by Mark Appleton
The FIM have overturned a one minute penalty imposed on Marc Marquez after an accident involving the Repsol rider and Pol Espargaro.
The race itself was a superb advert for the Moto2 category with the winner not settled until the final lap and anyone of seven riders being able to take it for much of the race.
As the laps went on, the tension mounted until, three laps from the end and with Iannone in the lead, Luthi overtook Márquez. The Spaniard ran wide, and that eliminated the Repsol rider from the fight for the win. As he attempted to save a crash and rejoin the racing line, Pol Espargaró attempted to go through and contact was made. Espargaró crashed out and the definitive tenths of a second were lost for Márquez. Iannone and Luthi escaped to finish first and second, respectively, joined by Márquez on the podium.
“That was a race in which we had to fight hard,” said Marquez afterwards. “Maybe we didn’t have the best setting, but we fought with all we have and did a good job. I felt comfortable behind Iannone, but he was very clever and logically tried to slow me down.
“I decided to risk a pass on the final laps, but with three to go I made a small mistake and that brought me into contact with Pol Espargaró. I’m sorry for him and I apologise for it happening —I hope that he isn’t hurt, because I didn’t even know that he had crashed until the end. I noticed that we touched, but I didn’t see him because we have no mirrors and I can’t see what is going on behind me”.
Upon the conclusion of the contest, Race Direction penalised the Repsol rider for irresponsible driving, imposing a 1 minute penalty that would have relegated him to 23rd. Upon appeal, FIM officials cancelled this, returning third place to Márquez.
