Moto3: Three on the bounce and a 64-point lead after six Grands Prix, Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) was once again unstoppable as he came good on Grand Prix Sunday for victory in Barcelona.
Despite looking like his rivals may have the better of him this weekend, the #28 resisted a last-corner charge from David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) on the last lap to hold on to victory, whilst Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) came through from 13th to pip Muñoz to second at the line.
Off the line and it was a brilliant start from polesitter Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) who grabbed the holeshot, leading the opening lap whilst Championship leader Quiles was battling away with Hakim Danish (AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI) for a top five placing. As is always the case in Barcelona, slipstream proved vital and the classic Moto3 battle saw them swap places down the front straight. A lead group of nine was soon formed with David Almansa (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP), teammate Muñoz, Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), Danish, Jesus Rios (Rivacold Snipers Team), Uriarte, Quiles, Carpe, Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) and Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia) all trading paint.
At half race distance, Uriarte had got back to the front ahead of Almansa whilst Muñoz was squabbling with Fernandez in similar scenes to Jerez at the end of April. Meanwhile, the lead group’s battling had allowed the second group to close, headed by Marco Morelli (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) and Casey O’Gorman (SIC58 Squadra Corse), the Irishman starting from 24th on the grid and coming into contention.
Four laps to go and having sat back and watched the fighting, Quiles came to the fore and took the lead before battling with Almansa, Danish, Uriarte and Muñoz. Two laps to go and it was still wide open but it was over for Rios, who fell at Turn 10 on the penultimate lap. At the front and it was Quiles who led onto the final lap and after the Championship leader held on at Turn 5 and Turn 10, it was all coming down to the final corner. Muñoz was in a prime position and dived for the inside, snatching P1 Rossi-style. It wasn’t to be though, a front-end moment gave Quiles the run up to the line to make it three consecutive wins. Carpe nabbed Muñoz on the run to the line with an all-Spanish podium for the second time this season.
Behind the top three, Uriarte clinched a best finish of fourth ahead of Almansa, whilst Morelli came through for sixth. Danish comes away with a best finish yet in P7. Pratama was top Honda in eighth whilst Fernandez holds on to P2 in the standings but could only manage P9, leaving him 64 points adrift of Quiles. O’Gorman rounded out the top ten, a solid ride from the #67.
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