#FRENCHGP – MOTO3, Holgado holds off the pack in inch-perfect performance

The stage was set in Moto3™ as the two Championship protagonists were locked together from the moment the lights went out to the moment the chequered flag dropped. Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) extended his lead in the Championship to 19 points as the Spaniard fended off Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) to return to the top step for the first time since Round 1. With 2nd placed man in the Championship Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) crashing out of the GP, the Tech3 man’s Championship campaign takes another step in the right direction. Leopard Racing’s Jaume Masia was in the mix as well, as the Spaniard took back-to-back podiums onboard his Honda machine.

The lights went out to open Sunday’s racing action and it was a mad rush through the fast Turn 1 into the hard braking zone at the Dunlop Chicane. Sasaki led into Turn 2 but Championship leader Holgado dived up the inside to take the lead with Sasaki 2nd and Moreira 3rd. Holgado, Sasaki, Moreira, Öncü, and Andrea Migno (CIP Green Power) was the order the first time they came across the line as Jaume Masia and Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) trailed at the back of the leading group.

The freight train began to settle with 18 laps to go as a nine rider battled for the lead saw Xavier Artigas (CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP) and David Salvador (CIP Green Power) latch onto the bike of typical Moto3™ big hitters. Holgado continued to lead the way as the race went on with Sasaki sitting comfortably behind the Spaniard, watching his every move. Equally, Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was uncharacteristically quiet and sat in 3rd as he shadowed the leaders with Ortola and Masia right behind him.

It was the calm before the storm as the laps were ticking away and the Moto3™ riders were keeping their cards close to their chests. It was with 9 laps to go the heat was being turned up in Le Mans as the man placed 2nd in the Championship crashed out whilst Sasaki and Holgado swapped paint at the front for the first time. Holgado bit straight back at Sasaki and the race settled down once again with the drama serving as a precursor to the action yet to unfold. Masia wound the wick up with 5 laps remaining as he split Holgado and Sasaki for the first time as the Spaniard moved into 2nd place. Sasaki tried to bite back at the Leopard man but Masia wasn’t having any of it as he had his sights set firmly on Holgado still leading. Meanwhile, Ortola had also decided it was time to pull the pin as the Spanish GP winner moved up into P4 demoting Öncü to P5.

As the action unfolded behind him, Holgado put the hammer down with 3 laps to go as the KTM Tech3 man set the new race lap record to stretch out half a second to Masia behind. Sasaki responded immediately moving past Masia and putting himself back into P2 in hopes of clawing in the gap to Holgado.

Last lap time and Holgado led Sasaki, Masia, and Ortola was the order as it was now 4 riders in it for the victory. Holgado had a couple of tenths in hand but Sasaki was not going down easy. The Japanese rider gave it everything he had but Holgado was untouchable on the final lap as he gifted Tech3 their first victory on home soil in Le Mans.
Masia had a big moment at the beginning of the lap seeing him lose touch to the leading two. Making it a battle between Ortola and Masia for 3rd. They came into the final corner and Ortola tried all he could to get past the #5 but the Leopard man was too strong and consolidated 3rd place.

Ryusei Yamanaka (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar M3) put himself right into the mix from the off as the Japanese rider took an impressive 5th place after getting the better of Öncü in the closing stages of the race. Artigas rounded out the top 7 as the two rookies of David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar M3) and Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) were locked together in 8th and 9th. The group became one bike smaller as the action unfolded when Migno fell by the wayside as he went down and out of French GP with 13 laps to go.

Top 10:
1. Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech 3)
2. Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) + 0.150
3. Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) + 0.946
4. Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) + 1.113
5. Ryusei Yamanaka (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) + 2.409
6. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 2.521
7. Xavier Artigas (CFMoto Racing Pruestel GP) + 3.280
8. David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) + 9.372
9. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 11.930
10. Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team) + 14.318

“I was riding at the limit. It’s been a tough race, but I tried my best and I’m happy to have achieved another podium. I was struggling on the brakes at the end, but I wanted to defend the 3rd position and I managed to do it. Once again, I just want to thank the team for their great and hard work”
Jaume Masia P3

Ryusei Yamanaka

“A fast race, and the pace was fast. Two riders crashed in front of me at one point and I was lucky to avoid them. I was too slow in one corner of the track and very strong through another so it was hard to manage the race speed. I found it hard to overtake on the last five laps because people were braking so hard. I need to improve with these aspects. Anyway, I’m happy with the top five and my best result so far. We’ll keep working like this.”
Ryusei Yamanaka P5

Riccardo Rossi

“We struggled this weekend. The second half of the race went well, I had good pace. I could have been in the top 10. Now the first goal is definitely to improve the start. At Mugello we will try to get back to the positions we need to be in.”
Riccardo Rossi P16

Mario Suryo Aji

“During the weekend, I felt continuous improvements. I’m a bit angry because I’ve struggled during the race. I made a good start, but the race has been tuff. I was on the limit in every lap. I’m disappointed in myself. Now I have a few weeks to recover and forget that thinks. I’m sure I will come back stronger at Mugello.”
Mario Suryo Aji P21


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