Moto2 | Japanese GP Race: Marini beats Luthi, second consecutive victory

Moto2 GP Japan Motegi Race – Luca Marini won the Japanese Grand Prix in the Moto2 class, the sixteenth round of the 2019 MotoGP championship.

The pole-man, rider of the Sky Racing Team VR46, battled for a long time with Thomas Luthi and in the end crossed the finish line ahead of the Swiss from Team Dynavolt Intact GP and the rookie Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM), on his first podium in career.

For Marini this is the second victory of the season (4th podium of the season, ed.), which came immediately after that of the Thai Grand Prix. Lorenzo Baldassarri finished at the foot of the podium, while Alex Marquez finished sixth, ahead of rookie Enea Bastianini.

In the world championship standings, Marquez now has a 36 point lead over Luthi, 42 over Fernandez and 48 over Navarro. Marini is sixth at -58 and ahead of Baldassarri, -83.

Live news of the Moto2 GP Japan Motegi race

We are ready for the Moto2 class Japanese Grand Prix, sixteenth stage of the 2019 MotoGP. Luca Marini in pole position, followed by Team Pons riders Augusto Fernandez and Lorenzo Baldassarri. World championship leader Alex Marquez is fourth, while Marco Bezzecchi is eighth. Everything is ready, 22 laps to go, the traffic lights go out, the fastest is Marini, followed by Fernandez, Baldassarri, Chantra, Luthi and Marquez.

There is immediately a double fall, Tulovic and Nagashima involved, riders ok. The Japanese rider from SAG Team had started from the back of the grid after not lining up in time due to a problem with his bike.

The first lap ends, Marini leads ahead of Fernandez, Baldassarri, Chantra, Luthi, Marquez, Navarro, Schrotter, Lecuona, Bezzecchi. Manzi is 11th.

Baldassarri passes Fernandez, while Marquez recovers some positions. Crash for Nicolò Bulega, rider ok. Big "setback" for Marquez, who loses positions.

The second lap also ends and Baldassarri still chases Marini, followed by Chantra, Fernandez, Navarro, Marquez, Luthi, Schrotter, Lecuona, Bezzecchi. Manzi is 11th.

Retirement for Lowes after a contact with Binder, with the South African victim of a big "slip". Marini and Baldassarri continue to lead the race and extend their lead over Chantra exceeding the second. The other Italians are Enea Bastianini 12th, Fabio di Giannantonio 14th and Andrea Locatelli 15th. Mattia Pasini 17th,

Fall for Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge, with Lecuona being rescued in the middle of the track. The pilot loaded onto the stretcher is taken to the medical center. Meanwhile, Marquez's problems continue, as he swings and turns, alternating great braking with mistakes, while the #73 of Team Marc VDS drives in a disjointed manner.

Remy Gardner crashes at turn 9, rider ok. Marquez recovers positions and moves behind Chantra, while Luthi had moved into second position ahead of Baldassarri. It's a fight between the world championship leader Alex Marquez and the 3 Moto2018 champion Jorge Martin.

We have reached the halfway point of the race, Marini leads the race ahead of Luthi, Baldassarri, Chantra, Martin, Marquez, Schrotter, Fernandez, Navarro, Bezzecchi, Bastianini, Manzi and Di Giannantonio.

Attack by Luthi who takes the lead, while Baldassarri threatens Marini, who risks losing two positions in a few corners. Chantra loses positions, while Martin is fourth and Marquez fifth.

Retirement for Bezzecchi! Too bad for the Team Red Bull Tech 3 rider, who was in the Top Ten and who seems to have had a technical problem with his KTM. It's a great fight between Martin, Schrotter and Marquez, who are fighting for fourth position; the podium is more than two seconds away.

Luthi, who had tried to get ahead of Marini, remains within reach of the Sky Racing Team VR46 driver, who has now caught up with the Swiss. It's a battle in tenth between the two, with the #12 of Team Dynavolt Intact GP catching up on the Sky Racing Team VR46 driver.

Five laps to go, Marini doesn't give up on Luthi, while Marquez is sixth and currently 31 points ahead of Luthi, 42 over Fernandez and 48 over Navarro. Fall for Pasini, rider ok. Meanwhile, Martin has almost "got" Baldassarri.

Two laps to go, Marini attacks and passes Luthi, while behind Martin has passed Baldassarri. Last km of the race, the last lap begins. Marini is looking for his second victory of the season after the one in the last race in Thailand. Final corners, Marini seems to pull ahead, success for the Sky Racing Team driver, who crosses the finish line ahead of Luthi and Martin, with the latter on the first podium in the category.