Jaume Masia took his first Moto3 win since Argentina 2019, in a dramatic and hard-fought Aragon GP this afternoon, becoming Honda’s 100th Grand Prix victor in the process.
Darryn Binder claimed second in a last-sector move, as Raul Fernandez - who had led for the majority of the race - was forced to settle for the final podium spot in third.
John McPhee put on a strong performance to bring his Petronas Sprinta home in fifth after a long-lap penalty saw him as low as 17th in the early stages.
As the lights went out for the first race of the day at the Spanish circuit, it was Albert Arenas who took the holeshot from Fernandez before the pole-sitter claimed it back almost immediately, the pack barely even completing the first sector of the 19-lap race. Tatsuki Suzuki advanced into second as the first lap completed, with Gabriel Rodrigo hitting the gravel at turn 13, the Argentinian’s race ended prematurely by his second crash of the day.
As the race settled into its rhythm, the two long-lap penalties were activated. Alonso Lopez - for irresponsible riding during the French GP - and John McPhee - for irresponsible riding during Saturday’s Q1 - both given three laps to complete the penalties, the Scot responding by hitting his pace hard as he tried to mitigate the coming punishment.
Having advanced to eighth, the Petronas man found himself in 17th on its completion and determined to make progress again, with Lopez dropping to the same position, from sixth, two laps later.
Back at the front and Fernandez was still in control, holding off Suzuki, Arenas and Romano Fenati with a hard-charging Binder looking to join the party. The five-rider group had broken free of the main pack with a two-second gap after the opening five laps as Binder began his advance, the South African up to third by the following lap before staking his claim on the lead with 13 to go.
In the mid-pack McPhee was also on the move, entering the top-10 easily before advancing to seventh at the start of lap eight, only Masia half a second ahead of him before he could set his sights on the leading group.
A three-rider battle at the front saw Fernandez retake the lead from Binder and Arenas, Suzuki and Fenati holding fast on the wheels of the battling trio as the action allowed Masia to reel them in. A turn seven crash for Andrea Migno saw the dream of a consecutive podium for the Sky team go up in gravel dust at the halfway stage while an impressive performance from McPhee allowed the number 17 to win out in the battle for sixth, now just 0.4 behind Suzuki in fifth, with 10 laps to go.
The next lap allowed McPhee to advance again, taking fifth with Fenati now in his sights as he matched the front-running pace. Binder was still threatening Fernandez as he challenged for the lead but the South African lost out to Arenas at turn 12 with eighth to go. The commanding group was now seven-strong, with as many laps remaining, as Masia challenged the Scot for position, the KTM maintaining his dominance at the front with the Leopard Honda moving firmly into podium contention. As the 15th lap began the leader was swamped by the three riders around him, dropping back to fourth as Binder took the lead from Arenas before he quickly fought back to third.
The battle continued to heat as the race neared its conclusion, Arenas briefly taking the reins before Fernandez fought back and retuned to the front with just four laps left to run. McPhee and Binder now fought for fourth place, behind Masia, with the Leopard man himself making a play for the lead on the next revolution.
The penultimate lap began with Fernandez still holding off Masia as Jeremy Alcoba swept through to third and demoted Arenas and Binder, Fenati and McPhee continuing their fight behind.
The KTM/Leopard battle ensued throughout the entirety of the final lap with the places swapping almost at every corner. Masia eventually took control in the final sector with Binder also stealing second on the penultimate corner, the celebrating duo holding their places as they crossed the line. Fernandez consolidated the final podium position in third, ahead of Fenati and an impressive performance from McPhee in fifth with Alcoba, Arenas and Suzuki concluding the top-eighth. Celestino Vietti came home in ninth with Dennis Foggia 10th, as Kaito Toba, Carlos Tatay, Ayumu Sasaki, Ai Ogura and Deniz Öncü claimed the final points-scoring positions.
