Moto3: Arenas wins after leaders fall and penalties
Albert Arenas was awarded a career first win after the dust settled on the Moto3 French Grand Prix in Le Mans, despite not taking the chequered flag in the lead.
Arenas, who went into the last corner in fourth, was pleased to be able to run in the top group and have luck on his side to smash his previous best finish of eighth.
The Angel Nieto team were in fact handed a 1-2 after Andrea Migno was moved into second, with the all KTM podium completed by an equally shocked Gabriel Rodrigo for RBA BOE Skull Rider, giving him back-to-back rostrum appearances.
The final lap started in dramatic fashion with Enea Bastanini crashing at the end of the penultimate one- causing Jakub Kornfeil starting his final lap shooting off of the Leopard bike that entered his path like a ramp, which he incredibly managed to land.
The front of the pack had more drama to come with race and championship leader Marco Bezzecchi high-siding right in front of main rival, polesitter Jorge Martin, causing the pair to end up in the gravel. Martin attempted to push his bike over the line, while Bezzecchi needed assistance to leave the track.
This left Fabio Di Giannantonio clear out front, but shortly after crossing the finish line, he, like Korfeil and Nico Antonelli earlier in the race, was handed a time penalty for taking a shortcut in the race, which demoted him fro the podium.
The Gresini man was credited with fourth once all penalties were applied as the top Honda finisher.
Antonelli’s penalty demoted him to fifth after crossing the line fourth for SIC Squadra Corse, with Kornfeil (Redox PruestelGP) finishing his eventful 150th grand prix in sixth following his infringement.
Seventh went to Tony Arbolino, his best ever result with Marinelli Snipers.
Aron Canet, who started last on the grid following his post-Jerez penalty worked his way through the pack to finish eighth, pulling past Martin in the championship standings to third after his DNF, with Bezzecchi still leading overall with 63 points with Di Giannantonio second.
Tatsuki Suzuki took ninth on the second SIC Squadra Corse entry, with top rookie Jaume Masia (Bester Capital Dubai) completing the top ten.
Darryn Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) took eleventh, his best result of the season, with John McPhee (CIP Green-Power) also making massive gains in his 100th grand prix after starting on the back row to take twelfth.
The remaining points went to McPhee’s team-mate Makar Yurchenko in 13th, fellow rookie Dennis Foggia (Sky Racing Team VR46) in 14th and Jerez race winner Philipp Oettl (Sudmetal Schedl GP) in 15th.
Livio Loi’s chances died when he was handed a ride through penalty for a jump start. Shortly after Gabriel Rodrigo became the first faller at turn eight with just three laps completed.
Nicolo Bulega was next to exit, his fall coming from 23rd place in the race as he continues to struggle this season.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta slid into the gravel after running wide, he picked up his bike and rode straight back to the pits. Nakarin Atiratphuvapat crashed out with four laps remaining.
