Moto2 Buriram: Dominant Marini gives Thailand masterclass

Luca Marini took control of the Moto2 Thailand Grand Prix on lap one and never looked back as he eased away from his rivals for a dominant win.

The Sky Racing Team VR46 rider had qualified down in fourth but immediately pushed his way to the front of the race, as indicated by the speed he showed when he topped the morning warm-up session.

Almost immediately the Kalex rider pulled out a gap on then rival Alex Marquez and never looked back, finding record race pace to pull away, the Italian went on to lead by over three seconds for much of the race, only easing off on the final lap to cross the line 2.296s ahead of the battle for second.

The chasing group initially numbered four but soon split into two separate battles- the first consisting of Brad Binder (Red Bull Ajo) hunting down Iker Lecuona (American Racing KTM) to engage in a fierce battle to be the top KTM over the line.

The pair swapped position over the last laps but it was to be the South African who persevered and came out on top, after being denied by Lecouna over and over on the brakes a small error out of the last corner by the Spaniard bacame the tiny difference that split the duo at the chequered flag.

Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) had started from pole but faded into the battle for fourth after both KTM riders had found their way through. Augusto Fernandez still had an eye on a podium finish so he to muscled his way past for fourth for Flexbox HP40, leaving his fellow countryman fifth, though he still leads the overall championship standings.

Jorge Martin was a distant sixth on the second Red Bull Ajo entry, but was the top rookie over the line.

Tom Luthi was a over five seconds adrift of the Spaniard, finishing seventh for Dynavolt Intact GP.

Nicolo Bulega (Sky Racing Team VR46) pushed his way up to eighth at the line with home hero Somikat Chantra (Idimitsu Honda Team Asia) staging a mini comeback to climb to ninth, his best finish in the intermediate class.

The Thai riders late overtake pushed Marco Bezzecchi (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) back to tenth, still equalling his best result to date in his rookie year.

He held off Enea Bastianini (Italtrans), who had to settle for eleventh, with Remy Gardner close behind in twelfth for the SAG Team.

The remaining points on offer went to Andrea Locatelli (Italtrans) in 13th, narrowly ahead of Marcel Schrotter (Dynavolt Intact GP) in 14th and Tetsuta Nagashima (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) who faded from his front row start to 15th.

Jorge Navarro saw his title hopes dented after crossing the line down in 17th, just ahead of his Speed Up teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio as the bike appeared ill suited to the heat and track.

Dimas Ekky Pratama saw any hopes of improving from his tenth row start fade away when he was awarded a jump start penalty.

Joe Roberts was the first to exit, he was soon joined by Stefano Manzi and Lorenzo Baldassarri.

Xavi Vierge had a few warning wobbles before he emulated Manzi’s turn five slide with thirteen laps remaining.

Mattia Pasini quit his battle with Jake Dixon to enter the pits, Dixon went on to finish 19th.

Fellow Briton Sam Lowes had a fast fall into the gravel with six laps remaining. Xavi Cardelus was the final rider to crash out, with just one lap left to race.