A dramatic Moto3 race saw KTM’s Pedro Acosta secure the StyrianGP victory from a hard fighting Sergio Garcia after pole-sitter Deniz Öncü made a catastrophic tyre call on the grid.
The GasGas rider recovered to second-place after crashing out on the final lap, with Romano Fenati stealing third on the last corner from Jaume Masia. Öncü ultimately finished 21st with John McPhee completing the first of two Austrian contests in 13th.
Öncü was in command as the grid lined up for the first race of the day at the Red Bull Ring. The KTM rider enjoying a triple celebration by securing the debut pole of his Moto3 career, at his team and sponsor’s home race while also becoming the first Turkish rider to achieve pole position in Grand Prix racing.
Sergio Garcia and Romano Fenati prepared to launch from alongside on the front row, 23-laps of the wet but drying 4.3km Austrian track ahead of them. The flag-to-flag contest providing immediate drama as the tyre gambles resulted in the Tech3 team making the call to change to slicks too late, their pole-man being removed from the grid as the warm-up lap was released with Öncü forced to start from the back of the grid.
There was further disappointment for Niccolò Antonelli as the Avintia rider was declared unfit after his qualifying crash, having fractured his right hand.
As the lights released the pack, it was 2019 winner Fenati who took the hole shot, leading the field through the opening corners with Garcia and Pedro Acosta in hot pursuit. Carlos Tatay failing to make the start.
Garcia took charge as the second lap got underway, his GasGas teammate rounding out the top-five as Jaume Masia moved to fourth. Acosta was looking to attack as the lap unfolded, the rookie taking his chance next time around before immediately attempting to break free at the front.
Further back a difficult start saw John McPhee drop to 19th from his 12th place start, the second Petronas suffering a similar fate two places ahead as the pair navigated the early laps on slick Dunlop tyres.
Garcia was back in front for lap four, the Spaniard’s confidence increasing as his pace did likewise. Acosta staying with him as the rest of the pack began to spread out, Fenati circulating 1.7s behind the leading pair with 18 laps still to run.
Binder began his fight back to 16th as lap eighth began, overtaking Jeremy Alcoba down the home straight before the South African successfully saved a moment as his front gave way. McPhee running five-seconds back from the duelling duo.
Andi Izdihar was less fortunate after sliding out at the first corner on the next lap, the Indonesian rider recovering his Honda and returning to the race from the back of the pack, albeit a minute behind the leaders.
Back at the front and it remained a two horse race, as Acosta sat firmly on the wheels of Garcia. The pair seeming to get the best out of their wet tyres as they continued to increase their pace while building a now seven-second gap to third-place-man Fenati. The Italian, however, had company as Masia moved to within three-tenths of the Husqvarna, Ayumu Sasaki circulating a similar distance behind his fellow KTM machine.
Acosta had waited long enough, it seemed, as the rookie swept through to the lead at the halfway stage, his rival returning the move at turn nine and holding fast as the next lap unfolded. Izdihar succumbing to the conditions for the second time and retiring his Team Asia machine with 10 laps to go as David Salvador’s debut also came to an untimely end.
Binder’s progression continued as he found 13th with a pace mirroring that of the front runners, Tatsuki Suzuki his next victim, as the Petronas rider picking off Filip Salac and Kaito Toba in the same lap as he entered the top-10.
Seven laps to go and the leading pace continued to improve, Garcia being issued a warning shot from his tyres in the drying conditions before he continued to push. Acosta running practically alongside his rival, just 0.052s adrift, as they powered down the start/finish straight before attempting a move. The GasGas rider putting him back in his place almost instantly as the battle raged on.
Binder’s climb continued as the laps counted down and he found seventh with just four to go. The one-second gap to Max Kofler was easily dispatched but with Sasaki circulating seven-seconds ahead, sixth place may be where the advance came to an end.
The leading pair swapped again as the penultimate lap got underway, the KTM taking advantage of turn three before Garcia struck back two corners later. Acosta joined in the top-three by teammate Masia as Fenati dropped to fourth. A turn one move saw Acosta take charge once again, Garcia the one to utilise turn three this time around as a block pass pushed the rookie wide. The pair continued their squabble as the final lap played out, Garcia crashing out at turn nine before remounting with time to spare, as was the pair’s impressive lead, to recover the second place. Fenati stealing his third place back in the dying seconds as he crossed the line one-tenth ahead of Masia.
Sasaki secured fifth from Binder, Ryusei Yamanaka, Yuki Kunii, and Kofler with Adrian Fernandez completing the top-10. Salac and Toba headed McPhee in 13th with Izan Guevara and Suzuki claiming the final points positions.
