Terol Claims Comfortable Victory In Aragon

Nicolas Terol - Photo Credit: MotoGP.com

Nicolas Terol moved another step closer to the 125cc World Championship with another crushing victory at Aragon. The series leader made a lightning getaway from the outside of the front row and never looked back, leaving his teammate Hector Faubel to dispute second with Johann Zarco.

With Terol storming into the lead, Faubel slotted in behind his team leader while Sandro Cortese dived past Maverick Vinales and Zarco into third. Immediately it became clear that the German didn't have the pace to run at the front, losing third to Vinales further around the opening lap before Zarco snatched fourth moments later.

The leading quartet started to stretch their lead over the rest but with Terol easing ahead of Faubel, Zarco was in mood to bide his time. The Frenchman's patience lasted until lap five before taking third from Vinales but he was forced to wait another four laps before taking second as Faubel ran wide at turn one.

With the Aspar Aprilia having a clear advantage down the 968m back straight, Zarco's best attempts to pull away from Faubel were in vain and the Spaniard sneaked up the inside into turn one on lap 15. Zarco battled his way back into second at the final corner of lap 16 but the double-apex left hander would be the scene of more chaos on the final lap.

As the home supporters cheered Terol over the line for his eighth win of the year, Faubel made a desperate lunge at the final corner in attempt to beat his teammate's championship rival. The Aprilia was clearly later on the brakes and edged ahead as they tipped into turn 16 but Faubel had actually left his braking too late, and slid off into the gravel.

Zarco avoided contact to take second, missing out on his maiden win once again, while Vinales moved up from a lonely fourth to the final podium position.

Behind the leaders, five riders fought tooth and nail for fifth place, with Faubel's late crash moving them all up a position. Danny Kent and Sandro Cortese led the way heading into the final lap but Efren Vazquez surged up the order from seventh to lead onto the back straight.

Luis Salom was also in the mix and dived up the inside of Vazquez at the final bend to snatch fourth while Cortese put a similar move on Kent to grab sixth. However, due to the yellow flags being shown for Faubel's fall, Salom and Cortese were each docked a position, promoting Vazquez back to fourth and Kent to sixth. Alberto Moncayo also had a prominent role in the race-long scrap but eventually drew the short straw, ending up in eighth.

Adrian Martin and Jonas Folger rounded out the top ten while the final lap chaos promoted Danny Webb to 15^th and the final world championship point. Harry Stafford and Taylor Mackenzie couldn't score though after both riders crashed out early on, with Stafford eventually pulling into the pits four laps from home.

Gran Premio de Aragón: Race Result (20 Laps):

*One Place Penalty For Overtaking Under Yellow Flags

Lap Leaders: Terol (1-20)

Riders Championship (After Round 13: Aragon)