The junior riders of Moto3 are set to bring the action to Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. This is round seven of the championship, as we have weather conditions of 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit), air temp, and a track temperature at 36 degrees Celsius (96 degrees Fahrenheit). There was some overnight rain. Sadly, we started the weekend off, of course, with the death of Luis Salom, a former runner-up in Moto3, who was killed in a crash on the Friday before the racing action, in practice. May he Rest In Peace. On this slightly different configuration of the track, Brad Binder, has pole. He's won three races in a row. Brad Binder, starts from pole. Binder and Salom were team mates in Moto3 in 2012.
This is Brad Binder's second career Grand Prix pole position. It is his fourth front row start. He has 49 points in a cushion, over Jorge Navarro. Brad Binder could be the first rider in Moto3 history to win four straight races, and the first non-European rider to win four straight in the junior category since 2001 when Youichi Ui of Japan, did so in the 125cc class.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youichi_Ui
Jorge Navarro is also looking for his first win. Khairul Idham Pawi is also looking strong. He was a surprise race winner earlier this year at Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo in Argentina, back in April. He was on for a good result last time out in Italy at Mugello, but crashed towards the end of the race. Enea Bastianini could only manage fifth on the grid. He is working his way back from a wrist injury, and has finished runner-up here in Moto3, the last two years. Bastianini is looking for his second career win. His first came last September at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Italy. That was also the last time a Moto3 rider won a race from the front row of the grid.
Khairul Idham Pawi starts sixth. One of three rookie riders to keep an eye on along with Niccolo Bulega and Aron Canet. Francesco "Pecco" Bagnaia is seventh, on the inside of row three. Bagnaia crashed in the morning warmup at turn ten. We see on every bike in every division, some form of tribute to Luis Salom, in today's races. Frenchman Jules Danilo is eighth on the grid. Aron Canet is ninth. Romano Fenati completes the top ten. Fenati had pole in Italy at Mugello, but dropped back due to a broken chain on the motorcycle.
Eleventh will be Hiroki Ono. He has had good form this season. Ono's two points scoring finishes were two sixth place efforts in Argentina, and in Italy, at Mugello, last time out. Fabio Quartararo is starting 12th and has struggled this weekend. It's been almost a year since Quartararo has had a podium. Bo Bendsneyder, the Dutchman, who was champion in Red Bull Rookies Cup competition last year, rolls off 13th. In the garage, sits another Red Bull Ajo KTM, with the #39 on it, in tribute to Luis Salom. Salom rode with Ajo Motorsports. Salom still holds the record for most wins in the Moto3 class.
Fourteenth on the grid is Andrea Migno. He made his Grand Prix debut here at Catalunya in 2013. Migno has recently had back to back top ten finishes in France and Italy. Jorge Navarro starts third, Niccolo Antonlli, second, and the man to catch today, will be Brad Binder. The 35 bike field sets off on it's warm up lap. This is unknown territory for the motorcycle riders as far as race dynamics. Look out for Pecco Bagnaia as he's on a softer option front tire while everyone else is using medium front and medium rear tires. This track is very bumpy. So, that is playing a factor into the tire situation as well.
This has been the most trouble free weekend for Niccolo Antonelli in some time. If anyone wants to stop Brad Binder they will have to do so early in this race, because if he breaks away from the rest of the pack, he'll just cruise. No rider has won four consecutive races in the lightweight championship since 2010 when Marc Marquez did so on a 125cc motorcycle. 22 laps for Moto3 about to get underway at Catalunya! Away we go! Brad Binder and Pecco Bagnaia get good starts as we head for turn one. Enea Bastianini also gets a flyer of a start.
Niccolo Bulega has dropped to tenth spot off the starting line. Brad Binder and Pecco Bagnaia were the two to get fabulous launches. Jorge Navarro is already trying to claw his way back through the field. John McPhee on the Peugeot Mahindra is off the road. Bo Bendsneyder runs a bit wide into turn nine. Alexis Masbou was involved in that incident as well. It was a clean start for everyone and nobody jumped the start of the race. Enea Bastianini passes Brad Binder for the race lead. Now, Khairul Idham Pawi tries going for the lead and Jorge Navarro is also right there. Pawi takes the lead as Navarro tries for second but gets chopped by Bastianini.
Adam Norrodin has had another first lap spill. He's back on the bike now, but it's been a disastrous season for the young Malaysian rider. Hiroki Ono makes a move on Aron Canet for seventh. Francesco Bagnaia (a.k.a. "Pecco") is now ahead of Niccolo Antonelli. Local yellow flags appear. No overtaking through this upcoming corner. Brad Binder is trying hard, in fourth. Will he go for the win? Will he settle for points and a consistent finish? Niccolo Bulega sets fastest lap of the race so far at 1:55 flat. 1:55.051. Khairul Idham Pawi is back to fourth, fending off Aron Canet's challenge.
Enea Bastianini is the race leader at present. Jorge Navarro now takes the lead away from Bastianini. Gabriel Rodrigo of Argentina, is putting in a brilliant ride, right behind Aron Canet, as well. Rodrigo is moving up after starting 19th. Brad Binder looks inside Bastianini. Pawi runs wide into the turn, and Rodrigo moves to third place! The Argentinian is having a fabulous race to this point. Jorge Navarro has now taken the lead back with Brad Binder in second, having gotten around Rodrigo. Game over for Maria Herrera. She has crashed out. Rodrigo wants the lead, but Binder is the king of the late brakers and holds off Rodrigo and Navarro!
Maria Herrera is trying to rejoin the race. But, folks, there's a big crash! It looks like two bikes have gone down, and those two happen to be Jules Danilo and Hiroki Ono. Ono high sided the motorcycle and unfortunately, Jules Danilo got caught off guard and just followed him into that mess. Gabriel Rodrigo meanwhile, resets fast lap of the race at 1:54.569. Rodrigo is the first rider into the 1:54 bracket. Rodrigo makes a brilliant inside pass on both Brad Binder and Jorge Navarro. Aron Canet is moving up, as Rodrigo struggles getting on the power and Brad Binder is going to pounce for the race lead!
Gabriel Rodrigo has made a charge from 19th on the grid. Aron Canet is trying to slipstream to the lead and Enea Bastianini is also pushing hard. Binder led across the start/finish line, but now is fifth. Jorge Martin in 16th place, is less than three seconds away from the leaders. Stefano Valtulini has crashed out, and we await the arrival of Alexis Masbou in his pit box as well, presumably, done for the day. Khairul Idham Pawi and Niccolo Bulega, the two rookies, are working their way back up through the field. Romano Fenati is also coming to the front of this pack. Could he get into contention?
We watch in replay. Valtulini loses control and lays down the bike. Alexis Masbou is an innocent bystander and has no choice but to ditch his bike right along with the Italian. Tandem falling here, in Spain. Ouch! The two Estrella Galicia Honda's lead this race. Jorge Navarro ahead of Aron Canet. Gabriel Rodrigo is third. Brad Binder runs fourth. Romano Fenati, though, is matching his bike number and is up to fifth place. Jorge Navarro has had great race pace all weekend. He could stretch out a gap, if he gets in front. Enea Bastianini is trying to get on terms with Brad Binder, and Gabriel Rodrigo is making another power move. Rodrigo passes Aron Canet.
What this is, is good news, for Jorge Navarro as he keeps his lead. The top six is trying to edge away from Niccolo Bulega and Khairul Idham Pawi. This is a crucial lap for Jorge Navarro as he lowers fast lap to 1:54.240. Will we see one rider whistle off into the distance? Or, will we see a whole bunch of riders, in a scrum for the win? Brad Binder is being pressured by Romano Fenati. Jakub Kornfeil has now moved into contention, running ahead of Andrea Migno. Oh my. More riders have fallen down. Darryn Binder, Brad Binder's younger brother, is still in this race. But have we lost Pecco Bagnaia? Did he wreck?
Ah. We have. Francesco Bagnaia and Juanfran Guevara have both tumbled. Adam Norrodin also retires his motorcycle. Bagnaia and Binder got way too close for comfort and both fall as their bikes spin like tops. Guevara lost the front end and wiped out Bagnaia in one fell swoop. New fast lap. Gabriel Rodrigo sets a 1:54.148. This is practically Rodrigo's second home race. He is from Argentina, where we've raced in MotoGP already. But, he lives in Barcelona. With Brad Binder in fourth spot now, his points lead would be cut by a dozen, from 49 to 37.
Pawi and Bulega are having a fair old ding dong right now as Andrea Migno runs wide at turn ten. Turn ten, has been calamity corner in this race so far. Migno did fall, hitting the deck. Jorge Navarro is back to the lead and has a half second cushion. Aron Canet moves to second, and now, Romano Fenati is up to challenge Brad Binder. Enea Bastianini is hanging in there and has put in his personal best lap of the race at a 1:54.589. With 15 laps to go, Navarro has a wing man in Aron Canet. Every time Gabriel Rodrigo goes to second, Canet takes time out of his gap. Navarro makes a huge booboo and runs wide under braking.
Navarro slides from the lead, back to fifth. Aron Canet has taken the lead of this motorcycle race. Romano Fenati has now reset fast lap at 1:54.145. Fenati takes the lead away from Rodrigo as well, down the front straightaway. Brad Binder tries to lunge past Gabriel Rodrigo, but it doesn't work. Aron Canet tries making a move on team mate Jorge Navarro. He can't do it. Khairul Idham Pawi and Niccolo Bulega, have been working together, and thus, they are into contention. In the meantime, Brad Binder slipstreams back into the lead.
Pawi runs Canet out wide. Pawi is now up to fifth place. Romano Fenati is now going after Gabriel Rodrigo. Navarro passes Romano Fenati on the inside. Romano Fenati, has pounced, and he's going by Jorge Navarro, and attempting to pass Gabriel Rodrigo! Khairul Idham Pawi's Achilles heel as a racer is, (though he has won), he will go for gaps that are not there. Brad Binder, on the straight, sees his lead disappear as both Rodrigo and Navarro get by. Rodrigo retakes the lead. Aron Canet has lost places. This lead group has the top eight riders. The only two who have set 1:54 lap times are Pawi and Bulega.
Navarro charges on Rodrigo. Navarro now leads, and Brad Binder is back up to second. Niccolo Antonelli, we've hardly called his number all day. He's down in ninth, but is just riding a lonely race right now. Brad Binder has passed Jorge Navarro for the lead. Navarro tries Binder, but isn't close enough. Gabriel Rodrigo gets around Enea Bastianini for third. Navarro wants by Binder, but thinks better of diving down the inside. Darryn Binder now runs 15th and if he stays there, it will be his first point in the World Championship. Jorge Martin has been forced to give up a place, perhaps for passing under a yellow flag. Has he exceeded track limits?
If you can lead out of turn 15, you will win this Moto3 race. Ten laps to go. Binder was leading and has now dropped back. Romano Fenati comes through, and Enea Bastianini is now up to third! Binder is fifth. Joan Mir has passed Darryn Binder and has put in the first 1:53 lap of this race. 1:53.993 for Mir. That's almost two seconds quicker than Navarro in the lead pack. Brad Binder thought about a move inside Enea Bastianini. But, it didn't work. Jorge Navarro passes Bastianini for third. Navarro looks inside Rodrigo and goes for the pass. Navarro runs it in too hot and Rodrigo passes back.
Brad Binder has been pushed back to sixth place. Fenati leads Rodrigo, and, it looks like Niccolo Antonelli could actually be coming back into contention, somehow. Joan Mir is forced to swap one position, and perhaps drop in behind Jorge Martin. Bastianini tries Rodrigo, but Gabriel Rodrigo isn't giving in. Antonelli is taking a tenth out of everyone else in every single sector. Antonelli still runs in ninth place. Spanish wildcard Albert Arenas has crashed out on bike #12. Enea Bastianini has passed Gabriel Rodrigo for second. Romano Fenati has also made a pass on Rodrigo. Navarro leads Bastianini by 3/10ths of a second. Will Navarro pull the pin and set sail?
Niccolo Bulega wants to make a move on Brad Binder. Oh deary me! Niccolo Antonelli has gone down, again! He was trying to play catch up and it bit him. Jorge Navarro meanwhile, has run his personal best lap of the race at 1:54.2. Antonelli's hopes for contending for the Moto3 World Championship are now fading. As the front end washed away, Antonelli was jolly lucky he was on his own and didn't have a group of riders to take out along with him, in a chain reaction incident. Bulega, Pawi, and Canet, are all fading away from the top five. As of now, Brad Binder would lead the championship by 35 points over Jorge Navarro.
Six laps left in Moto3 at Catalunya as Brad Binder tries to slipstream by Gabriel Rodrigo. Enea Bastianini has now taken the lead. Jakub Kornfeil is being penalized for overcooking a chicane. Kornfeil may need to yield a place to Fabio Di Giantonio, as Jorge Martin has now crashed out. Martin high sides his bike out of turn two. The Aspar Moto3 team has had three wrecks today. Jorge Navarro wants his first ever Moto3 win. Enea Bastianini is in a dry spell and has not won since Misano last year. Alexis Masbou is OK after his earlier wreck.
Brad Binder will have Gabriel Rodrigo in his face, soon. Rodrigo puts the move on him. Pawi is fading, in trying to hang onto Aaron Canet. Enea Bastianini has had a hard time getting the front end of his bike to work all year. But, he's keeping Jorge Navarro honest right now. Navarro has to finish ahead of Brad Binder, more for his confidence than anything. Binder has been biding his time. Will he make a move for the front in the last laps? Enea Bastianini has been pushed to third and Romano Fenati now takes over the lead.
Bastianini wants to get a double slipstream. Bastianini goes into the lead down the front straightaway. But, Brad Binder is steaming along and he's right there! The points leader is now second. Gabriel Rodrigo picks off both Jorge Navarro, and Romano Fenati! Navarro immediately claws his way back ahead of Fenati. Andrea Locatelli falls and rejoins the race. A piece of debris, meanwhile, has fallen off Gabriel Rodrigo's motorcycle. Four laps to go, with Bastianini still in P1. Binder runs off the road and gets back on! How did he save that one?!
Gabriel Rodrigo has to give up a few places. Brad Binder has now fallen to eight spot. Rodrigo hit the rear of Binder's motorcycle, snapping him sideways. He was blessed that he didn't fall down! Navarro leads. Two laps to go. If Binder charges back for a win, you might as well give him the championship and call it the comeback of the century! Aron Canet is up to third and Jorge Navarro leads. But, Khairul Idham Pawi is down! Pawi tucks the front, and it's game over! Two laps left and Navarro leads by 3/10ths of a second. Binder passes Bulega and is now sixth.
Now, Gabriel Rodrigo has crashed. Rodrigo is absolutely furious! Did he have a brake problem? Rodrigo folds the front into turn one. Binder is now fifth, 6/10ths of a second behind the leader. Jorge Navarro can win if Romano Fenati and Enea Bastianini find themselves in a dust up for position. Fenati passes Bastianini, and this opens the door for Jorge Navarro to take win number one in Moto3. We are on the final lap here at Barcelona, in Moto3. Binder is quickest on track at 1:54.301. The gap from Navarro to Binder is 1.1 seconds and Binder has picked off Canet.
Fenati goes inside Bastianini. Canet is going after Binder now. Oh! Brad Binder takes both the Italians in one pass! He only now has to catch Jorge Navarro and a fourth consecutive Moto3 win, will be his. Fenati is going to fight Binder through turn ten. The gap between Navarro and Binder is now just over 6/10ths of a second. Binder has to defend second as Romano Fenati looks inside to make a move. Fenati nearly folds the front, and Binder slams the door in his face! Navarro needs a win, desperately. Will he get it? Will Binder have the last word as we get close to the finish line?
Jorge Navarro is the winner, of his first ever Moto3 Grand Prix! Brad Binder comes second, after an amazing last lap! Enea Bastianini finishes third. Darryn Bindern will score a boatload of points in 12th. Would it have been different if Binder hadn't tangled with Gabriel Rodrigo? A flag is flown in memory of Luis Salom. Jorge Navarro has had 36 races before taking his first Grand Prix win. Karel Hanika crashes out on the final lap.
#9 Jorge Navarro ESP. Honda
Next up for Moto3 is the "Cathedral of Speed" for the Dutch TT at Assen, in Holland. That race, has happened. But, look for an update, on 2 Wheelin', very soon.
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