Sam Lowes (Speed Up Racing Speed Up) scored a sensational debut win in the Honda-powered Moto2 series, bouncing back from several tumbles during practice to fend off tough challenges from the rest of the pack and the weather, with light drizzle falling several times during the 19 laps. The former World Supersport rider moved ahead of early leader Johann Zarco (Ajo Motorsport Kalex) in the late stages and was never again headed while Zarco was lucky to take second after escaping unharmed from a collision with pole-sitter Xavier Simeon (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 Kalex) with just a few laps to go. Simeon fell but without injury.

The only other man in the front group was former Moto3 title challenger Alex Rins (Paginas Amarillas HP 40 Kalex) who took over third place from Simeon for his first podium result in the Moto2 class.

Reigning World Champion Tito Rabat (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS Kalex) briefly led the start until a mistake let Lowes and Zarco past, then he slipped further down the other before fighting back to fourth place, just ahead of Franco Morbidelli (Italtrans Racing Team Kalex), Hafizh Syahrin (Petronas Raceline Malaysia Kalex), Anthony West QMMF Racing Team Speed Up), Mika Kallio (Italtrans Racing Team Kalex), Julian Simon (QMMF Racing Team Speed Up), Takaaki Nakagami (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia Kalex) and Simone Corsi (Forward Racing Kalex).






Sam Lowes, Speed Up Racing: race winner

"It was a tough race because conditions weren't perfect. Zarco did the hard work leading the race for much of the way, which gave me an easier job. Then the rain stopped. We had done a lot of work on old tyres during practice so I was able to get to the front and stay there. I made a big mistake in Qatar [where he crashed while leading) and a couple more here in practice, so I'm so happy to get my first Grand Prix win. I used painkillers for the race. On the slowdown lap I was in tears - it's been a long time coming and last year was so tough. Thanks to my team - they have done an amazing job."

Johann Zarco, Ajo Motorsport: 2nd

"I was a great race and I really believed I go could go away out front but Sam had more pace, more corner speed. I'm happy for him because he's had a lot of pain this week. Anyway my result is good for the championship, we will try to keep on in this way. For me the collision with Simeon was a racing incident. I was ahead and changing direction when we touched. I was a little afraid when we had to go to Race Direction but they said the same thing.

Alex Rins, Paginas Amarillas HP 40: 3rd

“I am leading the championship but there are still 16 races to go! The most important thing is to finish on the podium and keep doing that. In many Moto2 races I have been in the big group - finally this time I was able to chase the leaders, so this is a good sign.


Event results - Round 2  

1 Sam Lowes 41'45.565 GBR HONDA Speed Up Racing 
2 Johann Zarco 1.999 FRA HONDA Ajo Motorsport
3 Alex Rins 4.622 ESP HONDA Paginas Amarillas HP 40
4 Esteve Rabat 8.975 ESP HONDA Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS
5 Franco Morbidelli 12.976 ITA HONDA Italtrans Racing Team
6 Hafizh Syahrin 14.168 MAL HONDA Petronas Raceline Malaysia
7 Anthony West 17.271 AUS HONDA QMMF Racing Team
8 Mika Kallio 17.513 FIN HONDA Italtrans Racing Team
9 Julian Simon 17.689 SPA HONDA QMMF Racing Team
10 Takaaki Nakagima 17.764 JPN HONDA Idemitsu Honda Team Asia
11 Simone Corsi 17.982 ITA HONDA Athina Forward Racing
12 Thomas Luthi 24.824 SWI HONDA Derendinger Racing Interwetten
13 Marcel Schrotter 26.016 GER HONDA Tech 3
14 Sandro Cortese 27.456 GER HONDA Dynavolt Intact GP
15 Alex Marquez 28.568 ESP HONDA Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS
16 Jonas Folger 29.889 GER HONDA AGR Team
17 Ricard Cardus 36.405 ESP HONDA Tech 3
18 Dominique Aegerter 38.693 SWI HONDA Technomag Racing Interwetten
19 Azlan Shah 40.581 MAL HONDA Idemitsu Honda Team Asia
20 Robin Mulhauser 41.504 SWI HONDA Technomag Racing Interwetten
21 Randy Krummenacher 50.471 SWI HONDA JIR Moto2
22 Louis Rossi 1'08.825 FRA HONDA Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2
23 Thitipong Warokorn 1'10.990 THA HONDA APH PTT The Pizza SAG
24 Jesko Raffin 1'11.138 SWI HONDA Emwe SAG team
25 Florian Alt 1'19.442 GER HONDA Octo Iodaracing Team
26 Lorenzo Baldassarri 1'25.405 ITA HONDA Athina Forward Racing
27 Luis Salom 1'32.876 ESP HONDA Paginas Amarillas HP 40
28 Xavier Simeon DNF GER HONDA Federal Oil Gresini Moto2
29 Zaqhwan Zaidi DNF THA HONDA JPMoto Malaysia

Championship standings  

1 Alex Rins 29 pts ESP HONDA Paginas Amarillas HP 40 
2 Johann Zarco 28 pts FRA HONDA Ajo Motorsport
3 Jonas Folger 25 pts GER HONDA AGR Team
4 Sam Lowes 25 pts GBR HONDA Speed Up Racing
5 Franco Morbidelli 22 pts ITA HONDA Italtrans Racing Team
6 Thomas Luthi 20 pts SWI HONDA Derendinger Racing Interwetten
7 Xavier Simeon 20 pts GER HONDA Federal Oil Gresini Moto2
8 Mika Kallio 18 pts FIN HONDA Italtrans Racing Team
9 Hafizh Syahrin 14 pts MAL HONDA Petronas Raceline Malaysia
10 Esteve Rabat 13 pts ESP HONDA Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS
11 Sandro Cortese 11 pts GER HONDA Dynavolt Intact GP
12 Julian Simon 10 pts SPA HONDA QMMF Racing Team
13 Anthony West 9 pts AUS HONDA QMMF Racing Team
14 Takaaki Nakagima 8 pts JPN HONDA Idemitsu Honda Team Asia
15 Louis Rossi 7 pts FRA HONDA Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2
16 Alex Marquez 6 pts ESP HONDA Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS
17 Lorenzo Baldassarri 6 pts ITA HONDA Athina Forward Racing
18 Simone Corsi 5 pts ITA HONDA Athina Forward Racing
19 Marcel Schrotter 3 pts GER HONDA Tech 3
20 Dominique Aegerter 1 pts SWI HONDA Technomag Racing Interwetten
21 Azlan Shah 0 pts MAL HONDA Idemitsu Honda Team Asia
22 Zaqhwan Zaidi 0 pts THA HONDA JPMoto Malaysia
23 Thitipong Warokorn 0 pts THA HONDA APH PTT The Pizza SAG
24 Robin Mulhauser 0 pts SWI HONDA Technomag Racing Interwetten
25 Ricard Cardus 0 pts ESP HONDA Tech 3
26 Randy Krummenacher 0 pts SWI HONDA JIR Moto2
27 Luis Salom 0 pts ESP HONDA Paginas Amarillas HP 40
28 Jesko Raffin 0 pts SWI HONDA Emwe SAG team
29 Florian Alt 0 pts GER HONDA Octo Iodaracing Team