MarcVDS Moto2 championship leader Scott Redding has to give second best to title challenger Pol Espargaro at Assen this afternoon after a titanic scrap for the win in Holland.
After following the Pons rider for most of the last portion of the encounter, Redding put a pass on the Spaniard at Duikersloot and immediately pulled a gap but Espargaro re-grouped and came back at the Gloucestershire rider on the last lap.
Espargaro took the lead into Haarbocht and then put in an inspired ride to keep Redding behind him for the entire lap, defending exactly where he needed to and then having enough of a gap at the chicane for leave Redding with not enough for a last-gasp pass.
"I'm happy, we fought hard for the whole race. I enjoyed it, we put pressure on him. It was a long, hard race. Sixth gear kept jumping out at the end and the tyre blistered a bit but first or second, we both worked hard," said Redding, speaking in parc ferme.
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