Crash.net's Moto2 top ten: Part 1.

10th to 6th places in Crash.net's top ten Moto2 riders of 2010.
Luthi, Dutch Moto2 Race 2010
Luthi, Dutch Moto2 Race 2010
© Gold and Goose

Usually we restrict our motorcycle grand prix top ten to just the premier-class, but the new Moto2 category was so unpredictable we couldn't resist compiling a list of our star riders from the new 600cc class...

10th - Gabor TalmacsiTeam: Fimmco Speed UpBike: Speed UpChampionship position: 6thVictories: 0Podiums: 1Pole positions: 1Fastest laps: 0Points finishes: 13 out of 17 starts

Although overshadowed by team-mate Andrea Iannone, Gabor Talmacsi scored points on all but four occasions, landing him sixth in the final standings.

The highlight of the Hungarian's season was a rostrum at Aragon, while a debut Moto2 pole was gifted to him when qualifying was cancelled at Estoril.

But Talmacsi's lack of podiums and race wins, relative to Iannone, meant we ranked him only tenth in our list.

9th - Simone CorsiTeam: JiR Moto2Bike: MotoBIChampionship position: 5thVictories: 0Podiums: 2Pole positions: 0Fastest laps: 0Points finishes: 15 out of 17 starts

It's safe to say that Simone Corsi exceeded most expectations this season, which he finished in fifth overall, as the top MotoBI rider.

That wasn't too difficult since he was the only JiR rider to race the full year, initial 'star' team-mate Mattia Pasini quitting early on and being ultimately replaced by Alex de Angelis.

Corsi took back-to-back podiums for JiR at Le Mans and Mugello and scored points in all but two races - making him equal with world champion Toni Elias as the most consistent rider in the new class.

On the downside, Corsi was comfortably beaten by de Angelis in all five races that the San Marinese finished at the end of the year. Ironically, it was probably Corsi's efforts that helped convince de Angelis to sign.

8th - Scott ReddingTeam: Marc VDSBike: SuterChampionship position: 8thVictories: 0Podiums: 2Pole positions: 0Fastest laps: 1Points finishes: 9 out of 17 starts

Where to place Scott Redding was one of the most difficult choices, and in the end we played safe and left him in his final championship position. However, if this list was about future potential, Redding would have easily been in the top four - perhaps higher.

The youngest rider on the grid at 17, Redding struggled early in the season and had scored just 23 points after nine rounds (2.6 points-per-race average). But his turnaround was such that he scored 79 points over the next eight races (9.9 points per race).

Although regularly denied pole by the smallest of margins, Redding qualified on the front row six times in the last eight events and, despite just two podiums, looked every inch a future title contender as he fought confidently with far more experienced rivals.

Big things are expected of Redding in 2011.

7th - Karel AbrahamTeam: Cardion AB MotoracingBike: RSV/FTRChampionship position: 10thVictories: 1Podiums: 2Pole positions: 0Fastest laps: 1Points finishes: 9 out of 14 starts

Placing Karel Abraham ahead of Scott Redding in our list was a difficult decision - the Czech rider having finished two places behind the Briton in the final standings, partly due to missing three races.

The balance was tipped in Abraham's favour over Redding since, although he scored the same number of podiums as Redding (two), Abraham's included a race win and he was also the top rider on the 'standard' FTR chassis (two fellow Suter riders finished the year in front of Redding). Abraham only switched to the FTR at round three.

In terms of personal improvement, 20-year-old Abraham also took a big step forward this year, having failed to take a single podium in his five previous seasons of racing - let alone a victory - and never been higher than 14th in a world championship season.

Controversy continues as to whether Abraham deserves his 2011 MotoGP ride, but this year's Moto2 season shows the amiable Czech has plenty of potential.

6th - Thomas LuthiTeam: Interwetten Moriwaki Moto2Bike: MoriwakiChampionship position: 4thVictories: 0Podiums: 5Pole positions: 0Fastest laps: 2Points finishes: 13 out of 17 starts

2010 was Thomas Luthi's best season since his world championship winning 2005 125cc campaign and put the Swiss rider's career firmly back on track after some lost seasons in 250.

Had Luthi held on to win at Silverstone - a race he lost by just 0.057sec - he would certainly have made our top five, but either way he finished the season as the second best Moriwaki rider after world champion Toni Elias, despite injury.

See Part 2 for number 5th to 1st in our Moto2 top ten...

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