Rolfo wins in Malaysia as Elías takes Moto2 title

Rolfo wins in Malaysia as Elías takes Moto2 title - Printable Version

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Rolfo wins in Malaysia as Elías takes Moto2 title - Malcolm - 11-10-2010

Toni Elías secured the inaugural Moto2 World Championship title with fourth position in the Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix, as Roberto Rolfo took victory.

Toni Elías was crowned the first-ever Moto2 World Champion at Sepang on Sunday after the Spaniard took fourth place in the 14th round of the 2010 campaign. Roberto Rolfo was also celebrating as he took his first World Championship victory since triumphing in the 250cc class at Jerez in 2004 after a fantastic race that saw both Rolfo and Elías involved in separate battles.

Stepping onto the podium for the first time this season was Alex de Angelis (JiR Moto2) who challenged Rolfo for the win late on, with Andrea Iannone (Fimmco Speed Up) completing the rostrum after a marvellous duel with Gresini Racing’s Elías.

A number of riders displayed good early pace as Elías, Thomas Lüthi (Interwetten Moriwaki Racing) and Iannone all rode at the front. Pole man Julián Simón, who was the only man who could prevent Elías from confirming the title, did not enjoy a good start as he dropped to seventh and his race got tougher.

Scott Redding (Marc VDS Racing) was another rider who had a good early push as he challenged amongst the leading pack, whilst Simón managed to make ground back up to begin a fight with Elías.

The Mapfre Aspar rider had a moment on lap six however that saw him lose positions, and on the following lap a crash for Simón saw him drop out of the running for a point-scoring result as Elías was all but assured of the title. Immediately after Lüthi also crashed out as he suffered a disappointing end to his race when pushing at the front.

Meanwhile at the front of the race Rolfo emerged as the leader with eight laps to go, with De Angelis in close pursuit. Redding’s race was ended early however as the Brit pitted in after struggling with the heat.

Elías and Iannone were by now scrapping it out for third in a great encounter, and as Rolfo held off De Angelis to cross the line 0.040s ahead of him Iannone managed to beat Elías to third by four-tenths, as the Gresini rider took the title on board his Moriwaki machine to jubilant scenes of celebration.

Completing the top five was Alex Debón (Aeroport de Castelló-Ajo), with top-ten results for Karel Abraham (Cardion AB Motoracing), Stefan Bradl (Viessmann Kiefer Racing), Dominique Aegerter (Technomag-CIP), Jules Cluzel (Forward Racing) and Simone Corsi (JiR Moto2).