Shanghai 05: Pasini beats Lai

Mattia Pasini won the 125cc Grand Prix of China at Shanghai, his first ever GP win, after a closely fought battle with fellow Italian Fabrizio Lai that saw Lai in the lead until Pasini passed him on the finish line.

As the race got underway, Fabrizio Lai (Kopron Racing World)) gained good ground and went into the lead, with Gabor Talmasci (Red Bull KTM) not far behind; while Pasini also made good recovery from his 15th place position and pole man Mika Kallio lost positions.

Pasini continued to gain positions rapidly and made the top three by the seventh lap. The rest of the race was dominated by Lai, Pasini and Talmacsi, forming the front group and pulling away from the rest.

The rest of the race continued with a battle for first place between Lai in the lead with Pasini consistently trying to pass him. In the last few laps the Italians pulled away from Talmacsi.

Then an all out sprint to the end ensued between Lai and Pasini. Going into the last lap it looked unlikely that Pasini would pass Lai, but Pasini caught him right on the finish line to take victory; with Lai finishing in second and Talmacsi taking third.