It's time for the resumption of the season for MotoGP's junior category. We are ready to rumble in Moto3 for the teenage riders who hope to make the big time and move into a coveted place in MotoGP, on the big bikes, in the not too distant future. The revs are up! We're ready to start! Red lights, on. Red lights, out! Away we go! On the front row, we have Tatsuki Suzuki from Japan on the #24 SIC58 Squadra Corse Honda and Andrea Migno from Italy on the #16 SKY Racing Team VR46 KTM. Migno is another young talent under the tutelage of multiple MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi and his team. We have 22 laps scheduled for the Moto3 race.
Into the first turn for the first time, and we've got two motorcycles down in the gravel trap at the back, already. They will not complete any laps. Zero, zilch, nothing. Carlos Tatay of Spain on the #99 Reale Avintia KTM and the unlucky #7 bike of Italian Dennis Foggia for Leopard (or Leo pard) Racing, are out of this one. Trust me, folks, it's Leopard, not Leo pard. Tatay has an expression like, "what the heck was that all about?" as he walks away. Game over. We watch the race unfold from overhead either via drone or helicopter. More than likely its a drone camera. Back on terra firma, and it's a huge pack snarling away at the front. We're already at halfway! Lap 11 of 22! Tony Arbolino of Italy leads Jeremy Alcoba from Spain. Since there's so many bikes in this one pack, here's the order.
1. #14 Tony Arbolino ITA. Honda
2. #52 Jeremy Alcoba ESP. Honda
3. #75 Albert Arenas ESP. KTM
4. #40 Darryn Binder RSA. KTM
5. #13 Celestino Vietti ITA. KTM
6. #17 John McPhee GBR. Honda
7. #24 Tatsuki Suzuki JPN. Honda
8. #2 Gabriel Rodrigo ARG. Honda
9. #16 Andrea Migno ITA. Honda
10. #25 Raul Fernandez ESP. KTM
There's your top ten as this race gets underway. These younger riders, many in their teenage years, are really competitive as we see the bikes fan out three, sometimes four wide on the straightaways. They can run at least two wide into the corners. Albert Arenas leads this motorcycle races now from Tony Arbolino, who was leading before, and he's putting all kinds of pressure on the Spaniard. Now we fast forward to money time. The chips are all on the table now, with two laps remaining, here, in Spain, in Moto3. Moto3 veteran John McPhee, is leading, after having his Honda down in sixth spot at the completion of lap one.
But he has a whole snarling back of at least half a dozen riders behind him, nipping at his heels. Blink and you'll miss something. The top five are all in this. John McPhee, Tony Arbolino, Albert Arenas, Xavi Vierge, and Darryn Binder. Two laps to go now as we watch Arbolino pass McPhee for the lead! This is intense! Oh dear, and we have a rider down. nIt's a chartreuse green and white bike. Trying to see the number. Oh my! It's Darryn Binder on the #40 bike! Binder is one of the riders you always expect at the front. He tucked the front wheel and went over and out. Well, not over, but tucking the front wheel results in a low side slide and he's in the gravel trap for good.
Game over for Darryn Binder as we reach the final lap and a mano e mano battle for the win. It's going to be down to a fight between John McPhee and Tony Arbolino to settle this one, ladies and gentlemen. Lap 22. Mano e mano fight? Not hardly! The pack is swarming once more. Now, the order has changed? Where's McPhee gone? He's third. He's still on the podium. But now it's the battle of the Italian vs. the Spaniard. It's Arbolino vs. Arenas. It looks like McPhee may not be defeated yet. ...And, we have another fallen rider.
Someone in the middle of the pack gets clipped and loses their balance, tumbling onto the gravel trap. Arenas in the lead and a photo finish for second between #14 Arbolino and #79 Ai Ogura of Japan! Who is it going to be in Moto3 at Jerez? Arenas wins it!
#14 Albert Arenas ESP. Rivacold Snipers Team Honda
Albert Arenas is victorious in his home race! Ogura second, Arbolino third. That's the podium. Andrea Migno and Celestino Vietti round out the top five, the two Italians. Sixth through tenth, the order is Raul Fernandez, Gabriel Rodrigo, Tatsuki Suzuki, Niccolo Antonelli, and Jaume Masia. We get to do all of this again, next weekend, at the same circuit. See you next week for more Moto3 action as all three divisions in MotoGP have officially resumed their seasons in style. So long for now. Can't wait for racing next week!
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