- Fernandez conquers one of the most technical and toughest tracks in MotoGP with his highest classification of the season
- The Spanish rookie continues his upward trajectory with a 10th place finish
- Jonas Folger returns to MotoGP and snares points for the first time since 2017
- Guevara makes Moto2™ debut as GASGAS Aspar Racing Team collect points with both riders in Moto3™
Strong and cold gusts blew across a sun-drenched COTA facility on Sunday morning and the winds of change also sailed through the GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 pitbox as Augusto Fernandez and Jonas Folger advanced substantially from their grid positions to occupy slots in the top twelve after 20 hard laps.
Better feeling, increased speed and extra competitiveness marked significant progress for the crew as they aimed to Get on the Gas around one of the most complex and challenging layouts on the GP slate. So demanding were the conditions that nine other racers failed to make the finish. Fernandez and Folger keep steady and consistent and barreled past the flag to plant distinctive milestones: Fernandez with his first top ten ranking in just his third MotoGP dash and Folger in his GASGAS debut for the squad.
After trips to Portugal, Argentina and now the USA, MotoGP moves back to Europe and for the first of three Grands Prix in Spain this season.
Augusto Fernandez, 10th: “It was a hard race but I’m happy because we made a good step. Finishing the race was important; there were a lot of crashes. My feeling on the bike was much better and an improvement on what it had been through the weekend. I was more competitive, so I think we are doing a good job.”
Jonas Folger, 12th: “Race done here in Austin. I expected a difficult one…and it was difficult! But I felt much more comfortable on the bike and, together with the guys, we picked out areas of my riding where I could improve quickly and try to get better through the race. I was able to solve some things and understand the bike more. For this reason I’m happy. I was a bit more consistent and faster than yesterday. I want to thank the guys here in the garage and their support. They have taken the pressure away from me because they know it’s not an easy situation to walk in here and to try and be competitive in MotoGP. Really good people and a good experience for me.”
Nicolas Goyon, GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 Team Manager: “Quite a strong result here in Texas with both riders in the points and they managed to survive through the chaos. A smart race from Augusto who achieved a top ten for the first time this season. He was clever, even though – like most – he struggled with the front tire. He kept his pace. Jonas improved his lap-time by two seconds from yesterday. We kept calm, studied the data and changed his position on the bike. Things were working much better and it was a good result. A positive weekend and now we will pack up and look forward to Jerez.”
Results MotoGPRed Bull Grand Prix of the Americas
1. Alex Rins (ESP) Honda 41:14.649
2. Luca Marini (ITA) Ducati +3.498
3. Fabio Quartararo (FRA) Yamaha +4.936
10. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 +28.217
12. Jonas Folger (GER) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 +1:08.065
World Championship standings MotoGP
1. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Ducati, 64 points
2. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati, 53
3. Alex Rins (ESP) Honda, 47
15. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, 14
Moto3 and Moto2
GASGAS Aspar Racing benefitted from decent speed and improvements by each of their riders to gather two top ten results in the Moto3 class. Rookie David Alonso recovered from a grid slot that left him down on the eighth row after qualification to make a 14 position gain. The Spanish youngster flew all the way up to 8th and got the better of teammate Ryusei Yamanaka in the closing stages as the Japanese misjudged the last lap while heading the second group on-track. Ryusei nevertheless re-opened the gas to make sure of 9th.
David Alonso: “I’m pretty happy. Friday went quite well but we couldn’t make things work on Saturday. It’s a long circuit and difficult and I focused as much as I could to make a good start and could manage that. I attacked on the first lap and reached 15th in the second group. The first was too far away but we pushed until the end and took a position that also meant a lot of mileage and experience that will benefit us in the coming races. GPs like this are worth a lot in this aspect! I hope we can use it and be further forward soon.”
Ryusei Yamanaka: “I started from P7 and did quite well although I struggled at first on the exits of the corners and perhaps that was down to the wind. I couldn’t stay in the top group. I didn’t quite have that pace today. So, I was alone for quite a well. My speed was OK but I had a problem on the last lap with the information on my board and my dashboard and it meant I lost momentum at a crucial time and some positions. We just need to look to Jerez now and I know I can be fast there.”
Jake Dixon encountered an issue on the warm-up lap of the Moto2 race that cast him to the sidelines for the Grand Prix. Izan Guevara did make his first Moto2 start however. The reigning Moto3 world champion registered his debut in the class to gain some crucial track mileage, feeling and information after recovering from his right wrist problems. He made the flag just outside the top twenty.
The Gran Premio MotoGP Guru by Gryfyn de España gives the GASGAS Grand Prix crew the next opportunity to twist the throttle hard. The heat, haze and history of the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto will be the stage for round four at the end of April.
Jake Dixon: “I have virtually nothing to say. I didn’t do anything [out of the ordinary]. The bike lost rear grip, became unsettled and I went down. It was a shock to me and there is nobody more p***ed-off. I’m not stupid and I know how to ride a bike and when something like this happens it is out of my control. Difficult to take, onto the next one.”
Izan Guevara: “My first Moto2 race and improvements little by little. I took the race more like training, and to progress up to Jerez. I felt OK and just focused on what I was doing and how I could be better rather than worrying what was going on around me. We’ll move forward from here.”
Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas photographs can be found HERE
Results Moto3 Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas
1. Ivan Ortola (ESP) KTM 32:01.062
2. Jaume Masia (ESP) Honda +0.457
3. Xavier Artigas (ESP), CFMOTO +0.558
8. David Alonso (COL) GASGAS Aspar Team +9.663
9. Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN) GASGAS Aspar Team +9.975
World Championship standings Moto3
1. Daniel Holgado (ESP) KTM, 49 points
2. Diogo Moreira (BRA) KTM, 49
3. Xavier Artigas (ESP) CFMOTO, 32
14. Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN) GASGAS Aspar Team, 14
17. David Alonso (COL) GASGAS Aspar Team, 10
Results Moto2 Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas
1. Pedro Acosta (ESP) 34:42.879
2. Tony Arbolino (ITA) +0.146
3. Bo Bendsneyder (NED) +5.851
21. Izan Guevara (ESP) GASGAS Aspar Team +51.470
DNS. Jake Dixon (GBR) GASGAS Aspar Team
World Championship standings Moto2
1. Tony Arbolino (ITA), 61 points
2. Pedro Acosta (ESP), 54
3. Aron Canet (ESP), 41
6. Jake Dixon (GBR) GASGAS Aspar Team, 26
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