Moto 3: Qatar (4/8/12)

Moto 3:

Sandro Cortesi has pole for the race.  At the start, there was a slight delay.  But everyone got away cleanly.  Romano Fenati led the race.  It's his Grand Prix debut.  Frenchman Louis Rossi was moving up.  But in second is Australian Arthur Sissis.  Leading now is Romano Fenati.  There's tussling in the back half of the top ten.  Danny Kent and Brad Binder are moving up.  Fenati has fastest lap so far at 2:08.2.  These are young kids (teenage riders) riding these bikes.  Danny Kent has been passing other bikes, moving up to 9th place. 

Brad Binder had to avoid a falling Alessandro Tonucci.  Eighteen laps is the scheduled race distance.  Miguel Oliveira of Portugal is also moving up.  Louis Rossi is also running well, right behind Sandro Cortese.  Cortese can come to the fore in the latter part of the race.  Meanwhile, Maverick Vinales is battling into the lead.  Still a ways to go in the race.  The bikes battle in groups of two or three.  Alex Rins and Danny Kent follow each other while Brad Binder is out of the race.  Another bike retires.  Meanwhile, Louis Rossi is being caught up.  Jack Miller is in the pits, but rejoins the event.

There's been a battle going for the lead between Spaniard Isaac Vinales and Romano Fenati.  Miguel Olivera and Luis Salom have caught up to the top of the pack.  A lot of these riders are riding their bikes like veterans even though they are rookies.  They seem to be in the zone.  Fenati is back in the lead now.  Vignales will need to catch him.  Eight laps left to run in the Moto 3 feature.  Danny Kent is moving up.  His lap times are dropping, but he still wants to be at the sharp end. 

Cortesi is ahead of Olivera at the back end of the top five.  Miguel Oliveira then passes Sandro Cortesi.  Former rider Roberto Locatelli is now a Moto 3 team manager.  Vinales took the lead back from Cortesi.  Sandro Cortesi, Miguel Oliviera and others are battling for the final podium spot.  Miguel Oliviera had trouble.  He's still running, but not in contention.  Cortesi is followed by Arthur Sissis.  Sissis lost another spot to Zhulfami Khairuddin. 

Maverick Vinales of Spain on the #25 FTR Honda won the race.