Moto2: Simoncelli clinches title with third
Alvaro Bautista won the race but it wasn't enough to stop Marco Simoncelli clinching the 250cc world title at the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang
Bautista made his way up the order in the opening laps before taking the lead at half-distance from Hiroshi Aoyama, winning by a couple of seconds from the Japanese rider.
But even a win couldn't stop Marco Simoncelli from clinching the 250cc title, Simoncelli's third place giving him a 28 point lead with just one race remaining.
It wasn't an easy race for Simoncelli, racing in the lead group throughout the race, but two mistakes in the middle of the race cost him positions each time.
He recovered each time and stayed with the leaders, before dropping off Aoyama's tail in the closing laps on his way to the title.
Yuki Takihashi finished fourth, just ahead of a close battle between teammates Pol Espargaro and Alex Debon, and Roberto Locatelli. Espargaro's race included a stint in the lead in the opening laps before he slowly dropped down the order to finish in fifth place.
The only other potential challenger for the world title, and an extreme outside hope at that, KTM's Mika Kallio, retired on lap five with engine problems having also had clutch problems from the start of the race.
CLASSIFIED:
Pos Rider Bike Time
1. Alvaro Bautista Aprilia 42:56.428
2. Hiroshi Aoyama KTM + 2.586
3. Marco Simoncelli Gilera + 8.343
4. Yuki Takahashi Honda + 11.032
5. Aleix Espargaro Aprilia + 13.846
6. Alex Debon Aprilia + 14.274
7. Roberto Locatelli Gilera + 15.101
8. Ratthapark Wilairot Honda + 16.987
9. Thomas Luthi Aprilia + 25.356
10. Lukas Pesek Aprilia + 26.846
11. Fabrizio Lai Gilera + 49.907
12. Karel Abraham Aprilia + 50.088
13. Alex Baldolini Aprilia +1:05.816
14. Simone Grotzkyj Gilera +1:15.544
15. Imre Toth Aprilia +1:19.905
16. Manuel Hernandez Aprilia +1:35.890
17. Daniel Arcas Aprilia +2:00.717
18. Doni Tata Pradita Yamaha +2:28.842
NOT CLASSIFIED/RETIREMENTS:
Rider Bike Laps
Mattia Pasini Aprilia 15
Julian Simon KTM 11
Mika Kallio KTM 5
Hector Faubel Aprilia 4
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