Tito Rabat extends championship lead with Aragon podium

Tito Rabat finished second in the Moto2 Grand Prix of Aragon, extending his lead in the World Championship over Marc VDS teammate, Mika Kallio, who finished seventh today.

It was Kallio who made the early running, leading the race for the first four laps, but the 31-year-old Finn started to struggle for rear grip after eventual race winner Maverick Viñales passed him for the lead. Lacking drive out of the turns, Kallio eventually dropped down the order to finish seventh.

As Kallio was dropping back, Rabat was pushing on, eventually passing Johann Zarco for second at half race distance, before posting his fastest laps of the race as he tried to close the gap to race leader Viñales.

The 25-year-old Spaniard managed to close to within a second of his fellow countryman, but simply ran out of laps and was forced to settle for second and a place on the podium.

Rabat now leads the Moto2 World Championship by 33 points, more than one win, from his Marc VDS teammate Kallio, with just four races remaining.

Tito Rabat // 2nd
“Yesterday I crashed in qualifying then this morning I had a difficult warm up in the wet, so I’m happy to finish on the podium today. It was lucky that the rain held off, other than a few spots during the race. I got a good start, tried to push straight away, but then I got into a fight with Mika. We lost two positions and once I’d got past Mika I had to pass Aegerter and Zarco, by which time Viñales had gone. I tried to push on and close the gap, but congratulations to him as he rode a clever race and never let me get close enough. I want to say a big thank you to the team because, when you have a difficult weekend, it is them that keep you calm and help you focus on what’s important. Now the focus is on Japan. New race, new country, new weekend, but the same aim; try to fight for the win.”

Source: Marc VDS Racing