#DutchGP – MOTO3, Masia triumphant in chaotic Moto3™ last-lap
The Motul TT Assen delivered incredible lightweight action as always. Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) flew off the line to take a hard-fought victory from the fourth row. It was action from start to finish in Assen as the podium fight remained completely unpredictable right until the chequered flag. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) came out on top of that battle with high drama on the final lap between David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) and Romano Fenati (Rivacold Snipers Team) causing a big reshuffle in the final sector.
David Muñoz started from pole position for the first time in his career and took the holeshot into turn one despite attacks from Joel Kelso (CFMOTO PrustelGP). Kelso took the lead later on in the lap and led across the line with Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse) sat comfortably in the top 3 after a front-row start.
One lap in and we already had title drama on our hands as the Championship leader Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) crashed out after being given the mammoth task of starting from the back of the grid. It was a Dutch GP to forget for the Spaniard as he lost crucial Championship points to title rival Masia with just 16 points now between the two at the top.
Masia found himself right into the mix after making six positions to 2nd place after just three laps.
The group began to form as the laps ticked away and it was a ten-bike battle for victory in Assen. Positions continued to swap with Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), Deniz Öncü, Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team), Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo), and Colin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) joining Masia, Muñoz, Kelso, and Rossi in the fight at the front.
The intensity continued at half-race distance as it was Angeluss MTA Team riders of Nepa and Ortola who led the way. Ortola had already served his long lap penalty and was looking strong whilst locked in battle with Nepa, Muñoz, Masia, and Sasaki with Romano Fenati (Rivacold Snipers Team) watching on at arm’s length.
It wasn’t long before Fenati began to put himself into podium contention with Deniz Öncü equally as eager to taste the champagne. Fenati took the lead from Nepa with five laps remaining but the young prospect pushed his way straight back past the Moto3™ veteran.
Four laps remaining and Masia made a beautiful move through the fast final sector to slingshot himself from 4th to 1st with a big reshuffle seeing Öncü move up to P2 ahead of Nepa, Muñoz, and Sasaki.
It was anyone’s to win with three laps to go as it was time for the gloves to come off at the TT Circuit Assen. Positions were changing faster than the eye can blink as it was Masia, Ortola, Öncü, Sasaki, and Fenati as they barrelled into the last lap.
Ortola ran wide at the turn one as he dropped down to P6 behind his teammate. This left Masia to defend the lead from Sasaki and Fenati in the final sector. Sasaki snatched the lead with a brave move at the Ramshoek but Spaniard bit straight back at the Gert Timmer chicane in an incredible last-lap performance to consolidate the Motul TT Assen victory.
Fenati was pushed off the circuit at the Ramshoek by a charging David Muñoz which saw both riders run wide with Deniz Öncü needing no 2nd invitation as he flew past the scrapping duo to defend 3rd place from Ivan Ortola in a dramatic drag to the line. Following the last lap drama, Muñoz dropped down to P5 ahead of the rookie Jose Antonio Rueda. Just behind Rueda was the other rookie Colin Veijer who had timed it perfectly on his home circuit to put himself into the mix in the closing laps, and consolidated 7th place following the last-lap chaos.
Fenati was pushed down to P8 after the last-lap come together with Muñoz, with Joel Kelso in P9 and Stefano Nepa rounding out the top 10.
Top 10:
1. Jaume Masia – (Leopard Racing)
2. Ayumu Sasaki – (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) + 0.081
3. Deniz Öncü – (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.276
4. Ivan Ortola – (Angeluss MTA Team) + 0.324
5. David Muñoz – (BOE Motorsports) + 0.401
6. Jose Antonio Rueda – (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.507
7. Collin Veijer – (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) + 0.819
8. Romano Fenati – (Rivacold Snipers Team) + 1.056
9. Joel Kelso – (CFMoto Racing Pruestel GP) + 1.341
10. Stefano Nepa – (Angeluss MTA Team) + 2.024
“It was about time! I needed this victory to go into the summer break with a good taste. I already arrived at Assen with a change of mentality, we decided that it was time to push harder and take a step forward. It’s difficult to fight back in these kind of races where everyone is pushing, but today I was confident, and my final manoeuvre went perfectly. I just want to thank the team, this victory wouldn’t have been possible without them.”
Jaume Masia P1
“I have had a good feeling in the race. I had a good pace and was going fast, but at one point I have lost the front of the bike and I have gone out of the track when I was starting to reach the front group. I have lost three or four seconds and I have stayed in second group trying to push to catch the front riders, but I have not been able to do it. I have tried to finish first in the group, but on the last lap I have attempted to overtake Moreira on the outside and I have lost two positions. I’m happy with the feeling, we have been able to improve throughout the weekend and we will try to make further progress at Silverstone.”
Ryusei Yamanaka P15
Riccardo Rossi P18
“A tough race, but I did a good race. My pace was fast, but I struggled on left turns during the race. I started the weekend too slow but worked to recover the rhythm. Now we have five weeks to rest. I will keep working hard. I look forward to seeing you in Silverstone.”
Mario Suryo Aji P23
Click the button below to find out all the images of the #KytCrew during the weekend in Assen.