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Alonso Continues Dominance in Moto3; Canet Triumphs in Moto2 Finale
The latest round of motorcycle racing brought thrilling results as David Alonso maintained his stronghold in Moto3 by clinching another victory, while Aron Canet triumphed in a tightly contested Moto2 showdown.
David Alonso’s Record-Setting Victory in Moto3
The action commenced with an 18-lap Moto3 race, wherein David Alonso capped off his incredible season by securing a remarkable 14th victory, a record for any class in the world championship. The CFMoto Aspar rider, starting from pole position, initially found himself unable to break free from the pack. By lap three, the slipstreaming effect on Barcelona’s main straight allowed competitors like Daniel Holgado, Ivan Ortola, and Adrian Fernandez to overtake him, pushing him down to fourth place.
A fierce battle ensued as Holgado and Fernandez exchanged leads throughout the race. Although Alonso dropped to eighth by lap six, he steadily climbed back into contention, reclaiming second place from Holgado on lap 11. By lap 14, he regained the front position by overtaking Fernandez on Turn 1.
It wasn’t a straightforward path, as slipstream battles saw him nearly drop back once more, especially when Ortola forced him wide at Turn 4. Nonetheless, Alonso showcased resilience and reclaimed third place, subsequently seizing second from Holgado and quickly taking advantage of Fernandez’s mistake to retake the lead.
On the final lap, Alonso maintained his lead and ultimately crossed the finish line, making history as the first rider to win 14 races in a single season. Holgado finished close behind in second place, securing his position as the runner-up in the championship standings, while Fernandez was relegated from third to 11th due to a penalty incurred for shortcutting Turn 1.
Moto3 Final Standings
1. D. Alonso, CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team
2. D. Holgado, Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 (0.147 seconds behind)
3. Á. Piqueras, Leopard Racing (1.063 seconds behind)
4. J. Antonio, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (0.142 seconds behind)
5. R. Yamanaka, MT Helmets – MSI (0.333 seconds behind)
6. D. Munoz, BOE Motorsports (154.8 seconds)
Canet’s Nail-Biting Victory in Moto2
Meanwhile, in the Moto2 category, Aron Canet snagged his fourth win of the season, holding off a last-minute challenge from Manuel Gonzalez. The race began with a rocky start for Canet, who, after a poor launch from pole, found himself in 10th place as Gonzalez seized the lead into Turn 1.
Canet quickly rebounded, climbing back to third by lap three, aided by crashes that befell his competitors. After successfully maneuvering past the remaining contenders, Canet regained the lead with a remarkable overtake on Gonzalez in the final corner. At the race’s midpoint, he had built a solid lead, but with his pace dropping in the closing stages, Gonzalez was soon within striking distance.
As they entered the final lap, the gap distilled to just a quarter of a second, but Canet adeptly managed his defense, crossing the finish line with a narrow 0.091-second victory margin. Diogo Moreira secured third place after a spirited battle with Ai Ogura, clinching the podium position with a last-corner dive.
Moto2 Final Standings
1. A. Canet, Fantic Racing
2. M. Gonzalez (0.091 seconds behind)
3. D. Moreira (1.043 seconds behind)
4. F. Aldeguer, SpeedUp Racing (10th position after serving a long-lap penalty)
5. Filip Salac, Marc VDS (5th position)
6. Sergio Garcia, team-mate of Ogura (best result since August)
The thrilling finishes in both Moto3 and Moto2 highlight the depth of competition and the relentless pursuit of excellence within the sport, promising an exciting future as riders gear up for the next challenges ahead.
Source
www.motorsport.com