Italian Moto3: Garcia promoted to victory after Mugello madness
The Moto3 Italian Grand Prix at Mugello didn’t disappoint at it was all action from start to finish, with Sergio Garcia declared the winner after the photo finish finale to round eight.
A group of seven riders started the final lap in contention for the win, with everything hanging on the slipstream run to the line.
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It was Diogo Moreira who lead the start of the final lap, a doomed position which saw him swallowed up, leading to the rookie falling at the final corner after contact with Riccardo Rossi and a highside from his MT Helmets - MSI machine.
Izan Guevara took over to lead into the final chicane, and held firm in the run through the final corners.
On the straight the Valresa GasGas rider weaved to try to stop a slipstream behind him, crossing the line just 0.021s ahead, with nothing between himself, Garcia and Tatsuki Suzuki.
Unfortunately the Spaniard hit the green on his way to the line - an offence that carries an automatic one place demotion.
That saw his team-mate Garcia collect the win instead, his third time on the top step of the podium this season. Guevara was still able to celebrate a third consecutive rostrum visit.
Lap eleven changed the game
The race completely changed complexion on lap eleven when a series of crashes smashed apart the huge lead group.
The first of the series of accidents saw Tatsuki Suzuki shunt polesitter Deniz Oncu out of the race. The Leopard rider was handed a long lap penalty for his actions.
Taking his punishment immediately, the Japanese rider, who was leading at the time, rejoined in seventh, out of the shattered lead group and clear of the riders behind.
The #24 immediately set about bridging the gap to the front six, achieving his goal so fast he could sweep into the lead again with four laps remaining on his way to his first podium finish of the season.
Andrea Migno also had a spell in the lead, on his way to fourth for Rivacold Snipers.
Ryusei Yamanaka made an emotional return to Mugello where he lost his team-mate Jason Dupasquier last season. Announcing before the race he was racing around the Tuscan hills in his honour, the MT Helmets -MSI rider was in contention for a podium fairytale ending. Though forced back to fifth the result still marks a best ever finish for the Japanese rider.
Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse) finished last in the group after his contact with Moreira.
His fall saw Ivan Ortola cross the line in seventh as the best of the rookies for the Angeluss MTA Team.
Just behind in the tight battle for position was Avintia’s Elia Bartolini, in turn keeping another rookie at bay with Matteo Bertelle crossing the line in ninth behind his team-mate.
Racing in the same group Adrian Fernandez did enough to complete the top ten for Red Bull KTM Tech3.
David Munoz finished his debut grand prix right behind in eleventh for BOE Motorsports, holding off Joel Kelso on his return from injury for CIP Green Power.
Honda Team Asia’s Mario Aji was a solo 13th.
Lorenzo Fellon lost his shot at a top ten finish when he was ordered up the penalty loop, leaving the SIC58 Squadra Corse rider 14th.
Oncu rejoined the race and made incredible progress to claim the final point on offer for Red Bull KTM Tech3.
The Turkish rider's fall was the first of many on lap eleven.
Dennis Foggia, who won at Mugello in 2021, was next to falter, a strange crash out from the lead of the race, where he seemed to hit the white paint at turn seven sending both rider and bike skidding into the path of the riders behind.
Initially in tears, Foggia composed himself and went down to parc ferme to congratulate his team-mate Suzuki on his podium finish.
Carlos Tatay needed to avoid the Italian, leading to his fall soon after as he ran into the gravel.
John McPhee crashed in front of Daniel Holgado at turn 14, seeing the duo both out of the race.
Earlier, Scott Ogden started the race with his hand up and didn’t get off the line cleanly, getting tagged by a rider behind. That left his VisionTrack team-mate Joshua Whatley as the only member of the British trio to see the chequered flag in 21st.
Stefano Nepa’s accident left him sat in the gravel after four laps, Jaume Masia - winner in France avoided his fall and ruined his race in the process finishing down in 17th for Red Bull KTM Ajo.
Ana Carrasco became the woman with the most grand prix starts after lining up for the Italian Grand Prix, finishing 22nd for BOE Motorsports.
There was no Alberto Surra, making his return to the championship this weekend the unlucky Italian was again missing after he broke his toe in his FP3 crash.
Ayumu Sasaki was already ruled out following his practice crash with left him with an injured vertebrae, Two broken collarbones and concussion.
Where does that leave the championship table?
With Catalunya just next weekend all points on the table are crucial at this stage of the season.
The race win adds 25 points to championship leader Sergio Garcia’s total - now at 137 points.
Garcia is 28 points clear of Guevara - more than a race win in credit, who moves up to second after his second place, with neither Masia or Foggia picking up any points.
