Dennis Foggia capitalises as Acosta and Garcia both crash
A third win of the season came the Italian’s way in Aragon as we witness Championship drama aplenty; Öncü and Sasaki pick up podiums
Leopard Racing’s Dennis Foggia claimed a third victory of the season in a hugely dramatic Moto3™ encounter at the Gran Premio TISSOT de Aragon. The Italian overtook second place finisher Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) on the final lap to emerge victorious, as Ayumu Sasaki joined teammate Öncü on the rostrum. The top two in the World Championship, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team), both crashed and scored zero points on home turf.
Championship drama aplenty
Polesitter Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing) launched away from the line well and grabbed the holeshot into Turn 1, with Garcia making a fast start from P4 to make his way up to second by the time the riders had raced through Sector 1. Garcia then looked to take the lead down into Turn 12, however, the Spaniard got it a bit wrong and ran wide, dropping to P4. Gabriel Rodrigo (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) took the lead heading down the back straight for the first time and led over the line, with all riders safely negotiating Lap 1.
Acosta was battling away inside the top 10, as he and Rodrigo made contact on Lap 3 at Turn 9. Filip Salač (CarXpert PrüstelGP) crashed out of the top 10 at Turn 12, rider ok, as we witnessed a very frantic opening few laps. Acosta and Garcia were both scrapping inside the top five, but they had plenty of hungry riders for company. Öncü looked comfortable holding the P1 baton, but further back in the lead group, Rodrigo suffered a highside at the final corner. The Argentine was out of the race, thankfully up on his feet, as British GP winner Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) had to take to the gravel to avoid contact.
“I really wanted this victory and I’m more than happy. When I saw that Acosta was out of the race, I knew I had to make the most to gather as many points as possible. Winning is an amazing feeling. I want to thank my team and my family; we’ll keep giving our best until the end”. – Dennis Foggia
At half race distance, Xavier Artigas (Leopard Racing) took his turn leading, Öncü soon returned to the lead though as we saw an 11-rider lead group form. Garcia vs Acosta was in full flow, the two title rivals were squabbling in P4 and P5, with both Leopard Racing Hondas a constant threat. Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team), Sasaki, Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Binder were locked together, with Öncü still leading with four laps to go.
Then, with four laps to go, huge drama. At Turn 5, Acosta and Artigas were down and out of the race. Acosta dived up the inside of the Leopard rider and tucked the front, causing the Championship leader to hit Artigas’ rear wheel. Now, all eyes were on Garcia. How much damage could the GASGAS star inflict on his rival’s title lead? Garcia was P3 with two laps to go as Foggia passed Öncü at Turn 1, before Garcia climbed to P2 at Turn 8. However, Öncü was straight back up the inside at Turn 12.
Final lap time, Foggia led Öncü, Garcia and Guevara. Contact at Turn 2 between teammates Garcia and Guevara occurred as the Spaniards connected three times halfway through the lap, as Öncü carved up the inside at Turn 5 to take the lead. Yet more Championship drama was about to unfold though. In an incredibly fierce final lap, Garcia was third but was late on the brakes into Turn 12. It turned out to be too late, as the Spaniard crashed unhurt.
This left Öncü leading Foggia for the race win, but on the back straight, Foggia unleashed his Honda power and drafted past the Turkish rider, held it around the final two corners to claim victory. Öncü missed out on a maiden victory by just 0.041s, as Sasaki made it two Tech3 riders on the rostrum with a brilliant P3.
The remaining point scorers
After showing great pace all weekend, Guevara picked up a second consecutive P4 finish as his podium wait continues – but it’s not far away. Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia VR46 Academy) picked up P5 ahead of compatriot Migno and seventh place Binder, as Stefano Nepa (BOE Owlride) earns P8. Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) was a tenth behind Nepa in P9, Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) had a quiet race and eventually claimed P10 on home soil.
Ryusei Yamanaka (CarXpert PrüstelGP) crossed the line in a relatively lonely P11, Adrian Fernandez (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) picked up P12, John McPhee’s Petronas Sprinta Racing replacement Syaifuddin Azman earned P13 on his World Championship debut, with Fenati salvaging P14 after getting unfortunately caught up in Rodrigo’s crash, Riccardo Rossi (BOE Owlride) was the final point scorer.
As the dust settles on a scintillating Moto3™ race, Acosta’s lead in the Championship remains unchanged. 46 points are his advantage over Garcia, with Foggia now just 12 adrift of second place with his victory. Next up: Misano. What will we witness at Round 14?
Top 10:
- Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing)
- Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) + 0.041
- Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech3) + 0.644
- Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) + 0.708
- Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia VR46 Academy) + 0.878
- Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) + 1.180
- Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing) + 2.133
- Stefano Nepa (BOE Owlride) + 2.685
- Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) + 2.786
- Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 4.714