2012 Aragon Moto2 Race Result: Smart Victory After Blood-Curdling Battle

Results and summary of a thrilling Moto2 race at the Motorland Aragon Circuit:

Pol Espargaro has taken a smart and hard-fought victory in a spine-chilling Moto2 race, which saw him take advantage of the battle in the last few laps behind him to edge away at the front. Espargaro's victory brings him five points closer to Marc Marquez, but the deficit is still large at 48 points.

Polesitter Simone Corsi led away from the line, taking the lead for the first few laps ahead of Marc Marquez, Pol Esparagaro and Andrea Iannone, but the three men who have dominated the 2012 Moto2 championship soon asserted their authority. Marquez took charge as the race approached the halfway mark, while Pol Espargaro started to chase down the Catalunya Caixa man. Behind them, Andrea Iannone took his time working his way past Simone Corsi, then closed on the leaders, bringing with him a larger group including Corsi in his wake.

As the race wound down, a fierce battle unfolded at the front. Simone Corsi opened the proceedings with a bold move to elbow Espargaro aside, but both Espargaro and Iannone were soon past the CAME Ioda rider and focusing their efforts on Marquez. Pol Espargaro, Marc Marquez and Andrea Iannone have developed a fierce rivalry through this season, and the race at Aragon turned into a showcase for that rivalry. No chance to overtake was passed up, no defending move was shied away from. The battle was hard, the passes were right at the very limit of the possible, but every move was clean and without contact.

Marc Marquez tried to exploit his superior speed down the back straight to get into the final corner first, but both Espargaro and Iannone had an answer to that, braking up the inside of Turn 16 to pass the championship leader back. Espargaro and Iannone battled it out in the first sector, Iannone having the upper hand in Turn 5, Espargaro braving it out in Turn 7 and Turn 12.

It would be Turn 1 that would be decisive. Espargaro dived past Iannone to take the lead, forcing Iannone back into the clutches of Marquez and the chasing group. The battle for 2nd was fierce enough for Espargaro to push for a gap, and once past he would not be caught. The battle for 2nd raged for two more laps, Marquez eventually coming out on top after a brave move round the outside of Iannone through the final two corners. The fight had allowed the group following to catch the leaders, and Scott Redding seized the opportunity to take 3rd from Iannone, demoting the unfortunate Italian to 4th. 

Results: