- Augusto Fernandez attempts to snare more GP points with a typically determined charge by the rookie but just misses out in 16th.
- Pol Espargaro blasts hard from the final row on the grid to swoop past a number of rivals and places his GASGAS RC16 in the top fifteen before a crash at Turn 1.
- One week after their dual-class dominance in Catalunya, GASGAS Aspar Racing dazzle again in Moto3™ with another sensational win by David Alonso.
Sizzling stuff. Round twelve of 2023 MotoGP swiftly followed round eleven in Catalunya last week and the flat, grippy and compact trajectory of the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli was a sun-kissed stage for more action, high-speed and full adrenaline.
GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 responded well from some Saturday morning qualifying adversity to create promising signs in the afternoon Saturday Sprint. Both Pol Espargaro and Augusto Fernandez were clear on their set-up and goals for the 27-laps on Sunday; watched by a noisy and expectant 79,000 crowd.
The red light dipped at 14.00 CEST and the ‘red’ got going as Espargaro started his fourth GP since returning from injury with relish and Fernandez hunted improved rear grip in his bid to infiltrate the top ten of the world’s fastest motorcycle racing elite once more. Augusto’s efforts were held back by tricky opening laps but after that early anguish he knuckled down and pushed all the way to 16th. Pol was initially just ahead, inside the top fifteen, and eying points until he lost the front end of the bike into Turn 1 and crashed.
All the MotoGP teams will gather again on Monday for the final 2023 one-day official test. The flight cases will then start to head east and to New Delhi – the Buddh International Circuit – for the first ever Grand Prix of India on September 23-24.
Augusto Fernandez, 16th: “A hard one. My start was good but then the first lap was a disaster; everything I did was wrong and I lost a lot of positions. Also, with the full tank I couldn’t overtake and get out of that situation. After some time I found some fresh air and then Brad [Binder] crashed and he was with me. He had a different pace. I tried everything to stay with him and I did it. My lap-times were good. Overall, it’s a bad result and a shame not to get points but there are a few positives that we can analyze from being on that limit. Let’s see what we can find out tomorrow at the test.”
Pol Espargaro, DNF: “So sorry to the guys. It has been a mess this weekend with the crashes and I struggled with the front here. I was doing OK in the race; it was alright but not that great. I was going for points but then I tucked the bike and I don’t really know why. After recovering a lot of positions I’m very disappointed not to score anything today.”
Nicolas Goyon, GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 Team Manager: “It almost goes without saying that this was the most difficult weekend of the season. We had some hopes on Augusto’s side. He had a good warm-up this morning and it seemed the direction we found was good but he struggled to find the decent pace in the hot conditions and lost some time before he could make it back. We need to improve these beginnings of the race or qualifying if we want to achieve good results. Pol had too many crashes this weekend. It’s tough for his confidence and the race didn’t work out. We have an important test tomorrow so the riders can work on their weak points before we pack for the flyaway races.”
Results MotoGP Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini
1. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati 41:33.421
2. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Ducati +1.350
3. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati +3.812
16. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 +31.230
DNF. Pol Espargaro (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3
World Championship standings MotoGP
1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati, 283 points
2. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati 247
3. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Ducati, 218
14. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, 58
24. Pol Espargaro (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, 8
Moto3 and Moto2
Two victories and a blossoming profile in his rookie season means that GASGAS Aspar Racing were keenly tracking the fast progress of David Alonso and their latest Moto3 star. The youngster qualified on the second row at the circuit where he made his GP debut as a substitute rider for the team two seasons previously and quickly found space in the quartet disputing victory. Moto3 rasped around Misano for 20-laps (84.5km total distance) and the Columbian was well-placed for more trophies. Through the critical final minutes and then into the last corners, Alonso watched and waited in 3rd and struck when Deniz Öncü and Jaume Masia ran slightly wide. He dived up the inside and snatched his second win in a row and the third of his maiden campaign.
Ryusei Yamanaka counts on more Moto3 experience but couldn’t quite match the zeal for speed shown by his teammate. Ryusei was however proactive and forceful to keep pace in the third group and finished 14th for some useful championship points.
140 points translates to 5th position in the championship standings for Alonso (21 from P1), and the Grand Prix of India puts the rest of his rivals on similar footing as the entire paddock will tackle the demands of the Buddh International Circuit for the first time in two weeks.
David Alonso, 1st: “It’s incredible because I felt fast here but the race was even faster! It was hard to keep inside the group with that same pace but, in the end, I was able to do it. I was clever in the last corners: my third victory and the second in a row! I’m so happy.”
Ryusei Yamanaka, 14th: “It was a difficult race because my pace wasn’t good enough and this race was really quick. The lap-times were very different and I was struggling especially in two corners. A tough weekend for me.”
Catalan Grand Prix winner (and TT Circuit Assen conqueror!) Jake Dixon had a hard time finding his best speed through practice and qualifying and a flying lap attempt on Saturday led to a crash and 14th on the grid. Izan Guevara was 19th fastest, which was an improvement over his pace in Spain the previous weekend. Dixon lacked effective feeling through the 22 laps on Sunday and 12th was the best he could manage. Guevara was close to the points until he was hit through the fast Turn 11 on the last lap by Lukas Tulovic and was put into the gravel, thankfully without injury.
Jake Dixon, 12th: “S**t race and I don’t understand what happened. The bike didn’t really feel the same after the crash. I gave everything I had. We just need to focus on the best job we can do now. It seems that championship is far away, so I don’t want to think about it. Today wasn’t good enough but we’ll work hard to be better.”
Izan Guevara, DNF: “A good start to the race and I felt comfortable but after some laps the front end was suffering and it was hard to turn the bike. On the last lap I went to pass Tulovic through the fast curve and I had the position but we touched. Unfortunate but then lucky that I am OK and nothing is broken, just a hit on the left hand and my ankle. Nothing more. We’ll work on the recovery and look towards India.”
Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini photographs can be found HERE
Results Moto3 Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini
1. David Alonso (COL) GASGAS Aspar Team 34:04.490
2. Jaume Masia (ESP) Honda +0.036
3. Deniz Öncü (TUR) KTM +0.237
14. Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN) GASGAS Aspar Team +10.846
World Championship standings Moto3
1. Daniel Holgado (ESP) KTM, 161 points
2. Ayumu Sasaki (JPN) Husqvarna, 157
3. Jaume Masia (ESP) Honda 149
5. David Alonso (COL) GASGAS Aspar Team, 140
14. Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN) GASGAS Aspar Team, 54
Results Moto2 Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini
1. Pedro Acosta (ESP) 35:30.145
2. Celestino Vietti (ITA) +6.305
3. Alonso Lopez (ESP) +9.989
12. Jake Dixon (GBR) GASGAS Aspar Team +22.900
DNF. Izan Guevara (ESP) GASGAS Aspar Team
World Championship standings Moto2
1. Pedro Acosta (ESP), 211 points
2. Tony Arbolino (ITA), 177
3. Jake Dixon (GBR) GASGAS Aspar Team, 146
24. Izan Guevara (ESP) GASGAS Aspar Team, 3
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