Bradl takes 125cc glory in Japan

Stefan Bradl took the second victory of his Grand Prix career in the 125cc A-Style Grand Prix of Japan, from second on the lower cylinder class grid.

Heading into the final lap, the podium finishers were all-but-certain, but the order in which they would take the chequered flag was far from decided. Bradl, the young pretender, series leader Mike Di Meglio and Gabor Talmacsi, the reigning World Champion riding with immense pain in his recently operated arm, would pit their wits against each other for one last time in Japan.

Bradl held on for the win, whilst Di Meglio gained valuable points to extend his advantage in the World Championship to 36 points.Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing rider Bradl also moved up to third in the classification, getting the better of Talmacsi in the standings as he did in the Motegi race.

After a crash-filled start to the race, which saw Marc Marquez, Dominique Aegerter, Pol Espargaro, Andrea Iannone, Hugo Van den Berg and Jules Cluzel all eliminated from proceedings before the first time across the line, the leading pack broke free for an entertaining duel between three of the 2008 season´s racewinners. Behind them, many got close but were unable to fully close the gap, with Joan Olive denied a fourth podium of the year by the frontrunners´ pace.

Indianapolis racewinner Nico Terol placed fifth, coming out on top in another close three-way battle between himself, Emmi-Caffe Latte´s Sandro Cortese and his Jack&Jones WRB teammate Simone Corsi, who remains second in the World Championship but with his chances of the title severely hampered. Scott Redding, Sergio Gadea and Danny Webb completed the list of the first ten finishers.