PHILLIP ISLAND, Australia (AFP) — Frenchman Mike di Meglio raced away with the Australian Grand Prix to seal the 125cc world championship here on Sunday.
The 20-year-old Derbi racer was beaten off the pole but took control of the race by the second lap to romp away to a 10.25-second victory.
Di Meglio becomes the second French rider to win the 125cc world championship following Arnaud Vincent's triumph in 2002 and he is the youngest-ever French moto world champion.
Di Meglio, who held a 36-point lead going into the Phillip Island GP, defeated Germany's 18-year-old Stefan Bradl with Hungary's Gabor Talmacsi third.
The victory swelled di Meglio's championship lead to an unbeatable 50 points with two races remaining.
Nearest title challenger Simone Corsi needed to finish sixth or better to take the championship to the next race in Malaysia on October 19, but the Italian could only finish in ninth place on Sunday.
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