125: Espargaro 'accepts' home Jerez win

Pol Espargaro has won his home 125cc Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez, having been waved into the lead by countryman Nicolas Terol with four laps to go.

Terol, winner at Qatar, presumably felt that his victory hopes were best served by 'forcing' Espargaro ahead, but the plan backfired as Espargaro pulled away to claim victory by 1.811sec for Tuenti Derbi.

Espargaro and Terol were the last surviving members of a five-strong lead group, which broke away in the early stages of the 23-lap race.

First to falter was Sandro Cortese, who dropped back with technical problems, while Esteve Rabat was unable to match the pace of fellow Spaniards Terol, Espargaro and Efren Vasquez.

Towards the end of the race Vasquez, team-mate to Espargaro, was also in danger of being dropped and pushed hard to stick with the leading pair - a little too hard, as he crashed out of third with five laps to go.

That fall promoted Rabat to the final podium position, some 15 seconds behind victory, with Terol's Aspar Aprilia team-mate Bradley Smith claiming a lonely fourth.

Terol continues to lead the world championship standings, with Espargaro seven points behind in second.

Home pole sitter Marc Marquez, third at round one in Qatar, was thrown from his Ajo Red Bull Derbi through a fast right-hander on the very first lap.

Race results - Jerez:

1. Espargaro (Derbi)
2. Terol (Aprilia) +1.886s
3. Rabat (Aprilia) +15.180s
4. Smith (Aprilia) +17.110s
5. Koyama (Aprilia) +25.069s
6. Moncayo (Aprilia) +26.860s
7. Zarco (Aprilia) +27.102s
8. Krummenacher (Aprilia) +28.465s
9. Masbou (Aprilia) +28.963s
10. Iwema (Aprilia) +58.830s

Webb (Aprilia) DNF