Moto2 Le Mans: Kallio wins, but a tenacious Simone Corsi gets on the podium

MIka Kallio won the Moto2 class French Grand Prix, fifth stage of the 2014 world championship. The Finnish rider ran a tactically perfect race, repeating the success obtained two weeks ago on the Jerez de la Frontera circuit.

On the podium a great Simone Corsi, who brought his Kalex to second position, after having been in the lead for a long time. The Roman rider resisted the attacks of Esteve Rabat, who once again "took" them from his team-mate Mika Kallio. Fourth at the finish line was Maverick Vinales, who preceded his compatriot Luis Salom and the pole-mandant Jonas Folger.

In the world rankings, Rabat's lead over Kallio is reduced to 7 points. In fact, the Spaniard scored 99, compared to the Finn's 92 and Maverick Vinales' 62.

Race report

The Moto2 class French Grand Prix, the fifth stage of the 2014 world championship, is about to begin on the Le Mans track. The German Jonas Folger will start from pole position (making his first pole start), riding the AGR Team Kalex. With him on the front row are his team mates Esteve Rabat (Marc VDS Racing Team) and Luis Salom (Team Pons).

Second row for Mika Kallio (riding the second Kalex of the Marc VDS Racing Team), for the Swiss Thomas Luthi (Suter of the Interwetten Paddock Team) and for our Simone Corsi, riding the Kalex (Forward Racing Team).

Third row for Maverick Vinales, Ricky Cardus and Sandro Cortese. Fifth row for Alex de Angelis and Franco Morbidelli, sixth for Mattia Pasini and tenth for Lorenzo Baldassarri. All ready, 26 laps to go for 108.81 km. The traffic lights go out, the fastest at the start is poleman Jonas Folger, who started ahead of Kallio, Corsi, Salom, Rabat, Vinales, Cortese and Luthi.

Error by Folger who widens, Kallio and Corsi take advantage of it and move into first and second position. Xavier Simeon's match ends immediately. The Team Gresini rider fell, fortunately without physical consequences.

The first lap ends with Kallio ahead of Corsi, Salom, Rabat, Folger, Vinales, Cortese, Luthi, Aegerter and Morbidelli. Mattia Pasini is 17th, while Lorenzo Baldassarri, with the second Team Gresini bike and a battered heel after yesterday's fall, is 28th.

Double fall! Cardus hits an enraged Pasini, who isn't doing well this year. The Forward Racing driver takes two "taps" on the Spaniard's helmet in anger! Meanwhile, his team-mate Simone Corsi attacks in front and takes the lead. The Roman driver had an excellent race, having not been on the podium since Sachsenring 2013. Johann Zarco also retired and shortly afterwards the same fate befell Alex de Angelis from San Marino, who crashed in the Suter of Tasca Racing while he was in sixteenth position.

The falls continue, this time it's the turn of Indonesian Thitipong Warokorn. There were no physical consequences for him either. At the halfway point of the race we still find Corsi in command, with just over three tenths of an advantage over Kallio, who in turn precedes Luis Salom by three tenths. These three seem to be the ones who will fight for the victory, Rabat fourth is in fact more than two seconds ahead. Axel Pons' race ends earlier than expected, as he also crashed without consequences. Franco Morbidelli is eleventh, more than 16 seconds off the top.

Kallio attacks and takes the lead on the eighteenth lap. Corsi is therefore second, while Salom and Rabat come from behind. Great battle between the two Spaniards, with Rabat chasing the Roman from Forward Racing.

Final laps of the race, Corsi tries to resist Rabat's attacks, while in front Kallio seems headed for his second victory, after the one obtained two weeks ago in Jerez. Last lap, Kallio gets his second victory, but Corsi gets on the podium after a great race.