- Augusto Fernandez again raises his performance when it counts to conquer low-grip conditions in Catalunya and rides to the top ten after starting from 19th.
- Pol Espargaro shows fast-paced spark that bodes well for the rest of the second half of the championship but is denied a race result.
- GASGAS Aspar Racing rule the Gran Premi de Catalunya! A spectacular second Moto3™ win for David Alonso continues GASGAS Aspar Racing’s three-year streak in Catalunya with three different riders.
- Jake Dixon then makes it 2-in-a-row and 2-for-the-season with victory in Moto2™ and thanks to a smart and confident blast to the flag.
Over 71,000 fans in warm but cloudy conditions watched a restarted 23-lap Grand Prix where Pol Espargaro and Augusto Fernandez were able to avoid first corner drama. Pol was starting to apply his pace when a technical issue ended his progress. Fernandez was already into the top fifteen and then worked hard to establish an effective rhythm. He passed eight-times world champion Marc Marquez to rise to 10th and then set his eyes on more prizes. His duel with Fabio Di Giannantonio was the action highlight of the race and the rookie triumphed by less than half a second.
The Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli will give Augusto another injection of adrenaline, provide another chance for Pol to get on the gas once more and allow GASGAS to blaze red in MotoGP again.
Augusto Fernandez, 9th: “I’m happy with today’s race even though it was not an easy one! I had to manage the tires, but that was the case for everyone. I was pleased with my pace and I feel it was a bit better than the group in front but it was difficult to pass, especially Diggia who was so strong on the brakes. It took me a while but luckily I got him on the last corner. Happy with my pace, a positive Sunday.”
Pol Espargaro, DNF: “A shame because we had good speed through all the weekend we were performing well but we didn’t have any luck here. We missed Q2 by almost nothing, another rider hit me on Saturday and we lost the wing and then today the technical problem. This sometimes happens and we’ll look forward to Misano which is another track where we can be fast. We’ll try again there.”
Nicolas Goyon, GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 Team Manager: “Finally we end the weekend on a positive note with Augusto’s result. He had a tough Sprint and we made some modifications to the bike that helped him feel more comfortable. This allowed him to manage the tire and he had a great fight with Di Giannantonio and beat him into the last corner to achieve a P9. Pol had a clutch issue on the restart and we still need to understand what happened. He had the pace to fight for some strong points. A tough GP but we got some good points. Now to Italy for the San Marino GP.”
Results MotoGP Gran Premi de Catalunya
1. Aleix Espargaro (ESP) Aprilia 38:56.159
2. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Aprilia +0.377
3. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati +2.831
9. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 +12.889
DNF. Pol Espargaro (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3
World Championship standings MotoGP
1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati, 260 points
2. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati 210
3. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Ducati, 189
13. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, 58
24. Pol Espargaro (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, 8
Moto3 and Moto2
GASGAS Aspar Racing were quietly optimistic for David Alonso’s chances after the star rookie qualified with the pace to run with the leaders and started from 12th position on the Moto3 grid. Teammate Ryusei Yamanaka had more catching-up to do from further back but the Japanese made some clever moves in the opening phases of the affair to eye Grand Prix points. Alonso was quickly at the front and in the crucial rush around the last lap of 18 was able to triumph by 0.076 of a second. The Columbian joins Izan Guevara and Sergio Garcia to have given GASGAS Aspar Racing a win at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in the last three editions of the Grand Prix. Yamanaka made it into the top ten and was rewarded with 9th after surging forward from 22nd; just one second from Alonso! Both riders have moved up one position in the standings: Alonso to 6th and Yamanaka to 12.
David Alonso, 1st: “Incredible. This has been a hard track for me all weekend, so this victory feels amazing. The team did a fantastic job and I feel like I was clever today on the last lap to be in the right position at the right time. We had to fight a lot. We did it! I’m so happy. Thanks to all my team, family who are here supporting me and all my friends at home.”
Ryusei Yamanaka, 9th: “I had a lot of confidence with my braking today. It was windy out there and I think we made a small mistake with our gearing because I didn’t have the best RPM. So, a bit disappointing because we could have been even better. We’ll have to look towards Misano and hope to keep the same good feeling and try again.”
Jake Dixon rocketed from Pole Position in Moto2 and rode a smart race where the Brit watched and assessed his rivals from a top five slot and conserved tire life until the moment of truth. Under pressure from Aron Canet for the duration of the final two laps, Jake held his nerve, maintained his speed and seized the checkered flag by two tenths of a second. It was his second triumph of the season and his fifth podium of the year: putting him just 44 points away from the top of the championship. Izan Guevara worked on his rhythm and consistency and classified 25th.
Jake Dixon, 1st: “It was so sweet to do that today. The others were spinning a lot, so I took my time, and I knew I would have the pace at the end. The team gave me a great bike so thanks to GASGAS Aspar Racing. I was on the limit on the last lap! That’s two wins this year and there is more to come.”
Izan Guevara, 25th: “Not a great race and things were complicated when I ran wide at Turn 1 and lost a lot of places. From that moment I concentrated on improving my rhythm and my speed and made high 45s. Another mistake at the end and I ran into the gravel but I have to be happy with our progress and we are improving.”
Gran Premi de Catalunya photographs can be found HERE
Results Moto3 Gran Premi de Catalunya
1. David Alonso (COL) GASGAS Aspar Team 33:00.945
2. Jaume Masia (ESP) Honda +0.076
3. Jose Rueda (ESP) KTM +0.234
9. Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN) GASGAS Aspar Team +1.060
World Championship standings Moto3
1. Daniel Holgado (ESP) KTM, 161 points
2. Ayumu Sasaki (JPN) Husqvarna, 148
3. Jaume Masia (ESP) Honda 129
6. David Alonso (COL) GASGAS Aspar Team, 115
12. Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN) GASGAS Aspar Team, 52
Results Moto2 Gran Premi de Catalunya
1. Jake Dixon (GBR) GASGAS Aspar Team 36.51.330
2. Aron Canet (ESP) +0.205
3. Albert Arenas (ESP) +1.027
25. Izan Guevara (ESP) GASGAS Aspar Team +52.086
World Championship standings Moto2
1. Pedro Acosta (ESP), 186 points
2. Tony Arbolino (ITA), 164
3. Jake Dixon (GBR) GASGAS Aspar Team, 142
23. Izan Guevara (ESP) GASGAS Aspar Team, 3
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