Qualifying

Misano seemed full of drama this past weekend, with the Moto3 grid proving to be no exception. David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) set the pace in Practice 2, before claiming pole position for Sunday’s race after an intense qualifying session.

The Columbian rider left it late into the session to set his time before finishing with an advantage of 0.417s over the rest of the grid. Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) claimed second place alongside Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) who rounded out the front row.

Alonso had a stellar ride in Practice 2, setting the fastest time and breaking the lap record in what proved to be a very competitive session. Some big names ended the session outside of the top 14, including Tatsuki Suzuki, who finished in 15th after a crash in the earlier stages of the session.

The drama didn’t stop there, with Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports), Vicente Perex (FleetSafe Honda – MLav Racing), Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and Filippo Farioli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) all progressing into Q2 after an interesting Q1 session.

With Q2 underway, Collin Viejer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) set the top time at the start of the session with a 1:41.060. However, as the session progressed, Joel Kelso responded to take P1 for a brief moment before Veijer improved once again, although, this was overshadowed as the Dutch rider crashed with only 20 seconds of the session remaining.

Lunetta capitalised on this to take the provisional pole position before Alonso quickly stole the accolade whilst setting a new lap record.

Heading the second row on the grid for the race was Angel Piqueras, who finished in fourth. The Spaniard would be set to have a tough Sunday though, as he was handed a double Long Lap penalty for an incident with Scott Ogden at Turn 13 in Practice 2. Rounding out the second row was Veijer in fifth – with the rider unable to improve his time after his crash at Turn 2 – and Joe Kelso, with the Australian also suffering a crash in Q2.

Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech 3) finished in P7 with a time of 1:41.028 ahead of Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing). Taiyo Furusato finished in ninth place to round out the third row of the grid, with some big names such as Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Jose Antonio Rueda being forced to start the race from 12th on the grid.

Race

Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) claimed his maiden victory with a stunning win at the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini. After dropping down to 17th as a result of a double Long Lap penalty, he managed to carve through the field to take Honda’s first win of the season ahead of Daniel Holgado and Ivan Ortola.

Pole-sitter David Alonso had a strong launch off of the line initially to maintain the lead before being passed by Piqueras at Turn 2. The latter had great early pace and began to extend his lead from Ortola, as Alonso dropped further down the order before ending up in fourth during Lap 1.

However, a skirmish on Lap 1 between Jose Antonio Rueda, David Munoz (BOE Motorsports) and Riccardo Rossi (CIP Green Power), saw all riders out of the race after an incident at Turn 2.

Piqueras served his first Long Lap penalty on Lap 3, with his second being served on the consecutive lap, dropping him down to 17th in the standings. Further Long Lap penalties were awarded to Luca Lunetta and Adrian Fernandez after stewards deemed both riders to have had a jump start at the beginning of the race.

Ortola seized control at the front of the grid, with a breakaway group forming as a result of Taiyo Furusato overtaking Alonso. Despite passing the Spaniard, Furusato was not safe in his position by any means, with the #80 edging closer each lap, and whilst their respective battle hadn’t concluded, the pair had successfully caught the now five-rider lead group.

After serving his double penalty, Piqueras was now on the charge, making quick work of overtaking riders, before beginning to battle with Collin Veijer at the halfway mark of the race. The former had also set the fastest lap of the race whilst progressing through the field, as the pair began to edge closer and begin to pose a threat to the lead group.

Furusato continued to make moves at the front, as he passed Holgado on Lap 14, before stealing the lead of the race at the start of Lap 15. With a breathtaking battle at the head of the race, Alonso made a move to take the lead on Lap 17, set on counting down the final four laps to the chequered flag.

Into the closing stages of the Grand Prix, Piqueras had now made his way into the top five, before stealing a podium place on Lap 19. After briefly making contact with the rear wheel of Alonso, the former stole the lead on the final lap.  A breathtaking move in the final corners of the race that caught the other riders seemingly sleeping, allowed Piqueras to complete an incredible comeback and secure his maiden visit to the top step of the podium.

Furusato missed out on a place on the podium after finishing in fourth, ahead of Veijer – the Dutch rider rounding out the top-five after displaying an impressive late-race pace. Kelso took sixth place with Alonso being demoted to seventh place after being deemed to have exceeded track limits on the final lap. Tatsuki Suzuki, Luca Lunetta and Filippo Farioli claimed the final top-ten places after taking the chequered flag in eighth, ninth and tenth place respectively.