2011 Aragon 125cc Race Result: Winner Dominates, While Battles Rage Behind

Results and summary of the 125cc race at the Motorland Aragon circuit:

Nico Terol has tightened his grip on the 2011 125cc World Championship, winning the first race of the day at the Motorland Aragon circuit in intimidating fashion. The Bankia Aspar rider led into the first corner, and was a second clear within a couple of laps, and would not be seen again.

In the early laps, Terol looked like he might get company. Terol's teammate Hector Faubel sat behind him, while Johann Zarco, who had got a mediocre start and dropped to 5th, worked his way past both Sandro Cortese and Maverick Viñales to catch Faubel. It took Terol two laps to shake off Faubel, and another couple of laps for Viñales and Zarco had caught Faubel and were looking for a way past. Zarco barged his way past the Blusens rider, giving chase to Faubel on the Aspar bike.

Getting past Faubel proved to be a trial. Zarco pushed wherever he could, but it took a mistake by Faubel at Turn 2 for the Frenchman to get past. Once he succeeded, he was off to chase Terol, but by then it was too late to catch his championship rival. Zarco pulled a gap on Faubel, but the Spaniard was not yet ready to surrender. Faubel caught the Frenchman again on lap 13, and then returned the favor of pushing hard to pass him. He got past at Turn 1, only to see Zarco come back again a lap later and resume his blocking tactics. Faubel had one last chance into the first of the final two turns, but his eagerness to win overcame the grip of his tires, and he slid out of the race after passing Zarco briefly. The Frenchman came home in 2nd, ahead of Maverick Viñales, who had hung on to 4th at a distance, inheriting 3rd when Faubel crashed out. 

The most exciting battle of the race was back in 4th, where a group of five or six riders swapped places continuously. In the end, RW Racing's Luis Salom came out on top, slipping past Sandro Cortese in the final corner, but the two riders were put back several places for passing under the yellow flag being waved after Faubel's crash. Efren Vazquez was awarded 4th spot in the revised standings.

Terol's victory extends his lead in the championship to 36 points over Zarco, and with 4 races left to go, only needs to finish 3rd in every race to retain the title. Zarco limited the damage, but could make no inroads on Terol. Terol should wrap this one up before Valencia.

Results: