What would a Moto3 Grand Prix be like if there were no drama? Fortunately, we didn’t have to find out, as it was served by the bucketload at the TT Circuit Assen. After a terrifying incident just before the final lap, the race was red-flagged, and first place was awarded to José Antonio Rueda. David Muñoz claimed second, and Valentín Perrone achieved his first podium in Moto3.
Lining Up on the Grid
While blue skies and sunshine were abundant, some cloud cover threatened to turn the tide. Thankfully, the race remained dry. The two Red Bull KTM Ajo riders, José Antonio Rueda and Álvaro Carpe, were joined on the front row by Leopard Racing rider David Almansa. Only seven hundredths of a second separated the three in qualifying yesterday, which meant we were in for an epic battle.
A Smooth Start for Some
Twenty laps began at the Cathedral of Speed, but not for Guido Pini, as he stalled on the grid. Luckily, his position on the grid allowed other riders to avoid him and take their first lap with little drama. With so many riders in this class and the lightness of the bikes, the positions are constantly changing, and the chance to overtake and make a mistake is easier. Carpe found this out as he was bumped from the lead group down to 18th, leaving him a lot of ground to cover.
A Lead Train of Fourteen Riders
While Carpe managed to crawl back into the points, he was still two seconds behind his teammate and twelve riders between them. Taiyo Furusato and Ángel Piqueras came into contact in a simple riding incident, with no further investigation required. A yellow flag came out in Sector four as Leonardo Abruzzo’s debut ended in a DNF.
Halfway With All In To Play
Rueda lost out on his provisional first place as Maximo Quiles and Ryusei Yamanaka saw opportunities to overtake. The Spaniard was also under threat from teammates Adrián Fernández and Almansa. He tumbled down the order as he made a mistake coming out of an exit, leaving it wide open for Luca Lunetta and Muñoz to pass. Another yellow flag in Sector 4 occurred again when Nicola Cararro and Cormac Buchanan came together. The incident was to be reviewed after the race. The lead group swapped positions multiple times, with plenty of risky dives and overtakes that were too close for comfort at times.
Late Race Paces Make the Difference
At the back of the pack, Tatchakorn Buasri and Eddie O’Shea ended the race early in a scary collision in Sector 1. Carpe, in a tremendous effort, managed to bring himself back into podium contention. Quiles went down at Turn 10, putting an end to the hopes of back-to-back wins. Dennis Foggia was handed a track limit infringement. Seconds later, in the final sector of the penultimate lap, Lunetta, Furusato, and Fernandez all collided in a horrific incident. Right before the final lap was completed, the red flag was waved due to possible injuries as one rider was run over by another bike. While the incident is not being investigated, the riders involved were taken immediately to receive treatment and be checked by the medical team.
The Top Fifteen
The fight for Moto3 World Championship glory is getting tighter, with three Spaniards all in contention for the crown. But we can’t count out the riders that follow. Quiles has stirred up the competition with his latest performances. It doesn’t hurt that he has the mentorship of Marc and Álex Márquez from the MotoGP to guide him. Australian Joel Kelso has historically done better in the latter part of the season, with tracks more suited to his riding style. The next race on the calendar lands us at the Liqui Moly Grand Prix of Germany. We’re now halfway through the season, so if anyone wanted to shake up the current standings, now is the time.