Romano Fenati today became the most successful Moto3 rider in history after he pinched the Misano #2 victory on the last lap.
The Sterilgarda Max Husqvarna rider was right in the mix as the laps clicked down. Some contact between Jaume Masia and Celestino Vietti on the last lap gave Fenati the space he needed to take the lead and the win by 0.036s from Vietti with Ai Ogura third.
The action got underway on the Adriatic Coast as Tony Arbolino instantly stole the hole-shot from pole-man Raul Fernandez, holding fast for the opening corners before the Spaniard took control at turn five. Albert Arenas joined the fight moments later, advancing on Arbolino for second, the Italian demoted into the clutches of Fenati but determined to maintain his advantage, setting a fastest lap as the early laps unfolded.
Arenas saw his chance for the front at turn 11 on the third lap, Arbolino following suit as Fernandez lost two places in a matter of moments before Vietti relegated him again, to fourth on the fifth revolution. A challenge by Vietti saw Arbolino moved wide at the end of lap six, the Italian losing out as he found himself regrouping down in fifth, as his challenger set his sights on the lead of his home GP and holding fast for the next seven laps.
Disappointment continued for Arbolino as lap nine saw the Honda rider down to 11th, narrowly ahead of Darryn Binder and McPhee, before both riders took their chance to advance on the following revolution. The South African finding his form as he immediately began to climb, hitting eighth two laps later as the Scot also fired in his fastest lap of the race so far.
A battle looked to be brewing behind Vietti with 11 to go as Jaume Masia challenged Arenas for second, Gabriel Rodrigo looking to emulate the move as the championship leader defended his podium position. Further down the pack Fenati and Binder were fighting hard for fifth, Binder gaining the advantage as his impressive progression, from 20th on the grid, continued.
With eight to go, Vietti maintained control as the battle for second continued, Masia briefly took his chance to run at the front forcing the SKY rider backwards, making contact with Rodrigo in the process and relegating the unlucky Argentinian down the pack.
Vietti shot back, Arenas following but it was Fenati who lunged for the lead with six to go, finding second, just as a monster highside for Binder at turn one saw his impressive run come to a dramatic end. The pack reshuffled, Ogura found himself in third ahead of Fenati and Arenas, McPhee joining the front group in eighth and making moves in the closing stages.
The race ramped up as a four-rider battle for first began with just three laps to go, The pack behind still hard on their tails, contact ensuing throughout as McPhee lost out in a tangle with Alcoba, relegating him back to 10th as the penultimate lap began. The Gresini rider was later given a three-second penalty at the close of the race after a number of in-track incidents.
Vietti began the final lap as he had the majority of the race, in the lead and defending from Arenas before Masia took them both, contact between Masia and Arenas opened the door for Fenati as the Italian slid through to claim a striking home victory for Max Biaggi’s Sterilgarda team, the first for Husqvarna in Moto3. Vietti and Ogura claimed the final podium positions with Arenas finishing as he started, in fourth but maintaining his championship lead by just two points from the Japanese rider.
Masia took fifth ahead of Fernandez and Oncu, Migno, Toba and a frustrated McPhee rounded out the top-10. Arbolino, Rodrigo, Alcoba, Sasaki and Nepa concluded the points-scoring positions.
