It was a barnstorming Moto3™ encounter at Silverstone as the Championship chase takes a huge twist
Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) took his first victory since the Indonesian GP in what was an unbelievably tight Moto3™ battle at the Monster Energy British Grand Prix that saw the top two in the World Championship crash out. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) came from 21st to finish second and led Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) over the line in third, as Sergio Garcia and Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team teammate Izan Guevara were unluckily taken out in separate incidents.
A fierce, dramatic Moto3™ British GP
The opening lap was fast and frantic as several riders took turns in leading. Guevara, Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI), polesitter Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) and Öncü started strong and briefly led, but it was Guevara who pounced at Turn 1 on Lap 2 to reclaim P1.
Home hero John McPhee (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) made great early progress to get up to P4 from 10th on the grid, with 8th on the grid Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) also powering up to the front of the freight train. Meanwhile, World Championship leader Garcia was battling away in the lower ends of the top 10.
This was a proper barnstormer. You could throw a blanket over the top 20 riders and the lead was changing lap after lap. Foggia, with eight to go, boasted the biggest lead we’d seen all race – 0.6s over the line, with teammate Suzuki acting as the stopping block in second place. David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) was back up into the top five after taking his Long Lap penalty as Guevara and McPhee found themselves down in 10th and 11th, with Garcia 8th.
With four laps to go, this was still anyone’s race to win. Garcia was P6, crucially ahead of teammate and title rival Guevara who was P9, but less than two seconds split the top 16. With three laps to go, Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) led for the first time but he was immediately swallowed up down the Hanger Straight. Then, huge drama. Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) tagged the rear of Garcia at Turn 13 and both riders crashed. Sasaki was stretchered away and taken to the medical centre, the Japanese rider conscious, with Garcia back on his bike but unable to continue.
Heading onto the final lap, Öncü was the leader followed by Muñoz…