Rabat’s clean sweep as rain arrives

Tito Rabat completed his task of topping all three Moto2™ practices as the final pre-qualifying action took place in Malaysia on Saturday morning. On this occasion, a heavy rain shower interrupted proceedings as the Tuenti HP 40 rider led Tom Luthi and Pol Espargaro.

On Friday, Rabat – winner of the Spanish and Indianapolis Grands Prix earlier this season – had no trouble whatsoever in topping the timesheets. He maintained leading pace as the Saturday session began in dry conditions, although it is his Friday lap time of 2’07.321 that continues to head up the combined timesheets.

Interwetten Paddock Moto2 Racing’s Luthi and championship leader Scott Redding (Marc VDS Racing Team) are second and third overall, with Rabat’s teammate Espargaro fourth but having posted a top three time this morning.

Completing the top six across the trio of practice sessions were Italtrans Racing Team duo Takaaki Nakagami and Julian Simon, with the latter being the only rider in that particularly group to have registered his best time so far this weekend in Saturday practice.

The top ten was rounded out by Alex de Angelis (NGM Mobile Forward Racing), Jordi Torres (Aspar Team Moto2), Dominique Aegerter (Technomag carXpert) and Torres’ teammate Nico Terol who dominated last time out in Aragón, although the progress of all riders was severely hampered as heavy rain arrived.

The majority of the field, not least those contesting the title with four rounds remaining in the 2013 campaign, will now be hoping for a contrast in the weather ahead of Qualifying which begins at 3:05pm local time (GMT +8).