Moto2 Phillip Island: Luthi beats Morbidelli and wins the Australian GP

Australian GP Moto2 Race – Franco Morbidelli had tasted the first success of his career, but he once again had to postpone his appointment with victory. At Phillip Island the Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 rider Marc VDS was beaten by just 10 thousandths by the Swiss Thomas Luthi, who "fooled" him at the finish line and repeated the success of Motegi.

However, a race worth remembering was that of the VR46 Riders Academy rider, who achieved his sixth podium of the season, a podium which also saw Sandro Cortese as protagonist, finishing third.

Lorenzo Baldassarri's race was good, fourth, while Mattia Pasini crashed a few laps from the end while fighting for the victory. A race to forget for Alex Rins who with a fall also lost second place in the championship, now in the hands of Luthi.

Ranking leader Johann Zarco did not go beyond twelfth position, but thanks to Rins' fall he is ever closer to the title, which he already won last year.

Race report

The riders of the Moto2 class are ready to compete in the Australian Grand Prix, the sixteenth stage of the 2016 world championship. The Swiss Thomas Luthi will start from pole position, making his third pole start of the season. He will be joined by our Mattia Pasini and the British Team Gresini Sam Lowes.

Second row for Sandro Cortese, Jesko Raffin and Jonas Folger, third for Xavi Vierge, Lorenzo Baldassarri and Franco Morbidelli. World championship leader Johann Zarco will start from the fourth row, while his rival in the title race, Alex Rins, from the sixth.

Simone Corsi with the Speed ​​Up recorded the 13th time, fifth row, while Luca Marini was 18th, sixth row. All ready, 25 laps to go for 111.2 km. The traffic lights go out, the fastest at the start is Luthi, who started ahead of Luthi, Pasini, Folger, Vierge, Morbidelli, Simon, Raffin, Lowes, Corsi, Cortese, Rins and Baldassari. Fall for Remy Gardner.

The first lap ends with Luthi ahead of Pasini, Morbidelli, Folger, Vierge, Corsi, Simon, Lowes, Baldassarri and Raffin. Twelfth place for Alex Rins, while Zarco is sixteenth. The first laps saw Italian colors as protagonists, with Morbidelli passing and Pasini chasing Luthi. Morbidelli takes the lead and Pasini also passes Luthi, two Italians leading the race. Meanwhile, Sam Lowes falls, rider ok. It was the fourth crash of the weekend for the Team Gresini rider.

Up front, Luthi doesn't give up and takes back first position. The Swiss has a few tenths of an advantage over Morbidelli, who is in turn closely followed by Pasini. Jonas Folger is further behind, fourth and ahead of Baldassarri and Rins. Nakagami, Corsi Cortese and Simon close the temporary Top Ten. Uphill race for Johann Zarco, twelfth, but Rins gives a "hand" to the Frenchman, who falls at turn 2 on the seventh lap. The Spanish driver thus says goodbye to his world championship dreams and at this moment also loses second position in the championship to Luthi.

Up front, Luthi is still ahead of Morbidelli and Pasini, while Baldassarri, fifth, has almost caught Jonas Folger. Pasini attacks, moving into second position, while Baldassarri is fourth. We have reached the halfway point of the race, Luthi leads the race ahead of Pasini and Morbidelli. Followed by Baldassarri, Nakagami, Cortese, Folger, Corsi, Pons and Simeon. Zarco is thirteenth. Morbidelli attacks Luthi, now he is second. Great battle between Pasini and Morbidelli, who we remember train together at Valentino Rossi's Ranch, given that Morbidelli is part of the VR46 Riders Academy.

Lorenzo Baldassarri's race was excellent, having now caught up with the leading trio. Three Italians in the top four positions, with Morbidelli once again in second position and close to Luthi. With eight laps to go Luthi slows down, this penalizes Morbidelli who loses second place to Pasini. Baldassarri has almost mended the "tear" and Cortese (the fastest on the track) is also very close to the leaders.

Cortese attacks and passes Baldassarri, now the quintet is compact. Three laps to go, Cortese also passes Pasini, who unfortunately crashes at turn 4. It's a shame for the Team Italtrans driver, who had been a great protagonist up until now.

Morbidelli attacks and passes, taking the lead of the race with 2 laps to go. Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 rider Marc VDS wants the first victory in his career. The last lap begins, Morbidelli seems to be able to pull ahead, but is beaten by just 10 thousandths by Luthi, who, taking advantage of the slipstream, crossed the finish line ahead of Morbidelli. On the third step of the podium Sandro Cortese, while Baldassarri is fourth.