DEBUT PODIUM FOR GINO REA AT SEPANG! CLICK HERE FOR GINO'S LATEST BLOG!
Posted on Sun 21 Oct, 2012
Gino Rea came within half a lap of victory at Sepang today but he was happy to settle for a first ever Moto2 podium finish when the race was red flagged after he took the lead in torrential rain. Third place is a welcome reward for a tough season so far for the British rider and he can now look ahead with renewed optimism to the final two races.
Gino Rea (3rd) "What can I say? It's an amazing feeling. We've struggled all year to get the bike working how I want it but in the wet I'm able to ride around the problems and finally after the crash at Le Mans earlier in the year we got another opportunity to fight for the win today. I almost went down a few times but made it to the end and it just feels fantastic. The race went to plan, I got my 'Speedy G' start which I needed starting from 22nd on the grid. I made up quite a few positions in the opening corners and first couple of laps. Once I got near the front I just tried to make sure no one would pull away from me, then I decided to lead the race, which felt amazing. We had some fun battles and I was in 3rd when the rain started to fall again, it was getting difficult to see so I made a move and led the race across the line. Towards the end of that lap the red flag came out and I thought I had won, but they counted back two laps because some riders at the back hadn't finished the last lap that I led. It's a shame we wasn't awarded the win with these rules but I'm still happy to get on the podium! I want to thank all the guys in the team, especially my crew chief Fausto Benchiveni, Crimea GP, Federal Oil, all the sponsors and above all my family."
Fausto Gresini “I am really happy with Gino's podium today, it's just a shame the red flag came out when it did otherwise he could have been on the top step but this is racing and it's a great result anyway. It was a great race although I could hardly watch it because I was so nervous! Well done Gino. Now I'd love to see him show his potential in dry conditions and finally get to grips with this bike.”
1 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM NGM Mobile Forward Racing FTR 135.1 36'57.793
2 Anthony WEST AUS QMMF Racing Team Speed Up 135.0 +0.710
3 Gino REA GBR Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 Suter 135.0 +1.363
4 Hafizh SYAHRIN MAL Petronas Raceline Malaysia FTR 134.9 +2.941
5 Julian SIMON SPA Blusens Avintia Suter 134.6 +7.583
6 Andrea IANNONE ITA Speed Master Speed Up 134.5 +10.062
7 Mika KALLIO FIN Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex 133.7 +23.078
8 Bradley SMITH GBR Tech 3 Racing Tech 3 133.5 +26.957
9 Dominique AEGERTER SWI Technomag-CIP Suter 133.3 +30.063
10 Esteve RABAT SPA Tuenti Movil HP 40 Kalex 133.2 +31.514
11 Pol ESPARGARO SPA Tuenti Movil HP 40 Kalex 133.2 +31.746
12 Scott REDDING GBR Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex 132.9 +37.108
13 Toni ELIAS SPA Italtrans Racing Team Kalex 132.8 +38.627
14 Axel PONS SPA Tuenti Movil HP 40 Kalex 132.7 +39.095
15 Ricard CARDUS SPA Arguiñano Racing Team AJR 132.7 +40.686
22 R.WILAIROT THA Thai Honda PTT Gresini Moto2 Suter +1'27.281
