2. ESTEVE RABAT (Moto2)
The Malaysian Moto2 Grand Prix had Esteve Rabat’s name on it right from the get-go. The Spaniard was quickest in FP1, FP2, FP3, took pole position, went quickest in the warm-up and then won the race for good measure. It doesn’t get much more conclusive than that.
Much of the focus in the intermediate class lately has been on the championship head-to-head between Scott Redding and Pol Espargaro but if this form continues, Rabat may come up on the rails and surprise them both. Esteve led his teammate Espargaro in a 1-2 for the Pons team but Pol was never close enough to have a run at his compatriot who led every single lap.
For a rider that so often conserves his tyres and comes on strong in the closing stages of a race, the shortened Grand Prix wasn’t supposed to favour him but Rabat showed he can win from the front too, and his hot streak may not stop there. When Scott Redding won on home turf at Silverstone, he led Rabat by 57 points. In three races, Rabat has effectively halved it to 28 and has three more to complete the mother of all comebacks. Don’t rule it out either.
(Photo Credit: MotoGP.com)
