01.10.2023 | 11 Images

Tricky and wet Japanese MotoGP™ joy as Fernandez makes 7th at Motegi

MotoGP 2023 - Round 14 of 20, Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan – Race

Augusto Fernandez 2023 GASGAS MotoGP Japan Sunday © GASGAS Motorcycles/Polarity Photo

Round fourteen of 2023 MotoGP allowed GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 to demonstrate speed potential and bank feelings of confidence. Augusto Fernandez showed excellent wet weather skill and courage on the GASGAS RC16 to grab 7th at the Mobility Resort Motegi circuit in Japan.

Augusto Fernandez gets back into the points and into the top ten for a rain-hit and shortened Grand Prix of Japan.
Pol Espargaro takes a measured approach to the soaked and difficult conditions to score 15th position and obtain one point: the second time this season both GASGAS RC16s have classified in the top 15
The GASGAS Aspar Team post 7th with a hot and eager David Alonso in a dry Moto3™ dash while Jake Dixon reinstates his leading role in Moto2™ with 4th place after a front row launch

The 23rd Grand Prix to be staged by the Mobility Resort Motegi will be memorable for the freak rainstorm that began shortly before the start of the MotoGP race, caused a deluge across the circuit and forced the chase to be stopped and eventually classified.

GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 had originally set up for the 24 laps on Sunday afternoon with promising signs gleaned from the runs to 11th and 12th by both Pol Espargaro and Augusto Fernandez during the Sprint on Saturday. The rain began while the grid started to form and while the engines of the Moto3 and Moto2 classes were cooling and being stripped. The late ‘flag to flag’ status of the race meant that virtually the entire MotoGP field entered pitlane after the first lap to change to ‘wet’ bikes and continue the Grand Prix. Fernandez made some decent moves to reach the inner sanctum of the top ten while Espargaro circulated in reach of the points. The quantity of water on the Japanese asphalt meant that the race was stopped after 12 laps. Despite a delay and the intention to restart, the event was finally registered with the rain still washing out sections of the Motegi trajectory and with the afternoon light fast disappearing.

Fernandez has pocketed points in 12 of the 14 Grands Prix so far this season. 7th is his second highest classification so far and he sits 14th in the standings. Espargaro is 23rd.

Indonesia, Australia and Thailand next but not before a brief reprieve and a free weekend for the MotoGP paddock. The Mandalika Street Circuit on the island of Lombok will entertain MotoGP for only the second time on October 14-15.

Augusto Fernandez, 7th: “A crazy one! But we will take that 7th. I was ready to go again for the restart but I think the decision was the correct one because the last 2-3 laps previously we were aquaplaning a lot and there was too much water on the track. I felt good in the rain anyway and was overtaking guys every lap. A good 7th and good points.”

Pol Espargaro, 15th: “Today was a bit crazy. I don’t know how to feel because of the red flag but we had rear grip problems from the first laps and it was hard to understand. I was losing quite a lot of time. We need to analyze what happened so we don’t have the same issues in the case of another wet GP.”

Nicolas Goyon, GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 Team Manager: “What an epic day. We knew the rain could come in time for the race but it only just began while we were on the grid so we started on slick tires. Race Direction showed the white flags for ‘flag-to-flag’ and our guys pitted early, which was obviously the right choice. We decided to go with the soft rear tire which was a bit risky but finally the rain was stronger and stronger and this choice paid off because Augusto worked up to 7th before the red flag. It was a great result by him and he showed his high ability to race in the wet. A satisfying conclusion to the weekend. Pol struggled to have a decent pace in these conditions but we’ll keep the positives from this weekend, which was his very fast speed in qualifying. Now a one week break before moving to Indonesia.”

Results MotoGP Grand Prix of Japan

1. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati 24.06.314

2. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati +1.413

3. Marc Marquez (ESP) Honda +2.013

7. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 +7.587

15. Pol Espargaro (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 +24.921

World Championship standings MotoGP

1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati, 319 points

2. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati 316

3. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Ducati, 265

14. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, 67

23. Pol Espargaro (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, 12

Moto3 and Moto2

David Alonso made the better start as Moto3 erupted into life and created the first roar of sound on a cloudy race day. The Columbian burst into the top ten but then couldn’t quite avoid being swallowed by the rest of the third group, which included teammate Ryusei Yamanaka. Cue plenty of fairing scraping and position trades as Alonso also weathered a technical glitch that affected his rhythm. Yamanaka was also inconsistent with his pace so it was left to Alonso to show his determination for the fight and he managed to lodge the #80 machine into 7th by the flag as his Japanese squad-mate took 9th. Alonso’s gain in Motegi has helped the rookie move up to 4th in the world championship standings and he is just 30 points from the top three.

David Alonso, 7th: “We had a technical issue on the first lap so from then I just had to make it through the race because every time I wanted to change gear I had to shut off the gas. I was losing a lot of time on the straight and through finding the right gears. A shame because I had a great feeling here with this track and I know I could have been with the leaders. At least I could finish second in the group where I was. We’ll look to enjoy ourselves in Indonesia I two weeks.”

Ryusei Yamanaka, 9th: “I started from P12 on the grid and at the beginning of the race it was a bit difficult because the grip out there was not great. I made a few mistakes and couldn’t not get comfortable. It was hard to overtake. The weekend had been good but today could have been better. I missed some confidence. We will have a week to study our plan for Indonesia and work in a good way.”

Jake Dixon had to thread through Q1 on Saturday but blistered to a lap-time in Q2 that lodged the Briton 3rd on the grid and with a front row advantage (for the twelfth time in his career). From that slot Jake ran a steady but isolated 4th and placed 13 points in his pocket. Izan Guevara showed bright signs of progress in Moto2 again as he fought for positions on the fringe of the top ten. The reigning Moto3 world champion classified 14th for his second-best result of 2023 and his third batch of points.

Jake Dixon, 4th: “We improved the bike quite a bit this weekend for qualifying and I was getting used to it. I had a great race today and although I could not get a podium we were quite close to the battle. I’m very satisfied with the way I rode. I couldn’t give much more. Overall, we have done a fantastic job to come back from a couple of difficult GPs to reach P4. I’m happy.”

Izan Guevara, 14th: “Not a bad race but the track felt different and I didn’t have the best feeling, or like I’d had during the rest of the weekend. We take two more points home but the important thing is that I’m progressing and finding my speed on the bike. We’ll take the positives and think about Indonesia, which will be only our second trip there. I like the track.”

Grand Prix of Japan photographs can be found HERE

Results Moto3 Grand Prix of Japan

1. Jaume Masia (ESP) Honda 33:30.018

2. Ayumu Sasaki (JPN) Husqvarna +1.546

3. Daniel Holgado (ESP) KTM +1.602

7. David Alonso (COL) GASGAS Aspar Team +8.959

9. Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN) GASGAS Aspar Team +9.629

World Championship standings Moto3

1. Jaume Masia (ESP) Honda 199 points

2. Ayumu Sasaki (JPN) Husqvarna, 193

3. Daniel Holgado (ESP) KTM, 190

4. David Alonso (COL) GASGAS Aspar Team, 160