Here are the highlights of the Moto 3 race from Motorland Aragon in Aragon, Spain.
This is round thirteen of the championship. Motorland Aragon is in the middle of nowhere. But, the fans will still come out to see the races. Who did the right stuff in qualifying and the warmup? That's the question, and what may influence the outcome of the race. Jonas Folger has pole position. It's his first pole, and he's looking for his third win of the year. The bikes set off on their warmup lap. Maverick Vinales might have a problem with his bike.
The wind was mild but has picked up. Maverick Vinales has real issues even before the start. He's got an engine or transmission issue. This could very well cost him the championship title. Vinales drops the bike, and is out of this race even before the green light! Wow. Nonetheless, we're ready for the start. At the start, Sandro Cortese gets a good start, as does Jonas Folger from pole. This is a 20 lap race. Efren Vazquez is third. Romano Fenati and Danny Kent have also gotten away from the grid well. Cortese will be told some info on his pit board about Vinales' retirement. The bikes go downhill on the back straight. The engines are really wound up, and the gearing was changed for optimum performance.
Luis Salom is not registered on the timing screen. He most have a broken transponder. Jasper Iwema crashes, sliding his way out of the race. Ah, Luis Salom's name is on the screens, but no at the timing splits. Sandro Cortese passes Vazquez. Danny Kent is passed by three bikes. He's struggling on a full fuel load. Zulfahmmi Khairuddin and Luis Salom battle. Salom has had two big crashes during this race meeting. Romano Fenati sets fastest lap. Not sure of the time. Sandro Cortese started having successes after the 2011 Aragon round of the series, that's continued for a full year of finishing in the top six.
Arthur Sissis runs 12th. Khairuddin passes two bikes for the lead, passing Salom and Folger. Folger wants to pass Khairuddin but still can't do it. Salom has dropped to sixth. There are a bunch of riders who are in contention with four laps complete. Arthur Sissis passes Danny Kent. Jack Miller, John McPhee, and Danny Webb are down the order, in the 20s someplace. Zulfahmi Khairuddin is being challenged. Sandro Cortese is seesawing with Vazquez. Alex Rins is up to third spot. Rins pressures Cortese. Vazquez does, too.
Sandro Cortese has the horsepower in his KTM. He's signaling to Khairuddin, to fall in behind. Jakub Kornfeil is running farther down the field. Cortese is pulling out a gap over Khairuddin. He wants to separate himself from the big pack. Louis Rossi is up to seventh spot. Twelves laps to go now. Jonas Folger is running with Romano Fenati, behind him. But, he's not on pace with the leaders (Folger, that is). It's still Cortese and Khairuddin, 1-2. Louis Rossi passes Miguel Oliveira. Uh oh. Romano Fenati pits. He's got some kind of issue.
He may get back out. Uh, nope. He's out of this race. So, Alex Rins is now third. Fenati's bike has an oil leak. Sandro Cortese is checking out. Ten laps remain. The bikes run through the Aragon Corkscrew another time. Alex Rins might have a shot. He's flying, going passed Zulfahmmi Khairuddin who is forced to sit up. Cortese continues to lead. Alex Rins still wants by Vazquez. Vazquez's team manager is Pablo Nieto, a former racer I am sure.
Arthur Sissis, John McPhee, Jack Miller, and Danny Webb, all run down the order. Vazquez passes Sandro Cortese for the race lead. Cortese doesn't react. He just falls in line. Danny Kent is up to sixht, past Luis Salom. But, Cortese retakes the lead. Khairuddin is still involved in the battle, but is down to ninth. Jonas Folger is back down to eighth. Efren Vazquez is forced wide by Danny Kent. Miguel Oliviera goes to fifth. Louis Rossi passes Alex Rins, and then, Rins passes through, too. Just six laps to go. Cortese is really fast on the straight. Can he get through?
No. He's still behind Rins. Danny Kent goes through on everyone on the inside, but Cortese gets back to the lead. Wow! This is a real race! Danny Kent takes the lead! The fastest lap of the race is a 2:01.3. set by Danny Kent. So, he's determined to get something out of this race. Vazquez is up here, too. Ditto for Arthur Sissis. He's coming fast, too. But, he runs wide through turn one, going behind Zulfahmmi Khairuddin. Khairuddin ditches his bike! He's out of this race. No points. It's his third retirement of 2012. Vazquez will pressure Kent. But Cortese is going to fly. Khairuddin wants to restart his KTM, but can't do it.
Vazquez takes the lead. He brakes very late, and that's a strong suit for him. It's still Cortese leading. Alessandro Tonucci is up to eleventh and Jakub Kornfeil also runs well. Jack Miller and Brad Binder battle each other. Vazquez wants his first Moto 3 win. Vazquez has done well in the old 125cc class. Three laps remain now as Cortese passes Danny Lent. Kent loses spots to Vazquez, trying to retake them. Vazquez passes Cortese. Adrian Martin (Vazquez's team mate), crashes out of the race.
Danny Kent, Luis Salom, and others are in contention. Sandro Cortese passes Jonas Folger. Danny Kent is ahead with two laps to go. Luis Salom actually comes through on Kent and Cortese. This is getting wild just before the finish. Who will win? Cortese passes Kent. Folger passes Vazquez on the outside. Can Salom win another race? He won at Indianapolis in late August. Folger runs deep into the corkscrew. The bikes fly down the back straight. Can Kent pass Vazquez? No. Salom runs wide. Who will do it? One lap remains.
Cortese might give it one more shot. He does pass. Salom comes back at Cortese, and does make the pass. Danny Kent comes by Vazquez. Five riders can win this. Who will it be? Jonas Folger tries the inside. Cortese is third. Kent falls behind. Luis Salom wants to get the win. Cortese might have a chance. He needs to go out from behind Folger. He does. Salom will win this race!
#39 Luis Salom ESP Kalex KTM
The next Moto 3 race will be the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi in ten days. Four rounds remain in the season.
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