Bradl holds of Simón

After an exciting tussle in the last few laps of the Moto2 race Stefan Bradl (Viessmann Kiefer Racing) managed to hold off Julián Simón (Mapfre Aspar) to claim victory, with a poignant rostrum finish for Yuki Takahashi (Gresini Racing) who came third less than a week after the tragic death of his brother. The German rider kept his cool during an eventful race at the front to take his third victory in the Moto2 class and the fifth of his career. The Kalex rider has increased his lead in the World Championship to 13 points over Andrea Iannone (Speed Master). The Italian rider looked potentially on course to triumph in Estoril after clawing his way through the field from starting from the middle of the fifth row, to be leading with only a few laps to go after passing Bradl. However the Suter rider crashed and eventually finished in 13th place, 42 seconds behind the winner. Bradl and Simón had a mouthwatering fight in the last few laps and it was Bradl who crossed the start finish line a mere 0.147s ahead of the Spaniard. The Mapfre Aspar rider was aiming to collect his maiden Moto2 victory in the class, but had to settle for second place and his 23rd career podium. Takahashi was an emotional third, a further six seconds behind the battle at the front. It was a positive weekend for Dominique Aegerter (Technomag-CIP) after his highest grid position in Moto2 of fifth. Aegerter then also finished the race with his best result in the class with fourth place. Simone Corsi (Ioda Racing Project) was in fifth, Pol Espargaró (HP Tuenti Speed Up) sixth and Randy Krummenacher (GP Team Switzerland Kiefer Racing) seventh. Alex Baldolini (Forward Racing), who had his only ever podium in Grand Prix racing here at the circuit in 2010, had his best result of the 2011 campaign so far in eighth place, ahead of Mike di Meglio (Tech 3) and Esteve Rabat (Blusens-STX). Thomas Lüthi (Interwetten Paddock Moto2) had got the better of Bradl after a few laps in and had just set the fastest lap of the race whilst attempting to pull away at the front, when he lost the front end of his Suter and went down at Turn 13. That was the end of the Swiss rider’s race and he had to return to the pits to retire.