#AustrianGP – MOTO3: Piqueras wins Red Bull Ring epic ahead of teammate Yamanaka
Coming out on top in a combative Moto3™ scrap, Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) returned to winning ways and headed home a 1-2 for the team with Ryusei Yamanaka in second. Rounding out the podium after an epic fight back from 14th on the grid, David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) put in a strong display as the gaps tighten in the title race.
OPENING STAGES: a fine start for Piqueras
The holeshot went to Piqueras, getting ahead of polesitter Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) into Turn 1 and despite the Argentinean’s best efforts, the #36 stood firm. However, it wasn’t long before Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) took over and led for the next few laps. A third of the way into the Grand Prix and the lead group of four had broken away from the chasing pack, with Yamanaka taking over at the front from Quiles on Lap 8 with Piqueras and Perrone forming the lead quartet. Behind, Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) was fifth, just ahead of Championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo).
Quiles resumed the lead on Lap 10 and now had Piqueras directly behind him. On Lap 13, Perrone made his move into the podium positions as he had hopes of repeating his Assen rostrum and perhaps delivering a first win for Argentina in 20 years. The gap back to Fernandez was now at 1.3s, edging closer into the final third of the race.
BUILDING TO THE FINISH: a battle to behold as the group grows
With 6 to go, Fernandez had got the gap to under a second after a stint of relentless laps, not giving up on the idea of a five-way battle at the front into the last laps. Two laps later and Quiles made another error, this time at Turn 6, running wide and giving Perrone the chance to lead into the last three. Behind, Fernandez made a mistake and dropped back to seventh but it was a stunning ride from Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), taking over the chase in fifth and with the lead group with three to go and David Muñoz was there too, never giving up.
LAST LAP: Piqueras triumphs in Austria
With a six-way fight onto the last lap, it really was anyone’s race; Muñoz had barged his way into P2 from 14th on the grid whilst Quiles and Perrone were shoved wide and down to P5 and P6. Piqueras led the way but it was a late surge from Furusato and Yamanaka, both battling into contention at Turn 7. Yamanaka made it to P2 at Turn 9 as Muñoz also barged into third but nobody could lay a glove on Piqueras, taking a first victory since Lusail and a first podium since Jerez. A 1-2 for the FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI squad with Yamanaka second, whilst Muñoz was third. Quiles salvaged fourth whilst a hard-fought fifth went to Rueda.
Furusato was sixth at the chequered flag having been duffed up in the last corners, ahead of Dennis Foggia (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), but the Italian didn’t serve a Long Lap Penalty for repeatedly exceeding track limits and therefore took 13th. Perrone fell out of contention in the last laps but came home seventh ahead of Fernandez, Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) and Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo).
Today we lacked a better result, but we had a very positive race. We were able to set a good pace, but when I was catching up with the leading group, six laps from the end, I almost lost the front. This caused me to lose positions, but it also prevented me from having a better finish to the race, as since that moment I lost confidence in the front end. As always, I want to thank the team for their hard work!
Adrian Fernandez – P8
Our race was not at all what we expected. I’m frustrated, because we had good pace, but I had some challenging laps due to some overtakes that caused me to run wide, losing positions and time. We were able to recover a little, putting in a good rhythm again in the final stages of the race, but we couldn’t end it in a better position
David Almansa- P12
Riccardo Rossi – P19
Click the button below to find out all the images of the #KytCrew during the weekend in Austria.