Moto2 Sachsenring: First career success for Simeon, Morbidelli crashes and misses the podium

Moto2 2015 German GP Race – Xavier Simeon won the German Grand Prix in the Moto2 class. This is the first career success for the Team Gresini rider, which came after a wonderful battle with Franco Morbidelli first and then with world championship leader Johann Zarco. The Frenchman crossed the finish line in second place, while the Team Italtrans driver, responding to an attack from Rabat, lost the front end of his Kalex, also involving the blameless reigning champion. Alex Rins then took the podium.

Now in the world championship standings Zarco leads with 179 points against 114 for Rabat and 107 for Lowes. The best of the Italians is Franco Morbidelli, eighth with 62 points.

Race report

Appointment with the Moto2 class on the Sachsenring circuit, where the German Grand Prix will start in a few minutes. The riders are ready to compete in the ninth stage of the 2015 season of the eighteen scheduled. Pole position yesterday went to the Frenchman Johann Zarco, riding the Kalex of Team Ajo Motorsport. In the front row with him the Belgian Xavier Simeon (Kalex) and our Franco Morbidelli, riding the Kalex of Team Italtrans.

Second row for the Swiss Thomas Luthi, for the Roman Simone Corsi (at start #200 in his career) and the reigning champion Esteve Rabat (Kalex). In the third row we find the home riders Sandro Cortese (Kalex) and Jonas Folger (Kalex) and the British Speed ​​Up driver Sam Lowes. Sixth row for Lorenzo Baldassarri (Kalex), while Alex Marquez (Kalex), 2014 Moto3 world champion, as well as brother of Marc, reigning MotoGP champion, will instead start from the eighth, twenty-fourth place. All ready, twenty-nine laps to go for 106.459 km. The traffic lights go out, the fastest at the start is the Belgian Xavier Simeon, who takes the lead ahead of Morbidelli. The Team Italtrans rider attacks immediately, taking the lead of the race ahead of the Belgian from Team Gresini, Zarco, Corsi, Luthi and Folger.

The first lap ends with Morbidelli in the lead, but Simeon attacks at the first corner after the finish line to take the lead. The second lap also ends with Simeon in the lead, but Morbidelli regains first position, while Corsi passes Zarco and Baldassarri sets the fastest lap.

Great brawl, Simeon overtakes Morbidelli, Corsi attacks at the first braking point, but goes long, favoring world championship leader Johann Zarco, who takes the lead.

The Frenchman tries to attack, seems to be able to put a few meters between himself and his opponents, but Morbidelli comes back, taking Simeon with him. Corsi is fourth, slightly further behind, but is trying to mend the "tear" in his GP #200. Meanwhile, Anthony West falls first and then Schrotter and Shah. For all three there were no physical consequences.

We have reached the halfway point of the race, Zarco is still in the lead, but Morbidelli and Simeon are still in his wake. For the moment, Corsi is unable to close the gap, while behind the Roman driver the reigning champion Tito Rabat is coming on strong, followed by his compatriot Alex Rins. Following this trio are Luthi, Lowes, Kallio, Argerter, Cortese, Baldassarri, Nakagami, Folger and Simon.
They attack
Rabat and Rins, who pass Corsi, while Morbidelli doesn't give up on Zarco in front. Meanwhile, Johann Zarco, Xavier Simeon and Franco Morbidelli remain in the running for victory. With four laps to go the Team Gresini rider attacks, taking the lead, with Morbidelli slightly behind and with Rabat who, after a great comeback, is just nine tenths behind the Team Italtrans rider.

The final lap begins, Simeon seems to be able to pull away, but Zarco is still in his wake; the two will play each other there
victory until the checkered flag. Simeon goes on to win the first race of his career, Zarco and Rins on the podium, while a final counterattack by Morbidelli who loses the front end of his Kalex involves the blameless Rabat! The two on the ground, with the hope that the reigning champion has not hurt his collarbone again after having undergone surgery a few days ago.