Moto3 World Champion-elect outfoxed his rivals on the final lap of this morning’s Moto3 race, taking the lead into turn one and getting the hammer down to try and pull a gap before the long back straight before some bobbing, weaving and late breaking saw the Leopard rider take the win by 0.043s.
Both Fabio DiGiannantonio and Enea Bastianini were right in the Spaniard’s tow as they approached the final two corners as Mir weaved back and forth to break the slipstream but neither were able to take advantage and Mir, who is so good on the brakes, didn’t leave anything to chance, taking his ninth win to equal Luis Salom and Romano Fenati on the all-time winners’ list.
Mir came in for some parc ferme criticism for his tactics, with Giannantonio and Bastiani both saying his weaving was dangerous and wondering if he had broken any regulations.
Polesitter Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) who took the holeshot off the line, with Bastianini for close company as they led field through Turn 1 and then began to pull away from the chasing pack. The ‘Beast’ was quick to strike for the lead, but the unfolding duel then saw the two caught by Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0) and Mir. From a lead group of two, it then became a classic Moto3 freight train as the field closed up once again.
With 6 laps to go, Mir hit the lead - before two laps later, Di Giananntonio made his first mark on the fight at the front, taking over in P1 from P14 on the grid. After some jostling for position as the laps counted down, it was ‘Diggia’ ahead over the line for the final lap – before Mir made his move and struck for the lead. The Majorcan led Di Giannantonio, who led Bastianini as the trio were able to make a tiny gap to those on the chase – with some spectacular slipstreaming down the back straight as the three tousled it out approaching the final corner.
Neck and neck over the line, Mir just held on in the spectacular three-way photo finish, only 0.043 ahead of Di Giannantonio – with Bastianini only 0.008 further back to complete the podium in a race that broke records for the man on the top step. Equal on most wins in Moto3 - nine – and now the rider to have won the most races in a season since the class was introduced in 2012.
Martin took fourth to head Canet over the line, with John McPhee (British Talent Team) taking sixth after moving through the group in the latter stages. Marcos Ramirez (Platinum Bay Real Estate) moved up to seventh in a solid ride, just ahead of a stunning race for wildcard Dennis Foggia (Sky Junior Team VR46 Riders Academy). Foggia – the current FIM CEV Repsol Moto3 Junior World Championship leader – qualified on the second row and repeated his impressive performance in the race to take P8.
Philipp Oettl (Südmetall Schedl GP Racing) crossed the line in ninth a few tenths back, with Championship challenger Romano Fenati (Marinelli Rivacold Snipers) completing the top ten after a more difficult weekend to follow up his stunning win at Misano. Andrea Migno (Sky Racing Team VR46) was just behind his compatriot and crossed the line in eleventh, with Juanfran Guevara (RBA BOE Racing Team) in P12.
Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) just beat Nicolo Bulega (Sky Racing Team VR46) to the line for thirteenth, with Adam Norrodin (SIC Racing Team) bouncing back from a crash in qualifying to complete the points.
