Italtrans Racing’s Joe Roberts passed countryman Cameron Beaubier on the final lap of the Moto2 Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia on Sunday, with the pair separated by just .057 of a second in their battle for 11th at the completion of the shortened 16-lap race at the Mandalika Circuit.
It was Beaubier who got the better start from the fourth row of the grid, the American Racing Team rider completing the opening lap in 11th with Roberts in 16th. By the fifth lap the duo was ninth and 15th, but Roberts was able to continue to march forward and was on the rear wheel of Beaubier to start the final lap. At the finish, it was Roberts in 11th with Beaubier 12th with the pair on the heels of ninth-place finisher Pedro Acosta.
The race was won in dominating fashion by IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia’s Somkiat Chantra, the youngster winning his first-career GP while becoming the first Thai rider in history to win a Grand Prix in any class.
Chantra beat Mooney VR46 Racing’s Celestino Vietti, the World Championship points leader ending up 3.2 seconds behind Chantra, who led all 16 laps. Flexbox HP40’s Aron Canet rounded out the podium.
Beaubier’s teammate Sean Dylan Kelly failed to finish with his Kalex suffering from a technical issue.
Roberts is now eighth in the championship point standings after two rounds with 13 points, two better than Beaubier who sits 11th with 11 points.