Tomizawa victorious in historic first ever Moto2 race

History was made at the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar on Sunday evening, as the first ever Moto2 race got a new era in the World Championship underway. Writing his name into the opening chapter was Japanese rider Shoya Tomizawa, who rode a brilliant race to take victory, his first in Grand Prix racing.

The spectacle that had been promised did not disappoint at all and in the opening moments of the race two of the frontrunners crashed out when Alex de Angelis (RSM Team Scot) and Stefan Bradl (Viessmann Kiefer Racing) collided, both riders high-siding in turn three after a problem with the former’s machine. Clutch problems for Mapfre Aspar rider Julián Simón meant that he then had to retire, as three of the front row failed to make it past the opening lap of the race.

As Alex Debón (Aeroport de Castelló-Ajo) and Toni Elías (Gresini Racing Moto2) started to compete at the head of the pack another rider fell, this time Raffaele De Rosa (Tech3 Racing) being forced to pit in and retire after trying to continue. His team-mate Yuki Takahashi was pushing hard in third position when he then went down, losing the front end of his bike and ending his race early.

As the midway point approached Technomag-CIP rider Tomizawa – who started from ninth on the grid, and whose best GP finish before this race was 10th in the 250cc race at Valencia in 2009 – announced his arrival at the front of the pack and started to compete for the lead with Elías, Jules Cluzel (Forward Racing) and Debón as the race developed further.

With three laps to go Tomizawa had opened up almost a three-second gap at the front, with Cluzel and Debón by now competing fiercely for the other two podium spots. It went down to the final lap between the pair, Debón going through on Cluzel wonderfully to ensure second place with the Frenchman taking third.

Elías, competing with the injuries he picked up in the final pre-season Test at Jerez (fractures in his hand and foot) took an admirable fourth as he rode through the pain barrier, with Roberto Rolfo (Italtrans STR) in fifth.

Mattia Pasini (JiR Moto2) and Thomas Lüthi (Interwetten Moriwaki Racing) had their own enthralling combat ending in sixth and seventh respectively, and Simone Corsi (JiR Moto2), Gabor Talmacsi (Fimmco Speed Up) and Sergio Gadea (Tenerife 40 Pons) all finished inside the top ten as well.

Other riders who failed to finish the debut race of the class were Axel Pons (Tenerife 40 Pons), Yonny Hernández (Blusens-STX), Vladimir Leonov (Vector Kiefer Racing) and Anthony West (MZ Racing), whilst British rider Scott Redding (Marc VDS Racing Team) ended the race in 23rd position.