The Moto2™ race at Phillip Island saw an intriguing battle at the front won by Maverick Viñales, with Tom Luthi and Tito Rabat also on the podium. The championship fight goes on to Sepang with Mika Kallio finishing fourth to deny Rabat the title for now.

It was another brilliant performance from Viñales who took his third win of an excellent rookie season in the intermediate class.

Rabat (Marc VDS Racing Team) took the holeshot from pole but an early mistake saw him drop to seventh with a group of five involving Rabat, Viñales (Paginas Amarillas HP 40), Luthi (Interwetten Sitag), Kallio (Marc VDS Racing Team) and Sam Lowes (Speed Up) emerging at the front.

Viñales managed the final stages of the race better than his rivals, crossing the line 1.329s ahead of Luthi, with Rabat 0.175s further back. With Kallio in fourth place, Rabat’s advantage at the head of the standings is 41 points with two races to go.

Lowes eventually crossed the line fifth, less than two seconds off the podium, with Sandro Cortese (Dynavolt Intact GP) over eight seconds behind the Englishman in sixth.

Marcel Schrotter (Tech 3), Dominique Aegerter (Technomag carXpert), Xavier Simeon (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) and Jordi Torres (Mapfre Aspar Team Moto2) completed the top ten.

Mattia Pasini (NGM Forward Racing) fell after setting an early fastest lap, the Italian able to rejoin but eventually pitting. Thitpong Warokorn (APH PTT The Pizza GP) fell soon after but was unable to rejoin. Warokorn’s fellow Thai rider, Ratthapark Wilairot (AirAsia-Caterham) crashed out with 12 laps to go.

Johann Zarco (AirAsia-Caterham) fell several laps later, but was unhurt.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/M...ia+Race+Viales