Austin Moto3: Experienced Masia gets season back on track with win

Being last out on track at a still blustery Circuit of the Americas did nothing to dent the enthusiasm of the Moto3 class who one again provided a spectacle from lights out to the chequered flag, with Jaume Masia rising to the top to win the Americas Grand Prix, round four of the championship.

The lead changed hands repeatedly in the breakaway group of seven riders, with all of them still in contention for the win come the final lap.

The youthful exuberance of the rookies peppered the race with action but by the final lap it was the experienced trio of Masia, Andrea Migno and Dennis Foggia out in front.

The Rivacold Snipers rider lead at the start of the final lap, but neither Masia or Foggia had given up, with the Spaniard taking control out front at the start of the final sector, pulling in tight and though on Migno who put in one final lunge for the win, with the Leopard man taking his chance to move through into second.

Holding position to the line, the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider marks his first podium of the season with a win, his first since the opening round of last season.

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The result was all the more impressive given Masia's poor start which saw him dip as low as fifteenth before fighting his way into the lead group.

Foggia charging through to second, just 0.175s behind the winner on the Honda sees him take over at the top of the championship standings after Sergio Garcia failed to add to his points tally in Austin.

A tough day for the Aspar Team

Garcia, who had a COTA to forget last season thanks to an accident which left him with bruised kidneys - effectively ending his 2021 title hopes, dropped out of the championship lead after failing to recover from his 15th placed grid start. Matters only worsened when, while fighting to bridge a gap appearing in the lead group, his lunge from miles back brought him up to rookie Daniel Holgado, who clipped him and took him out of the race. Holgado fell separately shortly after.

An difficult Austin was completed for the Gaviota GasGas Aspar Team, when last season's winner - honoured by his special helmet featuring a rule book, Izan Guevara, looked to improve from his tenth place grid start, but ended up with a double long lap penalty for a jump start. He rallied to lead the chasing group in seventh.

Back at the front of the race Migno, who started from pole, found himself third at the chequered flag as the battle for victory unfolded.

Ayumu Sasaki wasn’t shy of a tough move and made his last lunge count holding onto a hotly contested fourth place for Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max Racing.

Dennis Oncu had a wild moment earlier in the race which saw him weave out in front of Diogo Moreira to hold position, an unnecessary move which echoed the one he recieved his two race ban for last season, though less severe. 

Moment of madness aside, the Turkish rider then put together a string of smart passes to claim fifth for Red Bull KTM Tech3.

Xavier Artigas lead for a spell early in the race for CFMoto Racing PruestelGP on his way to sixth, equalling his best result of the season so far.

Carlos Tatay spent much of his race in the battle for the final points before cutting through the pack late on to move into eighth behind his team-mate.

Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse) went with him for ninth, with Leopard rider Tatsuki Suzuki not far behind at the line to complete the top ten.

Ivan Ortola was the best of the rookies in eleventh for Angeluss MTA Team after a solid ride.

What happened to Diogo Moreira?

Moreira had looked to be set to be the highest placing rookie in the race. Surviving the initial contact with Oncu, the teenager went on to take over at the front of the race for several laps before falling back into the lead group after running wide at the apex.

Staying sensibly in the group, the KTM rider still looked able to secure a best finish and remained in the battle for the win before falling at the final turn just before the start of the final lap.

Twelfth went to VisionTrack rider Scott Ogden, who had the pace of the leaders but couldn’t bridge the gap. It marks the British rider’s best result so far in his rookie season after getting hit and pushed wide on he first lap of the race. His team-mate Joshua Whatley qualified 26th- his best grid placing but retired to the pits.

The remaining points on offer went to Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team) in 13th, Adrian Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Tech3) in 14th and Lorenzo Fellon in 15th for SIC58 Squadra Corse.

 John McPhee remained absent as he continues his recovery from injury. Replacement rider David Salvador was 22nd.

Elia Bartolini was handed a back of the grid start and a log lap penalty for riding slowly on the racing line earlier in the weekend, effectively ending his hopes of continuing his good run of form for QJ Motor Avintia Racing. He later crashed out of the race.

Matteo Bertelle and Kaito Toba aslo failed to make it to race distance.

Alberto Surra missed the race after fracturing his scaphoid bone in a huge FP3 crash, well enough to be back at the circuit to support the team he has his arm in a brace to begin his recovery for the next round.

Moto3 return to track on the weekend of the 22-24 April for the Algarve Grand Prix in Portugal.