MotoGP Mandalika: Chantra claims maiden Moto2 victory

Somkiat Chantra secured his first Moto2 victory at Mandalika after a dominant performance from the Idemitsu Honda Team Asia rider.

Mooney VR46’s Celestino Vietti and FlexBox HP40’s Aron Canet competed the IndonesianGP podium, three seconds adrift of the winner, with Elf Marc VDS’ Sam Lowes in fourth after a heartbreaking afternoon for pole-man Jake Dixon.

The second race of the day was reduced to two-thirds distance as the Moto2 grid prepared ahead of the, now, 16-lap battle. Track conditions in the high temperatures the official reason given with spots of rain also threatening in the air.

Inde GasGas Aspar’s Dixon lined up at the head of the grid for his debut in charge, but it was Chantra who took charge, from fourth, as the action launched. Lowes shot for second in the opening sector with Dixon trailing his countryman in the opening lap. Simone Corsi, Celestino Vietti and Aron Canet squabbling behind.

Red Bull KTM’s Pedro Acosta battled with teammate Augusto Fernandez from the back of the top ten, the rookie aware of the approaching long-lap penalty following his Friday crash under yellow flags as he claimed seventh.

The leading trio began to break free of the fight behind as the race began to spread out. Dixon running three-tenths behind Lowes with a further seven-tenths breathing space from the fast-approaching Canet as Chantra disappeared out front.

The Second Marc VDS machine of Tony Arbolino and American Racing’s Cameron Beaubier joined the top ten fight with five laps dispatched. Acosta dropping to 16th as he served his punishment with Ai Ogura the first between him and the points on offer.

Disaster struck Dixon with 12 laps to go, the Brit having just got through on Lowes for second before he slid out at turn