In Qatar, the sun has set. Out comes the moon. This was, the first race of the evening on Sunday, but it will be the last, in order, in the coverage of the MotoGP Qatar weekend on 2 Wheelin'.
This is the first race, of three, within a four week period. We have 18 laps ahead of us, with 33 riders. Only five race winners in Moto3 have won. Will we make it six? There are four or five potential winners in all three classes. Just amazing. We've seen that in MotoGP and Moto2. Will it be Romano Fenati, who is in contention? The Italian, is going for his sixth career win, and his first, since the Japan race last year, at the Motegi circuit. Belgian Livio Loi, looked to be on pole. But, indeed, it was Romano Fenati. This is his 71st world championship start. So, his number of poles equals the number on his motorcycle.
Livio Loi will take the fight to Fenati, for sure, and so will Brad Binder. Binder was put back three spots along with his team mate at Red Bull KTM Ajo. That is newcomer, Bo Bendsneyder from Holland. Niccolo Antonelli was quickest in warmup. He has damage to his collarbone, after a pre-season skiing accident. He has had a bad cold. Antonelli is positive. Joan Mir, is a Moto3 rookie, who ran in Australia last year, stepping in for Japan's Hiroki Ono, who was injured. Mir was in it for pole, but crashed into team mate, Andrea Locatelli, from Italy. Joan Mir made a few too many mistakes. Again, Bo Bendsneyder will be one to watch.
Five minutes, until we start this race. Ten rookies on the grid for Moto3 in 2016. Enea Bastianinni had some trouble in qualifying. He finished second in this event, last year. Niccolo Bulega is a rookie who is a protege of Valentino Rossi. Jorge Martin lines up 13th for Aspar Team. Fabio Quartararo is third, Livio Loi, second, and on pole, Romano Fenati. Let's race. How will last year's winner of this race, Alexis Masbou, of France, fare? He is down the order on the grid. The bikes are on their warmup lap. None of the riders really wanted to be a part of the warmup. They won't learn anything in warmup, by going out on the speedway.
Conditions are perfect, and similar to practice. Dunlop has all riders choosing medium front and medium rear tires, for the compound. They call Enea Bastianini, "the beast", and for good reason. He is a hard charger. A real scrapper. Look out, too, for team mates Fabio Quartararo, and Frenchman Aron Canet. He is the best debut rider on a qualifying performance, since Scott Redding entered the 125cc class, in 2008. The bikes are settling onto the grid, to start this race. Here we go.
The flag is taken away. The lights are on. When the red lights go out, we are racing, Moto3 style, in Qatar! Go! Romano Fenati has a fabulous start as Quartararo and Loi do well. Romano Fenati has the hole shot. Brad Binder is up to third. Jorge Navarro is fifth. Enea Bastianini is fourth. Livio Loi likes to have clear track. Bastianini passes Fabio Quartararo. Livio Loi likes to have clear track, and not be bunched into a pack of riders. Aron Canet sinks to tenth. Niccolo Antonelli picks up one spot. Antonelli moves to sixth and Francesco Bagnaia has moved up five places.
Livio Loi runs wide, and Romano Fenati, passes him for the lead! Jorge Navarro is now fourth. Francesco Bagnaia is called "Pecco". Jorge Navarro is being slipstreamed by Antonelli. Binder moves to the lead, as Loi runs wide! Livio Loi has dropped to eighth or ninth spot. We work lap three of this motorcycle race. If you take it easy, you'll be eaten alive. Brad Binder leads over Jorge Navarro right now. Loi got caught out by the draft. Fenati is dropped to fourth. Francesco Bagnaia, is going for it. "Pecco" is in the zone.
Fenati chases Bastianini, as Binder and Navarro lead the pack. The KTM and the Honda have more engine power and performance than the Mahindra motorcycle. Brad Binder has led races, but has never won. Jorge Navarro passes Binder for the lead and Romano Fenati has lost a couple spots. Livio Loi was passed by Juanfran Guevara for tenth. Niccolo Antonelli is up to third. His collarbone can't be bothering him. Look out for Nicolo Bulega, too. He's coming for the top ten. Aron Canet is content to race in 13th. Juanfran Guevara is moving up through the field, too. Binder leads from Navarro.
Jakub Kornfeil almost runs off the road. Binder leads lap three. Fenati sweeps outside, back into the lead. Antonelli runs wide and Bagnaia pounces. Antonelli lays down the first fast lap of the race at 2:06.309. Romano Fenati sweeps to the left of Brad Binder to take the lead. Binder, was a sitting duck. Nicolo Bulega is going for it. He ran the CEV Repsol Junior series last year on a Moto3 bike and did very well. Fenati leads over Binder. Both these boys are on KTM bikes. Miguel Oliveira had a very successful season in Moto3 last year, before moving up to Moto2. Danny Kent is watching his Leopard Racing team mates in Moto3.
Francesco Bagnaia is running well, and here comes Jorge Navarro! Bagnaia is up to third. Mahindra has never won a Moto3 race. Will they do it, tonight? Binder leads, with Navarro second. Bulega passes Bastianini. Fabio Quartararo is gapping Francesco Bagnaia. Niccolo Antonelli is trying to draft Jorge Navarro. Antonelli's injuries cost him training time. Six laps into this contest. Fenati shoots around three bikes, on one straightaway, going from fourth, to first! Bagnaia goes inside Brad Binder, and, they touch! Flat out on a Moto3 bike.
Romano Fenati continues to lead. Nico Bulega is coming, and fast. He's 16, and he is a taller rider, along with Bo Bendsneyder. Guevara presses Quartararo. Bulega did not fall in the CEV Repsol Moto3 championship all last year. But, let's hope saying that, doesn't cause the dreaded commentator's curse, ladies and gentlemen. Bulega is crushing it. He's put in a 2:06.3 as his personal best lap. He's dragging Quartararo, Juanfran Guevara, and Livio Loi, with him. Enea Bastianini is ninth and Bagnaia passes Binder. Maria Herrera is trying to get into the points, passing Jorge Martin, aiming for Andrea Locatelli. Binder, Navarro, and Antonelli, is the top three.
The Mahindra motorcycle has a great chassis in the handling department. Twelve laps now remain. How will Romano Fenati do? Brad Binder has a slight issue and recovers. Binder, four wide, holds firm in P1. Francesco Bagnaia moves back to fourth as Niccolo Antonelli nearly gets chopped! Binder runs fastest lap now, at 2:06.454. Fabio Quartararo and Enea Bastianini are getting on pace, but Guevara has just passed Quartararo. Could Bastianini have front end issues? Romano Fenati battles to pass a couple of riders. Livio Loi is seventh, closing up on the top six. How is his race craft?
Bulega is also pushing, for a good position. Ten laps now remain, as Romano Fenati, is flying! So is Livio Loi! 2:06.171 for Loi. Fenati is definitely in P1. Livio Loi is really maturing as a rider. He's coming to the sharp end of this field. He is a second clear of Enea Bastianini, along with a host of other riders in a pack like Bastianini, Quartararo, Guevara, Jakub Kornfeil, Phillip Oettl, Jules Danilo, Joan Mir, and Maria Herrera. Bagnaia, Bulega, and Loi, are revelations. But, Quartararo and Bastianini, are not performing as they should, compared to last season. Romano Fenati, has a taller sixth gear in his bike's transmission. Teams experimented with the taller gears, in the warmup, before the race, during the day.
Binder is trying hard to pass for second. But, Francesco Bagnaia says, "no way, sunshine!" and makes a daring pass for second, himself! Fenati hangs on, and Bulega continues to push as Niccolo Antonelli got freight trained, to sixth spot. One podium for Bagnaia, in the race at Le Mans, last year... the French Grand Prix. Bagnaia has been hot and cold this weekend. But, he's hot right now. Livio Loi is going to join the top six as Binder tries to slipstream past Niccolo Antonelli. He got dragged into the slipstream quicker than he anticipated. Loi is in the pound seats for a victory here, maybe.
Niccolo Antonelli would crash often early in his career. He has gotten over that. Eight laps to go as Antonelli runs wide, and Bagnaia almost crashes! He almost runs into Brad Binder! Nico Bulega is now into the top four. Enea Bastianini is pushing to catch Livio Loi. Bastianini, got a podium place, in a great ride here, last year, in Qatar. Alexis Masbou is having issues with his Peugeot bike, and so is John McPhee, his team mate, at Peugeot. Fenati leads over Binder. Binder will try something, and he passes for the lead. Jorge Navarro tries him. No dice. Bulega is also there, right on Fenati's rear wheel.
Bastianini loses one place. Bulega tries the inside past Navarro. No chance of that. Francesco Bagnaia wants a spot. Antonelli tries to pass Francesco Bagnaia. Six laps left. Brad Binder leads. Navarro runs wide, and Bulega almost wrecks! Romano Fenati has moved back into the lead. Livio Loi and Enea Bastianini will be able to catch this huge lead battle. Bulega finished 12th at Valencia last year, in the finale, as a rookie. But, he's cooking right now. Juanfran Guevara battles Fabio Quartararo for ninth. Romano Fenati has been told, to move up. He had been playing the waiting game. Bagnaia and Antonelli run wide, as Fenati and Navarro almost crash! Brad Binder is in the lead.
Livio Loi chips away another tenth. Bastianini cuts the gap between himself and Livio Loi. Romano Fenati is booking it as fast as possible. Livio Loi wants to be a part of this front pack. Binder continues to lead. Philipp Oettl is ninth. He's fallen away from the big group at the front. Bulega makes a monster move! He goes to first from nowhere! Fenati is going to try catching him, as Binder closes the door on Fenati! Yikes! Binder moves back in front. Fenati is third. Navarro wants Antonelli, but no dice. Three KTM's at the front. Bulega and Fenati, are team mates. But, are they pals? Fenati says yes. Hmmm. Question mark. Fenati is right up behind Bulega now. He's turned in a great performance.
Niccolo Antonelli, want to pass Jorge Navarro and Bagnaia. Loi wants it, but, Bulega does, even more! Bulega inside, and Binder is in the sandwich. Antonelli gets in a little hot. Fenati leads this. Binder says, "hey, Romano. I'm still here!" Binder is loose on the brakes. Fenati leads. Bagnaia tries outside Antonelli. Bulega goes to second! Fenati and Bulega 1-2. Bulega goes to the lead over Fenati! This friendship will be strained. Bastianini is going for it with a 2:06.7. Cue the jaws music. The shark, is hungry, for victory. He wants to take a chomp out of the field. Livio Loi is going to be swallowed up by Bastianini.
Brad Binder, speaking of the shark eating the guppy, swallows Bulega, in one big gulp! Fenati is in the lead! Bulega is sinking, but not quite. He won't go down without a fight. "Pecco" Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini are sizzling, too. Binder leads, as Antonelli passes Bulega. He's learning. The beast from Rimini is coming, fast. Another shark is in the water. Guevara spills his bike, and rejoins. Binder leads from Fenati, and Bagnaia, passes Navarro. Sore collarbone, not withstanding, Antonelli is steaming along.
Leading going on to the final corner, won't help. One lap to go in the first Moto3 race in Qatar. Who wins it? Six or seven riders, have a shot. Fenati runs wide! Game over for Fenati? He loses five spots. He's the sinking ship, that will end up, somewhere, down the order. Game, set, match. Fenati is toast, in this race. Livio Loi also has that sinking feeling. It's the final lap. If he gets the drive off the final corner, Binder, has this motorbike race, in the bag. Navarro is being harried, by Antonelli. Jorge Navarro wants to win his first Moto3 race. Bulega is still in it. Can Fenati get to shore and run for the finish line?
Binder wants it. So does Antonelli. But, Bagnaia, he is going for it, hard! I want the podium!, he says. Livio Loi looks as if he'll have to settle for a top ten, in eighth. Binder, Antonelli, Bagnaia, Navarro, and Bulega, will be the ones to battle for the win. Navarro is there. Bulega is losing his earlier steam. Ditto for Bastianini. Navarro, almost clips the rear wheel of Bagnaia's motorcycle! It is now a four man race. Niccolo Antonelli wants his third victory in Moto3. Brad Binder, is on the cusp of his first ever Moto3 win. Who will do it? Binder rolls the dice. He's leading on the front straight for the final time.
Bulega makes a pass. He's not out of this one yet, blokes. He's trying mightily to go up the order before they get to the line! Antonelli and Bagnaia are steaming up behind Binder! Who will cross the line first? It's Brad Binder! No! It's Antonelli! Oh my gosh! Photo finish! Antonelli, or Binder. Poor old Brad Binder! It's Niccolo Antonelli winning this thing! Yikes! What a race!
#23 Niccolo Antonelli ITA. Honda
Collarbone? What collarbone? We thought he'd be in horrid pain. But, he's done it! He's had the flu, and a fever. He's had pain in his collarbone. He's a wreck. But, he wins! Poor old Brad Binder, was so, so, so close! He has still not won in Moto3. Goodness me! Francesco Bagnaia gets his second podium, with third place. Romano Fenati must also be gutted. Niccolo Antonelli is running for Valentino Rossi, and Rossi's team gets first, and third, in this race.
Fenati should be happy about this. All the potential championship contenders, picked up points in this race. Brad Binder still has to wait for a win. Nico Bulega will get a podium, soon. Today's race, showed that. Honda, KTM, and Mahindra, on the podium. The next race for Moto3, is one where, like always, they join their brethren in Moto2 and MotoGP, will be in Argentina at Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo, in two weeks.
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