Moto2 Qatar: Bagnaia hangs on for first win
Francesco ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia claimed his first win in tricky, windy conditions as the sun set at the Moto2 Qatar Grand Prix.
Bagnaia washed away thoughts of his Sky Racing teams tough Moto3 race with a emphatic win taking the lead on the first lap and surviving a last effort from rival Lorenzo Baldassarri, who briefly ducked in front before being taken straight back in the final corner.
The Italian, who has already signed a MotoGP contract with Pramac so has no contract worries in the back of his mind, ran a perfect race to cross the line 0.112s ahead, with the win also being the team’s first too.
Baldassarri pushed him all the way but had to settle for second after a great effort for Pons HP40.
Alex Marquez had ran a patient race before pulling into to second just before a rear brake failure saw him run wide, but the experienced rider still managed to ride around the problem and nurse his EG 0,0 Marc VDS home for the final spot on an all Kalex podium.
Those issues gave class veteran Mattia Pasini (Italtrans) the spark to mount a chase, but it was not to be, leaving him a clear fourth.
Red Bull KTM Ajo team-mates enjoyed a battle to the line, side by side it was Miguel Oliveira who finished just ahead of Brad Binder, in fifth and sixth respectively.
Marcel Schrotter won the battle just behind to give the unfancied Suter seventh with Dynavolt Intact GP, just ahead of Xavi Vierge his team-mate on a Kalex.
Luca Marini was next to see the chequered flag in ninth giving Sky Racing two bikes inside the top ten, with that tenth slot in the standings claimed by Jorge Navarro, a solid start for his second year at Gresini.
Moto3 champion and Joan Mir was not far behind in eleventh, the top finishing rookie recovering from qualifying down in 24th on the second Marc VDS machine.
Remy Gardner battled to hold on to twelfth, with the positions lower down the order switching frequently.
Hector Barbera (Pons HP40) finished 13th a solid result but proving the move down from MotoGP is far from straightforward.
Simone Corsi (Tasca Racing) faded to 14th while Dominique Aegerter claimed the final point - a great achievement after the struggles and crowdfunding he has gone through to keep the Kiefer Racing name alive.
Danny Kent could not convert his equal best qualifying into a strong Sunday showing, but was not far off the points in 17th.
Iker Lecuona retired with bike issues, while Sam Lowes was the only crasher.
