Moto3 Australia: Arenas snatches brilliant win, Martin extends lead
Albert Arenas claimed a hard fought win in the Moto3 Australian Grand Prix as the title fight played out behind him - Marco Bezzecchi was taken out again, with Martin fifth.
Arenas chose to lead at the front and managed to hold on to claim his second win of the season in a tight, tense and dramatic Moto3 Australian Grand Prix.
The final lap looked as busy as a first corner scrap as all the points places arrived in contention for the podium, but the risk of sitting at the front paid off as the Angel Nieto KTM team rider held on over the line to win by just 0.052s.
It is Arenas’ second win after starting eleventh on the grid, his first having come in Le Mans after Fabio Di Giannantonio was demoted via a time penalty.
It was the Italian who took second here today, one of many riders to briefly lead before he slipstreamed his way ahead at the chequered flag for Del Conca Gresini Honda. His podium finish elevates him back into the title hunt.
There was a surprise third for Celestino Vietti, who made the most of the huge group of riders remaining in contention and used the situation to his advantage. In for the injured Nicolo Bulega at Sky Racing Team VR46 ( the team he joins full-time in 2019) he used his replacement ride on the KTM to make his mark - taking his first podium in just his second appearance in the championship.
Tatsuki Suzuki slipstreamed past Jorge Martin into fourth for SIC58 Squadra Corse.
That left Martin fifth. After The Spaniard ran at the front in the opening laps a nervy start in a busy race for both the Gresini man and Bezzecchi saw them eventually meet on track as Redox PruestelGP’s charge picked off places slowly after starting 15th.
The Italian made the first move and lead before being taken out by Gabriel Rodrigo. Bezzecchi desperately held his swinging bike through the gravel but finally crashed when he met the grass. Rodrigo was taken to the medical centre.
It was then advantage Martin as he moved to the front of the extremely competitive race. Leading on the penultimate lap Martin seemed to over-think his tactics - holding firm at the front eventually lead Arenas to the win - but caution in terms of the championship saw the Martin allow Philipp Oettl ahead, but no-one waited for an invitation and he quickly found himself swallowed into the pack and needing to survive contact with the German.
Fifth sees Martin extend his championship lead to twelve points over Bezzecchi, with Di Giannantonio mathematically back in play as he is now just twenty points behind his team-mate again.
The result also sees Del Conca Gresini Honda win the new Moto3 World Championship classifiation for teams.
Aron Canet was one of many riders to lead in the closing stages before he was shuffled back to sixth for Estrella Galicia 0,0.
Adam Norrodin made late progress, cutting through the pack to claim seventh for Petronas Sprinta Racing.
Enea Bastianini (Leopard) came through for eighth, with Jakub Kornfeil doing enough to hold ninth Redox PruestelGP. Ayumu Sasaki completed the top ten on the second Petronas Sprinta entry after starting on the front row.
Alonso Lopez (Estrella Galicia 0,0) was the best of the rookies in eleventh, just ahead of Darryn Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) who had been ever-present at the front before getting swallowed up in the final corner, indicating just how tough the race was.
The remaining points went to Andrea Migno (Angel Nieto Team Moto3) in 13th, John McPhee, who climbed as high as second after qualifying down in 18th before ending up 14th for CIP - Green Power and Oettl , who lead at the start of the final lap, in 15th.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta had completed a strong recovery after starting 20th to lead before he slid out of contention at the Southern Loop.
A particularly nasty crash saw both the Bester Capital Dubai bikes sent cartwheeling through the gravel - both Jaume Masia and Marcos Ramirez were taken to the medical centre. Masia was later transferred to hospital with an ankle injury.
Dennis Foggia and Tony Arbolino fell on the penultimate lap, with Martin narrowly avoiding their crash.
Kazuki Masaki missed the race after fracturing a finger when he crashed in FP3.
Niccolo Antonelli (SIC 58 Squadra Corse) was also absent after his Motegi fall (back contusion and left foot fracture). Yari Montella replaced him and crossed the line just outside the points in 16th.
Vincente Perez, who caused Antonelli’s crash, served his six place grid penalty then received a ride through penalty for a jump start which left him in last place.
