Next stop Brno for Moto2

After a refreshing four-week summer break from World Championship action the Moto2 class returns to the fore at Brno this weekend, with Championship leader Toni Elías ready to defend his 42-point lead at the top of the standings. The Gresini Racing rider has strong form at the Czech circuit where he has won once (in the 125cc class) and been on the podium twice in the former 250cc class. Elías also placed on the podium in his last two seasons in the premier class in 2008 and 2009, and will be a strong favourite to secure a fourth win of the 2010 campaign having signed off for the mid-season break with victory last time out in Germany.

One of the main rivals to Elías’ attempts to further stretch his lead will be Thomas Lüthi (Interwetten Moriwaki Moto2), who currently sits second behind Elías in the standings. Four weeks off will have allowed the Swiss rider ample time to continue recovering from his collarbone injury, and he will be going for what seems an imminent first win of the campaign having been on the podium four times already.

Italian Andrea Iannone (Fimmco Speed Up) is just four points behind Lüthi and with two wins this season and second place in the last round at Sachsenring under his belt will be a main challenger in Brno.

Only a single point separates Julián Simón (Mapfre Aspar) and Shoya Tomizawa (Technomag-CIP) in fourth and fifth, whilst Simone Corsi (JiR Moto2) and Jules Cluzel (Forward Racing) will also have their sights set on podium finishes as they target solid results and advancements in the standings.

A strong home result will be the aim for Karel Abraham (Cardio ab Racing) who has impressed in the two previous rounds with top-five finishes, whilst Xavier Simeon (Holiday Gym Racing) will be the sole Moto2 wildcard entry for this round. Czech rider Patrick Vostarek will ride as a substitute for Vladimir Ivanov on the Vector Kiefer Racing Team.