News 9 Mar 2020

Nagashima earns career-first Moto2 win at Qatar's opener

Australia's Gardner fifth as Arenas wins in Moto2.

Image: Supplied.

Tetsuta Nagashima (Red Bull KTM Ajo) blew the competition away in the final stages of a top-class Moto2 race at the grand prix of Qatar, claiming his first victory in style.

It was a stunning performance from the Japanese rider with exceptional late-race pace, making no mistake on the final lap to take an emotional career-first grand prix win.

Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP 40) fended off Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) in a thrilling battle for second, as Joe Roberts (American Racing) was a fraction behind in fourth.

Australian Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) put in an amazing charge, coming from outside of the top 10 to finish an impressive fifth.

Albert Arenas (Aspar Team Gaviota) played his cards to perfection in the Moto3 category to take KTM’s 100th victory in grand prix racing, outlasting a last gasp attack from John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) as the two veterans duelled it out on the drag to the line and ended the race split by only 0.053s.

Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) completed the top three to take his second podium, crossing the line in fourth but promoted a position as Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) exceeded track limits on the final lap and was penalised. Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) was fifth.

The next stop of MotoGP is still unclear amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, with more events anticipated to be postponed or cancelled.

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