Spain’s Pol Espargaro won in the 125cc class race in Indianapolis.
Spain’s Pol Espargaro won a brilliant 125cc race in Indianapolis with a last lap pass for the win. Today’s win would be the first of his career.
“It’s hard to believe,” said Espargaro with a heavy Spanish accent. “It’s incredible to win one race. I try all times but on the last lap I tried to make a pass and I start going first. The motorbike was really good.”
At the start of the 23-lap competition it was Nicolas Terol out in front followed by Bradley Smith, Simone Corsi, Julian Simon, Marc Marquez and Espargaro. Terol immediately opened up a small gap over the rest of the field but within a few laps second through sixth had caught up and formed a peloton-like pack.
Around halfway point, Marquez had fallen off the pace which meant it was a five rider battle on front. With ten laps to go it was the same five riders battling out in front running virtually neck and neck--each rider trying to maximize the draft and find their way to the front.
Further back another battle was brewing between riders Marquez, Sergio Gadea and Stefan Bradl. As the race was winding down, Gadea and Bradl made contact with Gadea going off into the grass but managing to keep it upright. The incident would cost him with the Spainard going on to finish 15th. Shortly after an unknown rider highsided coming onto the front straightaway and was almost hit by two riders behind him.
Back out in front, Espargaro would make a final lap pass for the lead and managed to hold off Smith and Corsi to the line taking the 125cc class win in Indy. American hopeful, Cameron Beaubier had a disappointing race finishing 19th, just over a minute behind the race winner.
England’s Bradley Smith finished second in the 125cc class at the Brickyard.
1. Pol Espargaro, Derbi
2. Bradley Smith, Aprilia
3. Simone Corsi, Aprilia
4. Nicolas Terol, Aprilia
5. Julian Simon, Aprilia
6. Marc Marquez, KTM
7. Stefan Bradl, Aprilia
8. Joan Olive, Derbi
9. Takkaai Nakagami, Aprilia
10. Dominique Aegerter, Derbi
11. Danny Webb, Aprilia
12. Jonas Folger, Aprilia
13. Luis Salom, Aprilia
14. Tomoyoshi Koyama, Loncin
15. Sergio Gadea, Aprilia
