Marco Bezzecchi underlined his Moto3 championship credentials with victory in Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix at Spielberg. The Italian converted pole position into his second career win ahead of a fast-finishing Enea Bastianini with Jorge Martin taking a heroic third place despite undergoing surgery on a broken wrist little over a week ago.
Martin’s bravery was one of the stories of the race with the Spaniard initially the sole Honda rider in a four-man leading group made up of three other KTMs, Bezzecchi, Jaume Masia and Albert Arenas. With three laps to go, Jorge even led after outbraking Bezzecchi into turn two but the championship leader powered straight back past before upping the pace to break his pursuers.
On the final lap, the leading quartet were joined by the Leopard Hondas of Enea Bastianini and Lorenzo Dalla Porta who had each set fastest laps as they towed each other forwards. An error from Arenas at turn one promoted Bastianini to fourth before the Italian followed Masia past Martin at turn six, moving him into the podium spots.
The Catalunya winner wasn’t finished there and after Masia opened the door into the final corner, Bastianini powered through to snatch second. An opportunistic Martin also took advantage to regain third and secure 16 valuable points with Masia relegated to sixth behind Arenas and Dalla Porta after Martin’s move forced him wide.
Ayumu Sasaki took a superb seventh ahead of Gabriel Rodrigo and Tony Arbolino while Aron Canet and Fabio Di Giannantonio lost crucial ground in the title chase, trailing home in tenth and eleventh respectively.
Moto3 eyetime Motorrad Grand Prix von Osterreich: (Result)
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