Algarve Moto3: Acosta claims title in style with stunning win as Foggia falls

Pedro Acosta has become the Moto3 world champion for 2021 after a brave and feisty ride to reach the front of the Algarve Grand Prix, round 17 of 18 of the Moto3 championship.

The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider got off to a shaky start from 14th on the grid as he made sure he stayed clear of any first lap lunges.

Acosta showed his confidence and pace after dominating morning warm-up and offering Foggia a little wave as the session ended. Soon back in the lead group thanks to a surging move which saw him climb to sixth, taking out a handful of places in one go with relative ease, the seventeen year old pushed on and was confident and comfortable enough to challenge for the lead spot.

His main title rival Dennis Foggia had done most of the legwork up front, leading the way for much of the race, including the start of the final lap, thanks to his Honda’s speed pulling him back into contention every time he was challenged.

The title story unfolded on that last lap as the Leopard rider saw his hopes end in the gravel. As Acosta passed at turn three, Darryn Binder tried a similar assault from too far back, leaving Foggia heartbroken in the gravel after being hit from behind by the South African.

Acosta pushed on, unaware of the carnage behind, with pole-sitter Sergio Garcia also collected in the accident after working his way back to the front of the race, leading over the line by 0.354s to take his sixth win of the season and the title in style.

The number 37 is the first rookie to take a lightweight title since Loris Capirossi in 1990 in the 125cc class and is just one day older than the Italian as he is crowned champion.

Andrea Migno had survived contact in the crash which saw Jaume Masia exit - he had been unusually putting pressure on his team-mate at the front at the time. The Italian then went on to benefit from the last lap carnage to take second for Rivacold Snipers. It is the top Honda rider’s best result of the season. 

Third went to Niccolo Antonelli, who had moved up slowly through the pack to be in contention and used his experience to steer clear of the last lap carnage for third, hid fourth podium finish with the Avintia VR46 Academy team this season.

Petronas Sprinta Racing’s Binder had crossed the line fourth but was disqualified after living up to his ‘divebomb’ nickname for irresponsible riding after taking out both Foggia and Garcia.

That saw Jeremy Alcoba elevated to fourth for Indonesian Racing Gresini after another rider through the field from the Spaniard.

Izan Guevara completed his long lap penatly for irresponsible riding in FP2 early in the race along with Ayumu Sasaki. That allowed the Aspar rider to stage a comeback and be the top GasGas rider in fifth as the chequered flag waved. Red Bull KTM Tech 3’s Sasaki was right behind at the line in sixth.

Romano Fenati fought back to climb to seventh after a slow start for Sterilgarda Max Racing Team. He was clear of Leopard’s rookie Xavier Artigas, who tried hard to keep Acosta at bay for Foggia before fading to eighth, picking up a few postitons again late in the race.

Tatsuki Suzuki finished ninth for SIC58 Squadra Corse, while Filip Salac picked up the pace to complete the top ten for CarXpert PreustelGP.

Adrian Fernandez made his way to the grid despite a huge crash in morning warm-up. From his best ever qualifying, third on the grid for his first front row appearance, he managed an eleventh place finish.

Carols Tatay just held on to twelfth in the run to the line for Avintia Esponsorama, with Daniel Holgado, in for Deniz Oncu at Red Bull KTM Tech 3 as he serves his second race ban, closing but falling just short in 13th.

Joel Kelso, in for Maximilian Kofler after he tested positive for Covid at the start of the race weekend at CIP Green Power, also picked up points in 14th. Snipers rider Alberto Surra was 15th.

Kaito Toba cemented a tough weekend by finishing his race in the gravel on the first corner of the first lap. John McPhee also fell while tryng to bridge the gap to the then lead group on lap five.

Gabriel Rodrigo pulled out of the race weekend and will also be absent from the last race of the season as he continues to struggle with pain stemming from his crash back at Aragon.