MotoGP

MotoGP 2013: Japanese Grand Prix – Power Five

5 Mins read

3. Pol Espargaro (Moto2)

When Scott Redding romped to victory on home soil at Silverstone, the smart money was on the Moto2 title being wrapped up with races to spare but none of us thought Pol Espargaro would be the man to do it. Redding’s cruel misfortune with injury in the Asian triple header cannot be ignored but Espargaro deserves immense credit for the way he has wrestled the title from the Briton’s grasp.

Whether Redding was involved or not, the races still needed to be won and Espargaro has done so with aplomb, dominating in Phillip Island before doing the same at Motegi, leading from start to finish despite qualifying down in seventh. A lightning getaway brought him onto the tail of polesitter Mika Kallio and despite the best efforts of Redding’s Marc VDS teammate, Pol overhauled him before the end of lap one and eased away.

Redding’s retirement in a first-lap pile-up meant Espargaro only needed seventh to clinch the title but in true champion’s style, Pol secured it with a supreme victory. The way the closing races panned out may have left a bitter taste in the mouths of British fans but the fact of the matter is, injuries are a part of racing and Espargaro is a deserving champion. Motegi was a graphic demonstration of why.

(Photo Credit: MotoGP.com)

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