Phillip Island provides De Angelis with maiden Moto2 win

Alex de Angelis took his first victory in the Moto2 class at the Iveco Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, leading his JiR Moto2 team bike across the finish line ahead of Scott Redding (Marc VDS Racing Team) and Andrea Iannone (Fimmco Speed Up).

The San Marinese rider started from pole position and recovered from a start which saw him drop to fourth position to slowly enter the battle for the lead. A strong finish to the race saw De Angelis win by a margin of 2.172s as he followed up his first podium of the year last time out in Malaysia with a first victory of 2010. It was also his first GP win since his only previous victory, which came in Valencia in the 250cc class in 2006.

Redding rounded off an impressive weekend with his second podium of the year as he rode to second – his best Moto2 result to date. The 17 year-old Brit showed great determination and maturity to challenge at the front of the race for the most part, eventually placing second having started from the same position on the grid.

In third position Iannone came in a fraction over eight-tenths of a second behind Redding, as he suffered from tyre issues towards the end. The Italian had also been part of the leading group for the majority of the race, having engaged in a thrilling battle with the two riders who finished ahead of him. It was his seventh podium of the campaign as he moved to within two points of Julián Simón in the fight for second position in the overall standings.

The Mapfre Aspar rider ended the race in fourth position, ahead of Stefan Bradl (Viessmann Kiefer Racing) and team-mate Mike di Meglio, the German equalling his best result of the season so far and the Frenchman recording his highest placement in the category to date.

2010 World Champion Toni Elías (Gresini Racing) came out on top in an engrossing contest for seventh position, ahead of Simone Corsi (JiR Moto2), Alex Debón (Aeroport de Castelló-Ajo) and Karel Abraham (Cardion AB Motoracing) who completed the top ten. Thomas Lüthi (Interwetten Moriwaki Racing) had also been involved for much of the race and ended 11th.

An opening-lap collision involving Héctor Faubel (Marc VDS Racing Team) and Wayne Maxwell (Matteoni Racing) ended both riders’ races early, the former unable to rejoin and the latter being black flagged. Home riders Anthony West (MZ Racing) and wild card Alex Cudlin (Qatar Moto2 Team) finished the race in 21st and 30th positions respectively.