- No points but plenty of action as GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 go to the wire at Buriram
- David Alonso wins Moto3™ for the fourth time this season, is confirmed as Rookie of the Year for GASGAS Aspar Team and is the racer with the most victories so far in 2023
- A second top ten Moto2 finish in a row for the improving Izan Guevara as Jake Dixon crashes out of the running but is given the all-clear in post-race checks
The looming threat of dark clouds did not threaten the hot and dry status of the 26-lap Thai Grand Prix in Buriram and the final race of an intense three-week back-to-back schedule for MotoGP. A spectacular chase for the win around the 4.5km circuit kept the 75,000 attendance enthralled but there were juicy battles throughout the MotoGP field.
When the lights went out Augusto Fernandez had the bad luck to encounter a small issue with his brakes into the last corner of the first lap. He ran wide and had to rejoin at the rear of the pack. #37 concentrated on making up time and track space and felt quicker than he had all weekend at the Chang International Circuit. Fernandez soon found the rear wheel of his teammate. Pol Espargaro had been probing and experimenting for an optimal set-up through the Grand Prix with the harder Michelin tire allocation but was unsatisfied with his speed and feeling around the asphalt. The GASGAS RC16s circulated together and engaged in a close and entertaining spat. Augusto finally winning the contest by a fraction of a second to classify 17th.
After treks to Indonesia, Australia and now Thailand. MotoGP will take a breather for one week before the next triple tally in Malaysia, Qatar and Spain.
Augusto Fernandez, 17th: “Well, a hard race. Especially because I lost a lot of time on the first lap when I ran wide and without brakes on the last turn. After that my pace was the best it has been all weekend. It was the fastest package I had here. It’s been a tricky three races in three weeks. We’ve made better speed but the results have not been there. We’ll rest briefly and then look for better in the final three GPs.”
Pol Espargaro, 18th: “Not the best feeling in the race. I don’t think it was the tire choice but when the drop happens in hot temperatures and right after Moto2 then usually the grip is lower. I struggled a lot to make the bike turn and to stop it. I’m trying all I can but I’m not comfortable at the moment. We’ll keep working to turn things around.”
Nicolas Goyon, GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 Team Manager: “Augusto achieved one of his targets in making Q2 directly after a strong Friday but couldn’t really use that improved grid position. He struggled with some brake issues today. He then battled with Pol. Our goal now for him is to improve the first laps of the race and to get past the other riders; especially if we want a better result. Pol struggled through the weekend with grip issues. It is a tough period for him at the moment but we will keep fighting and find a solution. There is no reason why we cannot improve, so let’s refresh and come back with some ideas in Sepang.”
Results MotoGP Grand Prix of Thailand
1. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati 39:40.045
2. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati +0.253
3. Brad Binder (RSA) KTM +0.114
17. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 +21.307
18. Pol Espargaro (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 +21.435
World championship standings MotoGP
1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati, 389 points
2. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati 376
3. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Ducati, 310
16. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, 67
23. Pol Espargaro (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, 12
Moto3 and Moto2
David Alonso started brilliantly from 12th on the grid and leapt up to 3rd on the first lap. From that point he was in contention for Moto3 victory as teammate Ryusei Yamanaka was also inside the top ten after strong practice and qualification pace. Once again Alonso’s bravery, skill and judgement made the difference on the final lap. He sped to the front and defended his advantage under siege from pursuers. At the checkered flag the top five was decided by just half a second. Alonso was able to toast his fourth win, his sixth podium and Rookie of the Year status. The 25 points also means David is not out of the championship picture. There are 75 points left to win and the teenager is just 25 from P1. Yamanaka made it to 9th for his best classification since the Japanese Grand Prix.
David Alonso, 1st: “Incredible! It was actually quite a slow race but I really had to manage the slipstream because on the last lap because there were a lot of riders. I got into a good position and made it happen. This is an important victory for us and we also keep pushing in the championship.”
Ryusei Yamanaka, 9th: “I’m not happy because I was strong all weekend but I struggled in the race to feel fast on the straight. We need to work on that. It was a positive Grand Prix for the way we worked but we’ll try something different for Sepang”
Jake Dixon fell out of the Moto2 Grand Prix early after he could not avoid contact with Celestino Vietti. The Brit was taken to hospital afterwards but checked-out OK. That left Izan Guevara to run the colors for the GASGAS Aspar team and the rookie was again in decent form. After scoring 6th place last weekend in Australia, the 2022 Moto3 world champion showed his improvement in the intermediate category by riding to his second top ten result in a row and a well-earned 9th.
The speed, heat and humidity of the Sepang International Circuit is next in store.
Izan Guevara, 9th: “A positive race but just a shame about the start when I was pushed wide and it felt like I was almost last! We knew the lap-times we could make and I started to find that rhythm and gain positions to reach 9th. I’m really happy, honestly, because things went well and step-by-step we are finding our feeling and our base in Moto2. We head for home with a smile and enthusiasm to go again for Malaysia.”
Jake Dixon: “The team did a great job because we improved the bike from qualifying yesterday. I was feeling good for the race but unfortunately when I braked I felt like I didn’t decelerate fast enough. Vietti came-up pretty quick and, with hindsight, I should have picked-up and gone straight but it happened so quick. I thought could turn tight…but, anyway, I want to apologize to him and his team for that. It’s unlike me to make that sort of error. Sorry also to my team. We’ll move on.”
Grand Prix of Thailand photographs can be found HERE
Results Moto3 Grand Prix of Thailand
1. David Alonso (COL) GASGAS Aspar Team 32:45.307
2. Taiyo Furusato (JPN) Honda +0.266
3. Collin Veijer (NED) Husqvarna +0.359
9. Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN) GASGAS Aspar Team +1.413
World Championship standings Moto3
1. Jaume Masia (ESP) Honda 230 points
2. Ayumu Sasaki (JPN) Husqvarna, 213
3. David Alonso (COL) GASGAS Aspar Team, 205
13. Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN) GASGAS Aspar Team, 71
Results Moto2 Grand Prix of Thailand
1. Fermin Aldeguer (ESP) 35:20.880
2. Pedro Acosta (ESP) +3.481
3. Somkiat Chantra (THA) +9.794
9. Izan Guevara (ESP) GASGAS Aspar Team +19.798
DNF. Jake Dixon (GBR) GASGAS Aspar Team
World Championship standings Moto2
1. Pedro Acosta (ESP), 300.5 points
2. Tony Arbolino (ITA), 237.5
3. Jake Dixon (GBR) GASGAS Aspar Team, 172
22. Izan Guevara (ESP) GASGAS Aspar Team, 20
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