Moto2: Elias wins restarted Moto2 race
Toni Elias edged closer to the inaugural Moto2 title by winning his third straight race in a restarted and shortened Indianapolis event
The original start had to be abandoned after two separate multi-bike tangles at Turn 2 saw eight riders crash, with Gabor Talmacsi, Simone Corsi, Raffaele de Rosa, Roger Lee Hayden and Shoya Tomizawa among them, although the latter was the only one who failed to take the restart half an hour later.
Polesitter Julian Simon had held the lead on the initial getaway, ahead of Anthony West, Scott Redding and Elias. But at the restart it was Elias who surged to the front, as Simon dropped back to fourth behind Redding and West.
Simon was soon on the move, retaking West and Redding, and then sweeping past Elias into the first corner on lap four.
The top three broke away together, with Simon looking in control until lap 11, when a bold move by Elias saw him blast around the outside at Turn 1 and back into the lead. Simon stayed with him, but had to settle for second, while Redding shadowed them to take a first Moto2 podium in third.
Elias' main title rival Andrea Iannone had started only 26th following a massive qualifying crash. He surged through to 12th at the first start, but only made it to 18th at the second attempt - although this did not stop him hacking through the field with ease once the race was underway.
Iannone eventually made it through to a stunning fourth, just ahead of the even more impressive Corsi, who came from last to fifth having been embroiled in the original start crash.
Sergio Gadea held off Thomas Luthi and Gabor Talmacsi for sixth. West slipped back to 10th behind American wild card Justin di Salvo.
Several riders crashed while running strongly, with Ratthapark Wilairot distraught to throw away seventh, and Hector Faubel's bike tumbling down the track with a fuel fire erupting behind it when he crashed out of fifth early on. He was unhurt.
Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap
1. Toni Elias Moriwaki 30m27.480s
2. Julian Simon Suter + 0.405s
3. Scott Redding Suter + 4.227s
4. Andrea Iannone Speed Up + 5.978s
5. Simone Corsi Motobi + 7.058s
6. Sergio Gadea Pons Kalex + 9.432s
7. Thomas Luthi Moriwaki + 9.815s
8. Gabor Talmacsi Speed Up + 10.141s
9. Jason di Salvo FTR + 17.564s
10. Anthony West MZ + 17.592s
11. Dominique Aegerter Suter + 17.618s
12. Mike di Meglio Suter + 20.527s
13. Claudio Corti Suter + 26.008s
14. Axel Pons Pons Kalex + 28.353s
15. Yonny Hernandez BQR + 30.480s
16. Alex Baldolini ICP + 30.538s
17. Roger Lee Hayden Moriwaki + 31.860s
18. Valentin Debise ADV + 32.255s
19. Kenny Noyes Promoharris + 32.500s
20. Lukas Pesek Moriwaki + 32.529s
21. Robertino Pietri Suter + 44.569s
22. Joan Olive Promoharris + 44.956s
23. Arne Tode Suter + 52.993s
24. Yannick Guerra Moriwaki + 57.481s
25. Roberto Rolfo Suter + 1m16.404s
26. Yuki Takahashi Tech 3 + 3 laps
Retirements:
Mashel Al Naimi BQR 12 laps
Jules Cluzel Suter 11 laps
Ratthapark Wilairot Bimota 8 laps
Raffaele De Rosa Tech 3 6 laps
Stefan Bradl Suter 5 laps
Ricard Cardus Bimota 2 laps
Yusuke Teshima Motobi 2 laps
Hector Faubel Suter 1 lap
Alex Debon FTR 1 lap
Vladimir Ivanov Moriwaki 1 lap
Shoya Tomizawa Suter 0 laps
Michael Ranseder Suter 0 laps
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