Moto2

Qualifying

Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) took pole position at the Monster Energy British Grand Prix this past Saturday, taking his first pole since the 2022 Malaysian Grand Prix. Ogura also managed to take a new lap record from Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) in the closing stages of the session, with Canet losing out on the front-most grid position by a mere 0.052s. Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) pulled off a stellar qualifying performance to take third place and the final front row position.

Fermin Aldeguer topped Q1 after the GT Trevisan SpeedUp team made changes to his motorcycle after Practice 2, leading to the #54  producing fast times on track. Aldeguer’s fast pace and topping the timings in Q1 saw the Spanish rider secure a Q2 spot. Three other riders joined Aldeguer in Q2 including; Albert Arenas (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2), Bo Bendsneyder (Preicanos Racing Team) and Jeremy Alcoba (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team).

During the initial runs of Q2, Ai Ogura set the benchmark time with a red hot pace and almost immediately broke the lap record. Aron Canet responded to the relentless pace of Ogura, coming within 0.052s by the end of the first set of runs, managing a time to place him P2 for the start of the race on Sunday.

The final front row position was taken by rookie Diogo Moreira on his first outing around the Silverstone Circuit. The Italtrans rider has already proven his strengths while getting to grips with the intermediate class, coming fourth around the Sachsenring Circuit. The Brazilian rider left his attempt late in the session being the last rider to set a time, but managed to get a tow from the back of the fastest group on the track to take third place at the chequered flag.

Celestino Vietti took fourth place ahead of Jake Dixon who took fifth place on the grid for his home race despite reportedly feeling unwell on the lead up to the race weekend. Joining Vietti and Dixon on the second row was Albert Arenas who was the best of the Q1 graduates qualifying sixth on the grid.

The third row of the grid would consist of Arenas’ teammate Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2) in seventh place, with Bendsneyder in eighth ahead of Championship contender Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team).

Some key contenders starting Roberts included GT Trevisan SpeedUp’s Alonso Lopez and Fermin Aldeguer who finished 10th and 11th respectively. Championship leader Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) would start the race on the sixth row in 16th place.

Race:

Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) completed a dream home win taking the coveted P1 at the Monster Energy British Grand Prix. The Briton took the lead on the final lap of the race to the jubilation of the crowd ahead of Aron Canet (Fantic Racing). A mere 0.177s was all the split the front two after the Spaniard spent the majority of the Grand Prix in the lead, with Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) taking the final spot on the podium.

With lights out and the grid on their way round the opening lap, Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) had a great launch off the line and was able to build a comfortable gap in the opening sector. Canet was the one to watch on the opening lap as he charged through the field to enter the podium places before passing Ogura to take the lead of the race.

Dixon soon joined the melee making a pass on Ogura stick on the entry to Copse before setting his sights on Canet in the lead of the race. Elsewhere, the battle for third place was still alight as Joe Roberts began to close on Ogura. The American managed to make a move stick on Lap 5 as Dixon himself began his attack for P1 at the beginning of Lap 6. The CFMOTO Inde Aspar rider made a dive for the lead at Turn 3, however run wide off the track allowing Canet to keep the lead of the race.

Drama soon took ahold of the field as Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) crashed out of the race after previously running in fifth place and showing strong pace around the Silverstone Circuit. Joe Roberts became the second retirement of the race shortly after as he crashed on the entry to Turn 3, allowing Albert Arenas (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2) to take third place on Lap 7. 

It seemed a day to forget for the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team as both Tony Arbolino and Filip Salac both crashed out of the Grand Prix in separate incidents.

Ogura began to drop outside of the top five, conceeding place to Celestino Vietti and his own teammate Sergio Garcia. Jeremy Alcoba of Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team was the next rider with the polesitter in his sights.

Lap 14 saw the battle for the lead of the race still heating up as Dixon had managed to close the gap to Canet in the lead to just 0.246s. The British rider would again run wide off the track with only three laps remaining, allowing Canet to claim back a half second advantage going into the final moments of the race.

The final lap of the British Grand Prix saw Dixon go for a gap on Canet and take the lead of the race on the entry to Turn 1, before extending his gaps to four-tenths by the final corners. He crossed the line victorious to take the win on home soil in front of a standing ovation from the crowd.

Sergio Garcia missed out on a podium position on the final lap of the race to Celestino Vietti, crossing the line 1.422s behind in fourth place. He couldn’t be too disappointed in his performance as he started the race from 16th in the grid and finished ahead of Gonzalez, who rounded out the top five. Darryn Binder took sixth position for Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP, ahead of Alcoba and Arenas in seventh and eighth place respectively. The final two places within the top 10 were taken by Alonso Lopez (GT Trevisan SpeedUp) and Senna Aguis, who made in two Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP riders within the points-paying positions.

Moto3

Qualifying:

Ivan Ortola (MT Helmet – MSI) became victorious on Saturday to take pole position at the Monster Energy British Grand Prix after a tense qualifying session. Ortola managed to set a new lap record around the Silverstone Circuit, beating Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) by just 0.041s. Joining Ortola and Veijer on the front row was Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) who managed the third fastest time on his fifth lap of qualifying.

Drama came early in the session as David Munoz on the second BOE Motorsports bike lost the front end and crashed out of Q1 at Turn 7. As the clock ticked down on the session, the pace began to increase with Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) taking the top step in Q1 to progress to the next session after a fast final flying lap. 

Joining Fernandez in graduating to Q2 were Filippo Farioli (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Xabi Zurutuza (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Matteo Bertelle (Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team).

Q2 kicked off with the Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 duo of Jacob Roulstone and Daniel Holgado working together to set fast lap time with the former topping the timing sheets in the opening stages of the session.

However, within the final five minutes, the majority of the field were now beginning to set their flying times with Veijer setting the pace for the rest of the grid and taking provisional pole position. Ortola responded setting a new lap record of 2:09.270 around the Silverstone Circuit. Veijer later made another round trip of the track missing out on the coveted pole position by less than a tenth of a second.

David Alonso (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team) took the chequered flag in fourth position solidifying his place as the first rider on the second row. The Columbian rider left it till late in the session to set his time allowing the track to get to its optimal conditions and finished ahead of Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) and Roulstone who finished fifth and sixth place respectively.

Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA) finished 7th at the end of the session, heading up the front of the third row, alongside Daniel Holgado in the second Red Bul GASGAS Tech3 in eighth and Tatsuki Suzuki (Luqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) who finished ninth on track. Some big names that missed out on the top 10 qualifying include the two Leopard Racing bikes of Adrian Fernandez and Angel Piqueras, whilst 17th place was as good as Scott Ogden (Fibre Tec Honda – MLav Racing) could do in qualifying for his home Grand Prix.

Race:

Last Lap overtakes for the lead of the race seems to be the theme this weekend at the Monster Energy British Grand Prix and Moto3 was no exception. Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) reigned supreme to take the victory and celebrate his birthday in style, with a gap of only 0.123s at the line from David Alonso (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team) who finished in second place. Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP’s Collin Veijer took third place at the chequered flag after converting his front row start into a podium.

With lights out on the Moto3 race, Ortola got a brilliant launch off of the line taking the lead of the race on the run up to Turn 1. This lead didn’t last long however, as Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsport) made his move and took the lead at Turn 2 of the opening lap. Veijer didn’t have as much luck as he dropped down to seventh on Lap 1.

David Munoz on the second BOE Motorsports bike and Red Bull GASGAS Tech3’s Jacob Roulstone both ran wide off the track at the end of Lap 1, dropping both riders to the back of the field.

Early drama also came to form as Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) and the Fibre Tec Honda – MLav Racing duo of Scott Ogden and Vicente Perez all crashed at the end of Lap 2 in two separate incidents, with Ogden having nowhere to go as Piqueras crashed in front of him and Perez kitting the tarmac in his own incident. Xabi Zurutuza (Red Bull KTM Ajo) became the next to retire from the race after crashing at Turn 11.

Meanwhile at the front, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) entered P1 with a sensational move as the #96 attempted to maintain control of the race out in front. Holgado headed an 11 rider lead group that contained the Championship leader Alonso in fifth place.

Ortola soon began to make his move through the pack, stealing the lead of the race with 10 laps remaining. The lead then changed hands at every opportunity making it hard for fans to take their eyes off of the incredible display of talent.

In the closing stages of the race, Alonso, Veijer and Holgado bgan to make their moves to claim the lead of the race, entering the podium places and aiming to close the gap to Ortola. The Dutchman took control after catching Ortola on Lap 12, with Ortola dropping to third as Alonso then took the lead for the first time at Silverstone.

The final lap of the race came all too quickly, with Veijer taking the lead after a small mistake from Alonso saw the rider dropped to fourth place behind Holgado and Ortola. Alonso was soon battling with Ortola, who had set his sights on Veijer as the rider in front. Ortola’s key move came during this final lap, making the overtake stick at Maggots.

Alonso and Vejier attempted to respond at Stowe, however, Ortola managed to hold the position and stay in P1. Ortola ran wide on the entry to Vale but was able to recover quickly and hold onto the lead off the race and took the chequered flag for a sensationally fought victory to add to his birthday celebrations later on in the day.

Holgado narrowly missed out of the podium places, crossing the line 0.107s behind third to take fourth place, ahead of Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA) who rounded out the top five. Yamanaka took sixth place ahead of Kelso, with the Australian rider finishing in seventh after a strong performance. Adrian Fernandez took eighth place ahead of Jose Antonio Rueda and Tatsuki Suzuki who placed in ninth and tenth respectively.