Moto2: Morbidelli keeps Bagnaia at bay for victory
Franco Morbidelli dominated from the front, remaining calm under pressure from Francesco Bagnaia as the pair traded record laps at the front to clinch his fourth win of the year in the Moto2 Grand Prix in Le Mans.
The EG 0,0 Marc VDS rider was passed by Tom Luthi in the opening stages before forcing his way back past his Swiss title rival. 'Pecco' Bagnaia then rallied to go with his fellow countryman at the front, with the record pace still evident in the final five laps.
It was to be Morbidelli who went on to win, and having now won every race he has finished he has again increased his title lead over Luthi, now at a 20 point advantage.
Rookie Bagnaia picked up his second trophy in a clear second place for the Sky Racing VR46 team, matching his best finish.
Third went to Tom Luthi (CarXpert Interwetten) after a well timed overtake on his the injured Alex Marquez, who gave everything he had to stay ahead despite his foot fracture, but just missed out on putting the second Marc VDS entry on the podium.
Mattia Pasini caught the lead four and looked set to challenge before fading away on the Italtrans, finishing fifth, ahead of Dominique Aegerter - the top Suter finisher for Kiefer Racing.
Taka Nakagami qualified down in 18th but powered through the field to snatch seventh for Idemitsu Honda Team Asia, racing hard over the final laps.
Eighth went to Simone Corsi, the top Speed Up rider, while Xavi Vierge brought some home cheer bringing the French Tech 3 bike back in ninth, local rider Fabio Quartararo finished just out of the points in 18th.
Yonny Hernandez continues to adjust to his return to Moto2 and showed great improvements on his way to the final slot inside the top ten with AGR.
Hafizh Syahrin was five seconds adrift in eleventh for Petronas Raceline Malaysia, but won his personal battle over Marcel Schrotter ( Dynavolt Intact GP) keeping the German rider behind him in twelfth.
Ricky Cardus, still in for the injured Brad Binder at Red Bull KTM Ajo, was the teams top finisher in 13th, with the final points going to Sandro Cortese (Dynavolt Intact GP) in 14th and Axel Pons (RW Racing GP) in 15th.
Luca Marini didn't make it to the end of the first lap, with Jorge Navarro following not long after.
With eighteen laps to go Lorenzo Baldassarri slipped out of seventh ending the Forward teams day early, with Stefano Manzi off moments later. Tarran Mackenzie, Danny Kent's permanent replacement at Kiefer had a late exit with just four laps left to run.
Iker Lecuona missed the grand prix after breaking his collarbone in his practice crash with Marquez.
