Moto3 championship leader Albert Arenas pinched the Red Bull Ring win on the final lap of this morning’s race, taking 25 points while Britain’s John McPhee ended in third.
Arenas, who is still recovering from a big crash at Jerez, swept into the lead at half distance on the last circulation and just had enough to fend off a challenge from Jaume Masia in second.
Masia crossed the line only 0.049s behind Arenas while Celestino Vietti was initially handed the final podium spot as Ai Ogura and Darryn Binder were docked a lap by stewards for exceeding track limits.
However, more penalties were handed out, including one to Vietti, which bumped McPhee to the podium spot.
Arenas was lightning off the line and comfortably grabbed the holeshot into Turn 1. Polesitter Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) got away well too to safely slot into P2 with McPhee not getting a great getaway.
Vietti managed to get past the Scotsman but McPhee was back into P3 on the run into Turn 4 and on the opening lap, the leading trio had a small gap to the chasing pack – Arenas, Fernandez and McPhee were getting the hammer down.
But the gap didn’t last long though. There was a rookie on the move in the form of Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3), the Turkish rider was soon up to 4th as both Fernandez and McPhee found a way past Arenas at Turn 9, the latter then led into Turn 1.
But Öncü was soon battling for the race lead and on Lap 6, the rookie was leading. Binder – in typical fashion – had clawed his way through the pack from P22 on the grid to the lead group. Binder, on Lap 7, then chucked it up the inside of Öncü to lead the race – what an opening seven laps for the South African.
This was changing all the time though. The top 23 were split by just 3.8 seconds heading onto Lap 8, and the Moto3 slipstream game was in full flow – no one was going to be escaping, barring a few disasters.
Both Öncü and Binder were going in search of their first Grand Prix victories, and the former was looking comfortable at the front as title contender McPhee slipped down the pack to P13, but he was still well in the hunt.
Then, a moment for Binder at Turn 3. The South African was in hot but got it stopped at the apex – just. Getting back on the gas though, Binder was out the seat but stayed on, costing him time, as Arenas led the race. However, the Championship leader needed to be careful, Race Direction giving the Spaniard a track limits warning.
Arenas was lightning off the line and comfortably grabbed the holeshot into Turn 1. Polesitter Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) got away well too to safely slot into P2 with McPhee not getting a great getaway. Vietti managed to get past the Scotsman but McPhee was back into P3 on the run into Turn 4 and on the opening lap, the leading trio had a small gap to the chasing pack – Arenas, Fernandez and McPhee were getting the hammer down.
But the gap didn’t last long though. There was a rookie on the move in the form of Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3), the Turkish rider was soon up to 4th as both Fernandez and McPhee found a way past Arenas at Turn 9, the latter then led into Turn 1.
But Öncü was soon battling for the race lead and on Lap 6, the rookie was leading. Binder – in typical fashion – had clawed his way through the pack from P22 on the grid to the lead group. Binder, on Lap 7, then chucked it up the inside of Öncü to lead the race – what an opening seven laps for the South African.
This was changing all the time though. The top 23 were split by just 3.8 seconds heading onto Lap 8, and the Moto3 slipstream game was in full flow – no one was going to be escaping, barring a few disasters.
Both Öncü and Binder were going in search of their first Grand Prix victories, and the former was looking comfortable at the front as title contender McPhee slipped down the pack to P13, but he was still well in the hunt.
Then, a moment for Binder at Turn 3. The South African was in hot but got it stopped at the apex – just. Getting back on the gas though, Binder was out the seat but stayed on, costing him time, as Arenas led the race. However, the Championship leader needed to be careful, Race Direction giving the Spaniard a track limits warning.
As always, the race was breathless and relentless. The lead was changing constantly, Sergio Garcia (Estrella Galicia 0,0) in 17th crossed the line with nine laps to go less than two seconds away from the lead, and this was wide open.
It was a royal rumble at the Red Bull Ring and it was impossible to know where to look! McPhee was back up to P4 after making his way slowly back up to the front, with Ayumu Sasaki joining his Red Bull KTM Tech3 teammate at the front. Binder was again deep into Turn 3 and was slow out, seeing everyone bunch up as we saw about seven riders go line-astern into Turn 4 – sensational scenes.
With four to go, it was a disaster for Sasaki. Not a crash, but Race Direction handed the Japanese rider a long lap penalty and he took on with three to go. And because of how close the pack were, Sasaki went from fourth place to 21st, with Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) leading from Arenas, Binder and Ogura. The top 10 were now streaking clear and with one lap to go, we had 10 contenders for the win – all bets were off, this was impossible to call.
Masia led onto the last lap, with Arenas wide at Turn 1. The Spaniard lost drive coming onto the straight and vital run down to Turn 3, but a superhero pass then came in from Arenas as he slammed it up the inside of Binder and Vietti. Meanwhile, Masia had a substational advantage out front and it looked like the Spaniard has this under control – but that wasn’t the case. Arenas produced a mighty third sector and he was right on the rear wheel of Masia’s Honda heading into Turn 9.
And sure enough, Arenas carved his way up the inside of the number 5 with two corners remaining, held it into the final corner and won his third race of the season in stunning style.
