Xavier Simeon became the first Belgian to win a Grand Prix for 32 years after defeating Johann Zarco at the Sachsenring. The Federal Oil Gresini rider edged out the championship leader in a tense finish while mayhem ensued behind, with Franco Morbidelli and Tito Rabat tangling at the final corner as they disputed the final rostrum position.
Despite dominating much of qualifying on Saturday, Zarco was never able to escape at the front of the field with Morbidelli shadowing him through the first half of the race. Once the Frenchman began to make a break nine laps from home, Simeon acted quickly and decisively to outbrake Morbidelli at turn twelve before jumping across the gap to Zarco, setting the stage for an exciting finale.
With four laps remaining, Simeon sprang into action with a move up the inside of Zarco into turn one and although the Frenchman piled on the pressure in search of a third straight win, Simeon kept him at bay to claim a historic win for himself and Gresini. Zarco banked the twenty points on offer for second but his title rival experienced contrasting fortunes.
Having clawed his way up the order after a difficult start, Rabat was running third approaching the final corner but Morbidelli hadn’t given up on a first Moto2 podium and charged up the inside into turn thirteen. Unfortunately for the Italtrans rider, his ambition was too much for the front end of his Kalex which folded underneath him, wiping out Rabat who was left to nurse his recently-plated collarbone.
The chief beneficiary was Alex Rins who inherited a fortunate third ahead of Simone Corsi with Sam Lowes promoted to fifth, a welcome result after falling as low as eleventh in the early stages. Thomas Luthi took sixth ahead of Takaaki Nakagami and Lorenzo Baldassarri with Julian Simon and Dominique Aegerter completing the top ten.
MOTO2 GOPRO MOTORRAD GRAND PRIX DEUTSCHLAND – RACE RESULT
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