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MotoGP Portimao: Fernandez wins as Arenas clinches Moto3 World Championship

Raul Fernandez concluded the 2020 Moto3 season in sensational style after dominating the final race from lights to flag.

The Spaniard crossed the line to take his second victory in the class almost six-seconds ahead of the pursuing pack with Dennis Foggia and Jeremy Alcoba both putting in breathtaking rides to secure their places on the podium - the former despite suffering two long-lap penalties, with the latter claiming ‘Rookie of the Year’ and a career-first podium in the process. John McPhee concluded his last race of the year in ninth.

The final race day of 2020 erupted into life as the Moto3 class prepared to battle for the last time, Albert Arenas, Ai Ogura and Tony Arbolino the key protagonist for the title with a multitude of lightweight riders in the mix and ready to spoil the party for independent glory. Early drama ensued for Gabriel Rodrigo as he pushed his Gresini Honda off the grid while the pack pulled away for the warm-up lap, the Argentinian facing a difficult start from the back.

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Fernandez launched from pole position but it was Tatsuki Suzuki who briefly looked to steal the hole-shot as the 21-lap race began, the Spaniard confidently claiming it back as they entered the first corner. Ogura led Arenas for third and fourth as Arbolino carved his way through from 27th to sit 17th by the end of the first lap with the Japanese man advancing to second moments later. Arenas found his way through as the third lap began, Ogura dropping to fourth as Jaume Masia took his chance to improve, a double long-lap penalty haunting the Leopard rider’s further as he continued to advance second.

Lap four found Fernandez still out in front as Arenas now battled Alcoba for position, the Aspar claiming second as the fight moved down a place and Ogura attempted a challenge from fourth. Deniz Öncü, Ayumu Sasaki, Sergio Garcia and Suzuki sat closely behind the leading pack as Arbolino continued to rise, now circulating in 12th as the sixth lap commenced, the Italian gifted two positions as the Leopard riders took their second penalties.

A mid-pack melee found McPhee in touch of Darryn Binder, Barry Baltus and Celestino Vietti as the trio sat behind the advancing Sniper rider on the fringes of the top-10 as the battle at the front intensified. Alcoba got the better of Arenas for second as Öncü dropped behind Garcia and Sasaki, Ogura now demoted to eighth, ahead of Arbolino now two and a half seconds adrift, with eight laps complete.

Lap 10 saw McPhee up to 10th with the Leopard pair hard on his wheels and the Snipers man narrowly ahead as they looked to reel in the pack ahead, the gap now 1.7 as Foggia moved through to head the group, McPhee dropping back to 12th as the four-way battle played out.

Over eight seconds demonstrated the confidence felt by leader Fernandez as he continued to circulate with impressive pace, dropping the bickering field as the two groups behind became one with 10 laps to go. The Leopard riders were once again on a charge, the pair working together as they carved their way through the pack to sit seventh and eighth, as Ogura seemed to be going the other way. With eighth laps remaining the Honda Asia star had dropped to 10th, Arbolino one ahead and McPhee behind, as Arenas sat comfortably, for now, in fourth. It wasn’t for long, however, as Foggia claimed the position, Masia attempting to do likewise despite a brief battle with Garcia, the Leopard duo successfully capturing fourth and fifth on the next lap, with Arenas demoted further, to seventh, shortly after.

Six laps to go found the title fight heating up as Arbolino and Arenas battled for seventh, the pair swapping positions as the race entered its closing stages, Ogura continuing to fade as he sat 11th with Alonso Lopez calling time on his season early as he crashed out.

The final five laps saw Foggia up to second, Masia firmly in touch for third with Alcoba, Suzuki and Garcia now ahead of the trophy challengers. Binder began to make moves amongst the all-important battle with the South African dropping Arenas as he swept through to eighth, the bickering ramping up as the positions continued to swap.

Heartbreak saw Masia down at turn eight as he crashed out of podium contention after a stunning ride as Binder made his move on Arbolino, Arenas now fighting with McPhee as the action showed no sign of abating.

Suzuki fell at turn five with two laps to go, the championship battle now moving up to fifth with Arbolino ahead, but so far not enough to secure the title. Late-drama saw Arenas drop to 12th, Ogura now eighth with the Spaniard still four points clear in the standings but the Aspar man was determined to battle to the dying seconds.

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Fernandez crossed the line in dominant style, with an almost six-second lead from Foggia and Alcoba, Garcia claiming fourth from Arbolino - who claimed runner-up honours after an incredible recovery rider from 27th on the grid. Binder secured sixth at the flag from Vietti and Ogura with McPhee ninth ahead of Öncü, Niccolò Antonelli and the new Moto3 World Champion Arenas.

Sasaki, Carlos Tatay and Kaito Toba claimed the final points of the concluding 2020 race as Arenas celebrated his title-winning performance at the Portuguese circuit. Fernandez’s stunning win gifted the KTM youngster fourth overall in the championship, just 15 points behind his leading compatriot as Alcoba celebrated ‘Rookie of the Year’ with the debut podium of his Grand Prix career.

MotoGP Portimao Moto3 race result - conditions dry

1 25 25 Raul FERNANDEZ SPA Red Bull KTM Ajo KTM 38'06.272 151.8
2 20 7 Dennis FOGGIA ITA Leopard Racing HONDA 38'12.082 151.4 5.810
3 16 52 Jeremy ALCOBA SPA Kömmerling Gresini Moto3 HONDA 38'12.138 151.4 5.866
4 13 11 Sergio GARCIA SPA Estrella Galicia 0,0 HONDA 38'12.719 151.4 6.447
5 11 14 Tony ARBOLINO ITA Rivacold Snipers Team HONDA 38'19.270 150.9 12.998
6 10 40 Darryn BINDER RSA CIP Green Power KTM 38'19.337 150.9 13.065
7 9 13 Celestino VIETTI ITA SKY Racing Team VR46 KTM 38'20.179 150.9 13.907
8 8 79 Ai OGURA JPN Honda Team Asia HONDA 38'20.201 150.9 13.929
9 7 17 John MCPHEE GBR Petronas Sprinta Racing HONDA 38'20.217 150.9 13.945
10 6 53 Deniz ÖNCÜ TUR Red Bull KTM Tech 3 KTM 38'20.710 150.8 14.438
11 5 23 Niccolò ANTONELLI ITA SIC58 Squadra Corse HONDA 38'20.759 150.8 14.487
12 4 75 Albert ARENAS SPA Gaviota Aspar Team Moto3 KTM 38'20.980 150.8 14.708
13 3 71 Ayumu SASAKI JPN Red Bull KTM Tech 3 KTM 38'25.557 150.5 19.285
14 2 99 Carlos TATAY SPA Reale Avintia Moto3 KTM 38'29.467 150.3 23.195
15 1 27 Kaito TOBA JPN Red Bull KTM Ajo KTM 38'30.505 150.2 24.233
16 70 Barry BALTUS BEL CarXpert PruestelGP KTM 38'30.532 150.2 24.260
17 6 Ryusei YAMANAKA JPN Estrella Galicia 0,0 HONDA 38'30.593 150.2 24.321
18 31 Adrian FERNANDEZ SPA Rivacold Snipers Team HONDA 38'30.697 150.2 24.425
19 82 Stefano NEPA ITA Gaviota Aspar Team Moto3 KTM 38'30.897 150.2 24.625
20 55 Romano FENATI ITA Sterilgarda Max Racing Team HUSQVARNA 38'30.944 150.2 24.672
21 16 Andrea MIGNO ITA SKY Racing Team VR46 KTM 38'33.909 150.0 27.637
22 92 Yuki KUNII JPN Honda Team Asia HONDA 38'40.762 149.5 34.490
23 50 Jason DUPASQUIER SWI CarXpert PruestelGP KTM 38'41.156 149.5 34.884
24 54 Riccardo ROSSI ITA BOE Skull Rider Facile Energy KTM 38'41.275 149.5 35.003
25 73 Maximilian KOFLER AUT CIP Green Power KTM 38'41.364 149.5 35.092
26 9 Davide PIZZOLI ITA BOE Skull Rider Facile Energy KTM 38'41.488 149.5 35.216
27 2 Gabriel RODRIGO ARG Kömmerling Gresini Moto3 HONDA 38'46.601 149.2 40.329
28 89 Khairul Idham PAWI MAL Petronas Sprinta Racing HONDA 38'53.245 148.7 46.973
Not classified
24 Tatsuki SUZUKI JPN SIC58 Squadra Corse HONDA 34'34.129 151.4 2 laps
5 Jaume MASIA SPA Leopard Racing HONDA 30'54.764 151.5 4 laps
21 Alonso LOPEZ SPA Sterilgarda Max Racing Team HUSQVARNA 25'42.375 150.0 7 laps

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