2012 Jerez Moto3 Race Result: Phenomenal Triumph in Crash-Filled Race

Results and summary of the Moto3 race at Jerez:

Romano Fenati has taken an utterly dominant victory under treacherous conditions to take charge of the Moto3 championship. The Italian kept his head while all around him lost theirs, going on to win by over 36 seconds.

The opening stages of the race were utterly chaotic, the conditions - a mostly dry track with several very wet spots - catching a mass of riders out, with just 17 of the 34 starters making to the end. Once the mess cleared, Fenati found himself in the lead with Alex Rins and Louis Rossi. It became a war of attrition, with riders still dropping like flies.

First to go was Louis Rossi, the Frenchman distraught at losing his best ever chance of a podium. That left Rins and Fenati to battle it out, and while at first it looked like Rins had the measure of the Italian, a mistake - pushing too hard and running wide, off through the gravel and across the grass - saw him hand the lead to Fenati. Such was the lead that the pair had at that stage - over 18 seconds - that he rejoined right in the middle of the battle for the rest of the podium, with Alexis Masbou, Luis Salom and Sandro Cortese.

All Fenati had to do was keep his head cool, and despite lapping a second and a half faster than anyone else on track, that was exactly what he did to take victory. After a thrilling battle over the final podium spots, Luis Salom eventually grabbed 2nd, finishing ahead of Sandro Cortese, with Alex Rins still managing a creditable 3rd. After a miserable start and a couple of big mistakes, in which the Spaniard found himself way down in 28th, Maverick Vinales climbed his way to 6th. But Fenati now has a comfortable lead in the Moto3 championship, holding a 10 point advantage over Vinales.

Results: