#AustrianGP – MOTO3: Alonso shines on Sunday ahead of Muñoz as Ortola recovers to P9
It was finally time to battle at the Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, with David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) coming out on top after a 20 lap spectacle. Alonso stunned the field after extending his Championship lead after a dramatic race where the Colombian started from P6 on the grid and was forced to serve a Long Lap penalty. The #80 had a 0.121s advantage to second at the line, as David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) secured a strong podium finish after an impressive ride – consistently battling for P1 and pipping Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) at the flag. The #96 was 0.005s behind Muñoz, settling for third position and scoring further solid Championship points.
There was Championship drama before the start of the Austrian GP, with Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) forced to start from the pitlane after an issue on the grid. With no polesitter at the start, it allowed Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) to secure a strong lead on Lap 1, with his teammate battling behind. Meanwhile, Alonso made a great start, beginning to create and make moves, entering the podium places with the #80 forced to serve a Long Lap penalty.
Alonso served his Long Lap on Lap 3, dropping the Colombian down to 10th position ahead of Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing), who also served his penalty. The #80 began to push and it did not take long to charge through the field – leaping into P6 on Lap 6.
Meanwhile, Kelso continued to lead from Muñoz and Holgado. Kelso was given a warning for track limits as Holgado stole the lead for the first time. However, Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) was charging, catching the leaders and entering the podium places before taking the lead on Lap 11 as the gloves came off.
Further back, Ortola continued to carve through the field and entered the point-scoring positions at the end of Lap 12. The Spaniard continued to work hard, keeping calm and charging into the Top 10 on Lap 14. Later on, there would be disappointment for Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA), who would crash out, retiring from the Grand Prix.
The stars of Moto3™ continued to battle inside the eight-bike group with Alonso and Veijer trading positions at every opportunity. The #80 tried to push at the front, with the front group beginning to break with five riders storming into the distance in the closing stages of the race.
Everything came down to the final lap with Alonso leading the field as Muñoz made his first mistake at Turn 1. The #64 dropped to third before Piqueras charged into P3 before Muñoz instantly battled back. Alonso crossed the line undefeated, securing his seventh victory of the season ahead of Muñoz, who pipped Holgado to the flag.
Piqueras missed out in the final sector, finishing as the top Honda in fourth position ahead of Veijer, who rounded out the top five. It was another strong ride for the Dutchman, who crossed the line ahead of Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing). The Spaniard showed some strong pace throughout, battling within the front group and beating Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who crossed the line in seventh – 2.790s adrift from victory. Rueda was ahead of Kelso at the line after the Australian dropped down the order in the closing stages of the Grand Prix. The final spots inside the top 10 went the way of the impressive Ortola, recovering good points on Sunday and ahead of Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) in P10.
It’s been a difficult race today. We started from the fourth row of the grid, and the race was a fast one, which made us have to make up a lot of time in order to catch the leading group. Looking at the positives of the weekend, the feeling with the bike was great, which gives me confidence ahead of Aragón, where we’ll try to take more steps forward.
Adrian Fernandez – P6
Riccardo Rossi – P10
Tatchakorn Buasri – P21
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