Moto3: Leopard Racing’s Tatsuki Suzuki Wins in a Wet Argentina.
By Dawn Hammersley
Tatsuki Suzuki Wins the Moto3 Race in Tricky conditions, as Five Riders Crashed Out.
Argentina is host to Round Two of the Moto3 championship, Liqui Moly Husqvarna’s Ayumu Sasaki was on pole position, Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Denis Oncu qualified in second place with MT Helmets – MSI’s Diogo Moreira rounding out the front row of the grid in third place. The weather conditions at the Termas De Rio Hondo circuit were humid but wet.
Sasaki lead the field into turn one, the first couple of corners were sketchy. The lead changed hands numerous times in the first two laps! Diogo Moreira was strong at the front with Deniz Oncu challenging for the first place position. Britain’s Scott Ogden was in eighth place, team-mate Josh Whatley was down in 21st place.
David Almansa had a good start and was in eighth place, the Spanish rider is standing in for Joel Kelso. Oncu was leading the way with 16 laps to go, Suzuki was in second place with Jaume Masia in third place.
The Turkish rider crashed out at turn 11 whilst leading the race, he remounted and joined the race at the back of the field.
Suzuki had a 0.9s lead at the front from Masia, Ogden was in seventh place. The second group of riders consisted of nine riders.
Sasaki was in second place with 13 laps to go, the group were beating each other up trying to catch Suzuki at the front, Suzuki had a 2.5s lead now at the front. The Leopard Racing Team rider was looking very smooth even in the tricky conditions.
Sasaki had to drop one position due to Race Direction handing out a penalty due to a harsh move on David Almansa. Ivan Ortola crashed out at turn two with 9 laps to go. Sasaki crashed out as he was in second place at turn 13. The second group now consisted of eight riders, Suzuki had over a four second lead at the front.
Masia was now leading the chasing group in second place, Xavier Artigas was in third place. Ogden was sticking with the group in ninth place. Masia crashed out a lap later at turn two, as did Mario Aji with just five laps to go in the race.
Artigas and Munoz both crashed at turn 13, there was no contact between the two riders, Munoz crashed in sympathy with Artigas!
There was a three-way battle for second place between Migno, Almansa and Moreira, Scott Ogden was joining the battle! Almansa was taken out at turn five on the final lap by Ogden; Riccardo Rossi crashed at turn 13 disaster for the Italian rider!
Suzuki crossed the line to take the victory, Diogo Moreira was second, Migno was third, Holgado was fourth with Scott Ogden finishing in fifth place. Scott was handed a penalty due to his contact with Almansa.
Featured Images: MotoGP.com