The Indianapolis GP was a big challenge for the Repsol 125cc riders, and the best placed of the four was Marc Márquez, 6th. Cameron Beaubier was 19th, one position ahead of Esteve Rabat who fell 5 laps from the end when he was 11th after a great battle to get near the leaders. His teammate Scott Redding, had a weekend to forget as his mechanical problems continued to hound him today, obliging him to return to the pits on lap 12; at that moment the Briton had climbed to 11th position.
The race began well for Márquez, Rabat and company as they moved up the classification just after the red lights went out. Márquez took the first corner, a left-hander, on the outside so as to take the second, a right-hander, on the inside gaining two positions. But a few laps later Iannone`s Aprilia stalled in front of Marc and when he swerved to avoid it he lost some valuable time as well as contact with the leaders. The Repsol KTM rider spent the rest of the race riding with Gadea and Bradl fighting to retain 6th position, the position he occupied when he finally crossed the finishing line. A result that is not at the level of his possibilities, but after the technical problems he had, but in the end a positive result.
Further back Rabat, 20th on the grid, ended the first lap 16th, and a few laps later had caught the second group fighting for 6th position. It seemed that Rabat was going to finish among the first ten but on corner 1, on lap 18 of the 23, the Repsol rider fell when he was hit by Zarco from behind, even so he got back on his bike to finish the race crosssed the line in 20th position. The Spaniard was just behind the American Cameron Beaubier, who battling against the pain in his shoulder, hung on to give his family and friends at the circuit, as well as compatriots, a good show.
Today´s ration of bad luck went to Scott Redding who started well down the field after the many mechanical problems that only allowed him to ride half yesterday´s session. This morning he was 7th in the warm-up, but in the race after a good start and climbing more than 10 positions, he had to retire halfway through the race when he was 11th.
Marc Márquez, 6th at 19.345 secs. >> Audio
“This was quite a difficult race because at the beginning it seemed that I was going to be in the leading group. I took some time to find my confidence in the grip on the rear tyre because we had a few problems with it yesterday and we could not find a solution. I tried to stay with this group but Iannone`s bike broke down just in front of me, and I lost contact with the leaders. I was alone for a few laps until I was caught by Gadea and Bradl. I planned the end of the race the best I could and it worked out, so I was 6th. With what we had seen it is not a bad result although I feel that I could have found a better set up, and got the engine working better”.
Esteve Rabat, 20th at 1’02.814 secs. >> Audio
“This was a very difficult weekend with a lot of problems finding the set up, except the engine which is the only thing that worked well. In the race I made a good start and I was in the chasing group, but then I was hit by Zarco and we fell. We were a second faster than yesterday, and that is positive. Starting 22nd we had no chance of winning, but we have to carry on fighting because we can get over the setbacks and end the season well”.
Scott Redding, retired >> Audio
“We had problems with the bike the whole weekend, like the rest of the year to tell you the truth. We have had a lot of problems with the engine. This weekend I was fast but the engine failed. Today I did a fastest lap but the engine broke again. We have taken a step forward but two back, swimming against the curret. We have to stay strong mentally and concentrate on the Misano race”.
Cameron Beaubier, 19th at 1’01.179 secs. >> Audio
“I am a bit disappointed as I was not able to stay with the group. Halfway through the race I had a big skid and I was almost thrown off the bike. That jarred my shoulder hard and from then on it was hurting quite a bit and I did not have the strength to change direction quickly, or to brake strongly. I did not see anybody behind me so I concentrated on finishing the race in the same position I found myself”.
