125cc: Di Meglio clinches title

Eurosport - Sun, 05 Oct 08:24:00 2008

Mike Di Meglio secured the 2008 125cc World Championship with his fourth victory of the season at Phillip Island.

The 20-year-old Frenchman took his first world title in perfect style, riding imperiously to lead home Stefan Bradl by a huge 10.255 second margin.

Outgoing world champion Gabor Talmacsi claimed the final podium position by a fraction of a second over Andrea Iannone.

Britain's Bradley Smith had charged into an early lead from second on the grid, but soon fell victim to one of 15 crashes on a cool Phillip Island track.

Di Meglio, who qualified on pole, was in front by the end of lap two and disappeared into the distance thereafter - averaging nearly half a second quicker per lap than the next fastest man.

Grizzly Gas Aprilia rider Bradl broke away for a safe second position during the second half of the race, and is now second in the world championship standings, 50 points behind di Meglio.

However, even if the young German won the two remaining rounds and Di Meglio failed to score, the Ajo Motorsport Derbi rider would still win the title on countback as, although that scenario would see both men finish with four wins, he has more second places to his name.

Di Meglio said: "I don't think the feeling of the Championship has really sunk in yet. I have to thank my team, Derbi and everybody. This weekend is really something special, the bike was perfect all the time, I had really a good feel with the bike and I could push very hard all the time also in the race."

Simone Corsi, who came into the event second in the championship, was just 10th at the halfway stage of the race and - having progressed slightly forward - was elbowed onto the grass by Marc Marquez on the dash to the flag, leaving him ninth.