spaniards rear wheel.

Sixth place was secured by Scott Redding (Marc VDS Racing) who constantly improved from his 13th place starting position to edge out French rider Mike Di Meglio by only 0.026sec.

Simone Corsi (Came Iodaracing Project) battled hard for the front positions earlier in the race only to slip back to eighth by the finish, he followed was followed by Bradley Smith (Tech 3) and Mika Kallio (Marc VDS Racing) completing the top 10.

2010 Moto2 champion Toni Elias (Mapfire Aspar team) finished amongst the points in 13 position however 2011 125cc champion Nicolas Terol is still struggling in the new formula ending his race in 23rd spot.

The only remaining British rider Gino Rea finished his debut race in 26th. Female racer Elena Rosell finished in 29th position despite constantly improving over the weekend.

Race results:

1.Marc MarquezSPA (Suter)40m 34.225s
2.Andrea IannoneITA (Speed Up)40m 34.286s
3.Pol EspargaroSPA (Kalex)40m 35.637s
4.Esteve RabatSPA (Kalex)40m 35.864s
5.Thomas LuthiSWI (Suter)40m 38.206s
6.Scott ReddingGBR (Kalex)40m 40.993s
7.Mike Di MeglioFRA (Speed Up)40m 41.019s
8.Simone CorsiITA (FTR)40m 41.211s
9.Bradley SmithGBR (Tech 3)40m 45.053s
10.Mika KallioFIN (Kalex)40m 45.604s
11.Randy KrummenacheSWI (Kalex)40m 46.975s
12.Johann ZarcoFRA (MotoBI)40m 48.346s
13.Toni EliasSPA (Suter)40m 51.859s
14.Takaaki NakagamiJPN (Kalex)40m 52.100s
15.Julian SimonSPA (FTR)40m 52.119s