Moto2: Marquez snatches thrilling Estoril victory

By Lisa Lewis

Moto2 title favourite Marc Marquez wowed the crowds in Portugal as he swapped paint with Pons Kalex rider Pol Espargaro on the closing lap of Sunday's third round at Estoril.

Swiss rider Thomas Luthi finished third after leading for most of the race on his Interwetten Suter.

CatalunyaCaxia Repsol rider Marquez had enjoyed a race long battle for the lead on his Suter with fellow countryman Espargaro and Luthi, who was eventually dropped as the Spaniards switched positions in the race to the line.

Espargaro got sideways and went wide trying to retake the lead on the final lap at the chicane (pictured), but managed to keep on the bike to hold on to second while Marquez took full advantage to power home for the win.

Frenchman Johann Zarco, a rookie this year after being runner-up in last season's 125cc championship showed he is making his transfer up to the Moto2 class with ease as he had a strong showing for the JiR Motobi in fourth, which looked very battle scarred at the end of the race.

Italian Andrea Iannone had raced hard to get back to the leaders on his Speed Master only to run wide while trying to keep up with the pack but still managed to finish fifth ahead of the chasing pack.

San Marino rider Alex de Angelis was a little more cautious than normal as he will be testing the MotoGP bike tomorrow for his Forward racing team in place of the injured Colin Edwards but still fought hard enough to place sixth, moving up from his ninth place qualifying on his 200th grand prix start.

Former Moto2 champion Toni Elias kept the improvements coming for the Mapfre Aspar team with strong racing putting his Suter in seventh at the scene of his memorable race win over Rossi in MotoGP in 2006.

Julian Simon gained his first top ten finish of the season on his Suter chassis after making the change from FTR on his Blusens bike.

Finland's Mika Kallio finished ninth for Marc VDS with his team-mate Brit Scott Redding couldn't capitalise on his third place qualifying or strong start, falling back through the pack finishing 11th, while fellow countryman Bradley Smith competed the top ten for Tech3

Last year's 125cc champion Nico Terol finished down the pack in 16th while British rider Gino Rea suffered electrical failure on his Moriwaki, he pulled into the pits but was placed 28th after going back out on the Federal Oil Gresini. Takahashi, Pons, Rabat, Di Meglio and Corsi all crashed out.