GasGas Aspar's Izan Guevara recorded his maiden Moto3 victory at the Red Bull GP of the Americas after two red flags in Austin.
After two intense and dramatic battles, interrupted by two red flags, Dennis Foggia and John McPhee completed the lightweight podium, each having taken their turn at the front throughout the morning’s action.
The opening 17-lap contest saw Jaume Masia line up at the head of the 26-strong grid, his Red Bull KTM teammate, Pedro Acosta starting down in 15th - the rookie’s title-challenge given a boost after main rival Sergio Garcia bowed out of the weekend due to bruising on his kidneys after a turn 10 crash during Friday’s FP1. Foggia joined the front row, fresh from four podium finishes in a row, with Jeremy Alcoba completing the leading trio. Four riders opted for hard Dunlop tyres ahead of the morning race, Acosta, Foggia, Xavi Artigas and Filip Salac, with the rest on the softer rubber.
Artigas grabbed the holeshot as the lights released the pack, Masia hitting back after the Leopard rider ran wide at turn one. Guevara ran strongly in third with Alcoba, Deniz Öncü and Foggia behind. Tatsuki Suzuki saving a moment at the mid-point of the first lap with Artigas given a double long lap penalty for jumping the start.
One rookie took over from the other as lap two got underway, Guevara relieving another short-lived moment out front for Artigas with Masia and up to second as the first of two penalties were dispatched.
The Petronas Sprinta pair were soon on the move, Darryn Binder making his way up to seventh, McPhee eighth before the Scot bettered his teammate on lap three. Andrea Migno the next in line with the penalised rookie just behind.
Guevara remained in control as lap four developed, Masia, Alcoba and Foggia all in contention as Öncü circulated four-tenths adrift. Alcoba took second next time around as Binder and McPhee dispatched Migno further back.
The Misano winner was on the move as the fifth lap wound down, Foggia up to second with Guevara in his sights as the Petronas riders looked to have Acosta for company. McPhee cleared himself from the challenge as the next lap began, advancing on Öncü for fifth as Migno’s day went from bad to worse and he dropped to 10th.
McPhee had his sights firmly on the podium as he swept through on Alcoba and Masia for third. The number 17 now just two-tenths away from Foggia in second and running 2’16.1 pace.
Salac’s race came to an abrupt end moments later as the CarXpert PruestelGP rider high-sided out of turn 11, and looking stricken on the side of the track. Niccolò Antonelli crashed out at turn one as the next lap began but with Salac still needing assistance, the red flags were brought out.
The race was restarted with grid positions based on lap seven standings for a five-lap dash - Guevara taking the pole from Foggia and McPhee with Masia, Acosta and Binder behind. The GasGas rider maintained control as the sprint began, McPhee inheriting second as Masia ran wide, but it was Öncü who flew through to the lead down the back straight. Guevara was back in the lead as the lap wound down, Binder up to second at its completion. Öncü sat third from McPhee and Foggia across the line before the second Petronas rider joined his teammate in podium contention. Adrian Fernandez and Max Kofler falling at turn 18.
Binder hit the front before McPhee took his place, Guevara running wide before rejoining in ninth and then admitting defeat with a technical issue moments later. Masia was challenging for second before the South African dispatched him to third, Foggia, and Öncü behind as Alcoba became the next victim of the technical track at turn 11. The Gresini rider dropping in the middle of the track after collecting the rear wheel of the Tech3 KTM ahead, with the oncoming riders, Acosta and Migno launched into the air in the aftermath. The race red flagged with all three riders up and okay.
A committee decision, including representatives from each manufacturer, being taken that the race one result will stand, with Guevara being issued the victory, Foggia and McPhee joining him on the podium.
