125cc: Redding takes maiden home win
Briton Scott Redding delighted his home crowd at Donington Park by winning his maiden race at the 125cc British Grand Prix
The Blusens Aprilia Junior rider, who had never run at the Leicestershire circuit before this weekend, at 15 years of age is in his first season and his best result thus far was a fifth place. Today's result marks him as the youngest winner in the history of motorcycling's world championship.
Redding had a good start from fourth on the grid and within two laps he was in second place, two seconds behind Italian rival Andrea Iannone. The two maintained the distance between each other for the following five laps, but crucially opened a gap that was almost six seconds mid-way through the 25-lap race.
In the meantime, Redding halved his delay from Iannone until lap 16, when he was suddenly able to completely close the gap to the I.C. Team rival, possibly also thanks to the fact that bodywork on the left side of Iannone's Aprilia did not look fully attached to the chassis.
The pressure applied by Redding bore its fruits on lap 20, when Iannone lost the front on a right-hand turn and crashed out of the race, leaving the home rider with a comfortable six-second cushion over his pursuers.
By that time the chasing pack had been led since lap 11 by championship leader Mike di Meglio, who had a stunning recovery from the 20th slot on the grid to get into the top ten by lap five.
The French Derbi rider finished the race five seconds behind in second place, ahead of another impressive youngster, 15-year-old Spaniard KTM rider Marc Marquez, also on his maiden podium.
Eight seconds further back came the Aprilias of Sergio Gadea and Simone Corsi.
Pablo Nieto ran wide and on the grass at the second corner and to avoid cutting through the track and causing a major crash he threw himself off his KTM, which came to rest on the circuit regardless but was luckily missed by the pack.
Danny Webb could not complete the first lap, while Gabor Talmacsi crashed on lap two and blamed a gust of wind.
CLASSIFIED:
Pos Rider Team Time
1. Scott Redding Blusens Aprilia Junior 41:39.472
2. Mike di Meglio Ajo Motorsport + 5.324
3. Marc Marquez Repsol KTM 125cc + 5.806
4. Sergio Gadea Bancaja Aspar Team + 13.990
5. Simone Corsi Jack & Jones WRB + 16.855
6. Tomoyoshi Koyama ISPA KTM Aran + 17.181
7. Joan Olive Belson Derbi + 18.014
8. Takaaki Nakagami I.C. Team + 18.222
9. Sandro Cortese Emmi - Caffe Latte + 18.404
10. Bradley Smith Polaris World + 18.891
11. Esteve Rabat Repsol KTM 125cc + 18.976
12. Michael Ranseder I.C. Team + 28.269
13. Randy Krummenacher Red Bull KTM 125 + 28.347
14. Raffaele De Rosa Onde 2000 KTM + 29.403
15. Lorenzo Zanetti ISPA KTM Aran + 35.763
16. Jules Cluzel Loncin Racing + 35.868
17. Stevie Bonsey Degraaf Grand Prix + 38.158
18. Nicolas Terol Jack & Jones WRB + 42.766
19. Dominique Aegerter Ajo Motorsport + 42.924
20. Stefano Bianco S3+ WTR San Marino Team +1:06.296
21. Robin Lasser Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing +1:10.158
22. Pere Tutusaus Bancaja Aspar Team +1:10.905
23. Louis Rossi FFM Honda GP 125 +1:29.269
24. Robert Muresan Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing + 1 Lap
25. Hugo van den Berg Degraaf Grand Prix + 1 Lap
26. Lee Costello Vent-Axia + 1 Lap
27. Roberto Lacalendola Matteoni Racing + 1 Lap
NOT CLASSIFIED/RETIREMENTS:
Rider Team On lap
Andrea Iannone I.C. Team 20
Stefan Bradl Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing 19
Matthew Hoyle SP Racing/Mackrory 15
Connor Behan Connor Behan Racing 15
Paul Jordan KRP 15
Alexis Masbou Loncin Racing 6
Luke Hinton Buildbase/Knotts 5
Gabor Talmacsi Bancaja Aspar Team 2
Pablo Nieto Onde 2000 KTM 1
Danny Webb Degraaf Grand Prix 1
FASTEST LAP: Redding, 1:38.704 on lap 15
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