Márquez up for Italian double

The Moto2™ contingent gave it their all once again in Germany last weekend, yet it was not enough to stop Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol's Marc Márquez taking a win and extending his championship lead to 43 points before the intermediate class heads to the Gran Premio d'Italia TIM at Mugello this weekend. Márquez, who took victory at the Italian track last year, will no doubt be looking to extend his winning run to five, but will once again face a stiff challenge from Pons 40 HP Tuenti's Pol Espargaró, who put in a tremendous performance last time out as he raced from 17th to fourth place. He will however be well aware of the fact that he crashed out of the race in Mugello last year, and will aim to avoid this at all cost, as he tries to claw back points on his compatriot. Interwetten-Paddock's Tom Lüthi, who looked to have had a slight dip in form after his surging start to the season, had a solid race last time out to collect some valuable points, which leaves him heading into this weekend third in the championship. The man to watch will however be Speed Master's Andrea Iannone, who crashed in Germany whilst challenging Márquez for the lead. The local rider has also had winning experience at the track, having taken victory in 2010.Marc VDS Racing Team's Scott Redding will aim for a reversal in fortunes in Mugello as he crashed out of the last race in the first couple of bends, while his teammate Mika Kallio will undoubtedly be looking to carry over his form, after taking his first podium of the season. Tech 3 Racing's Bradley Smith, who finished third in Italy last year, has been a somewhat mixed performer this year, yet still lies seventh in the championship and will be hoping of a repeat podium to push him up the order. Italtrans Racing Team's Claudio Corti, currently eighth in the championship, will be looking to put on a good show for his home fans, and an improvement over the previous years where he has not finished higher than 21st. NGM Mobile Forward Racing's Alex de Angelis will be one to watch this weekend as he put in a stunning performance just two races in on a new chassis, to take third step on the podium in Germany. He has looked reinvigorated since his switch, and has no doubt given hope to other FTR rider Simone Corsi on board his Came IodaRacing Project machine, that a top three finish is within reach.World Championship Standings Moto2™1- Marc Márquez/SPA/Suter/1522- Pol Espargaró/SPA/Kalex/1093- Thomas Luthi/SWI/Suter/1074- Andrea Iannone/ITA/Speed Up/1045- Scott Redding/GBR/Kalex/86

Source: http://www.fim-live.com/en/media/news/news-detail/article/1341908579-marquez-up-for-italian-double/

Masao Azuma Jan Bäckstrom Chris Baert Graham Bailey Steve Baker