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The Moto2 race at Phillip Island has been red-flagged due to high winds after several crashes.
Marc VDS rider Tony Arbolino led by 15 seconds at the end of Lap 9 of a scheduled 23, just before the red was called, having inherited top spot when three of the top five crashed on Lap 4.
According to Race Direction, ‘weather conditions’ were the reason for the suspension of proceedings, with the wind having just picked up at the coastal Victorian circuit.
If a restart is possible, the remainder of the race will be comprised of six laps.
The crashes started even before the race did, with championship leader Pedro Acosta down at Miller Corner on his lap to the grid.
The Spaniard got his KTM Ajo entry back to the pits and was able to take the start from the lane, having qualified fifth.
Aron Canet (Pons) got the jump from the middle of the front row and led pole-sitter Fermin Aldeguer (SpeedUp) to Doohan Corner for the first of 23 laps.
Aldeguer went back down his inside at Southern Loop before Alonso Lopez took the lead through Stoner Corner, only to throw it away with a crash at Miller Corner.
Sergio Garcia emerged with the lead after starting seventh, from Filip Salac, Jake Dixon, and Aldeguer, with Canet eighth and Acosta 26th at the end of the standing lap.
Aldeguer was shuffled back on Lap 2 as Arbolino made his way to third position, before overtaking Salac on Lap 3.
The Italian thus inherited the lead when three of the top five crashed out on Lap 4, Garcia highsiding at the Hayshed where he was joined by Salac, before Sam Lowes went down at MG.
Dixon was second at four seconds in arrears until he crashed at Southern Loop moments later, meaning Aldeguer was back up to second and Canet to third, while Izan Guevara ran fourth after starting 23rd on the grid.
More to follow
