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Post by truenorth on Nov 19, 2023 10:46:25 GMT -8
Masia makes it into the history books! The Spaniard took Honda to their sixth Moto3™ title and put himself alongside some pretty big names in MotoGP™! Aged 23 years 19 days old on race day at the Qatar GP, Jaume Masia is the second-oldest rider to clinch the Moto3™ title after Albert Arenas (23 years and 347 days old in 2020). In addition, he is the first rider to clinch the title with more than 100 Moto3™ starts. This is the sixth time that a Honda rider has won the Moto3™ title, adding to the Championships won by Alex Marquez (2014), Danny Kent (2015), Joan Mir (2017), Jorge Martin (2018) and Lorenzo Dalla Porta (2019). Masia has won 10 times in Moto3™, and he is tied with Dennis Foggia third place on the list of riders with most wins in Moto3™ since 2012, behind Romano Fenati (13) and Joan Mir (11). Masia has stood on the podium 27 times in the class, and he is the second rider with most Moto3™ podiums behind Romano Fenati (29). Masia is the eighth Spanish rider to win the Moto3™ title since the introduction of the class back in 2012.
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Post by truenorth on Nov 19, 2023 10:52:16 GMT -8
Masia crowned Champion following barnstorming victory under the floodlights The Leopard rider fought tooth and nail to take not only take victory in Qatar but take the title as well! The 2023 FIM Moto3™ World Championship has been decided in dramatic fashion after an action-packed Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar saw Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) fight his way to victory in one of the most eventful races of the season. The Spaniard did not have it easy by any means as the Rookie sensation David Alonso (GASGAS Aspar Team) was snapping at his heels on the final lap. The Columbian had no answer for the newly-crowned Champion in the end but brought home 2nd place as he added yet another podium to his 2023 tally. There was drama everywhere you looked as Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) fought his way through the pack after a jump start for the Turk saw him serve a double long lap penalty. Öncü put on an impressive display to round out the podium in the end as he joined the battle for victory right in the closing stages. Tensions were high as the Moto3™ riders lined up on the grid ahead of the first match point of 2022. The pressure was weighing down on the shoulders of Jaume Masia as he prepared for his first chance to become a World Champion at Grand Prix level. The only man who could stop him was Ayumu Sasaki who was more than ready for battle under the floodlights. The lights went out and it was Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) who took the holeshot but an obvious jump start for the Turk would come back to haunt him later on. The elbows were firmly out on the first lap as Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) led across the line the first time around. The Spaniard has Öncü, Ayumu Sasakim David Alonso, and Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets -MSI) for company. Öncü was then awarded a double long lap penalty, serving his first straight away as he dropped down the order. Meanwhile, Jaume Masia was on a charge from 10th place on the grid and put himself well within the mix. The chaos continued to unfold as positions were swapping and changing from corner to corner. A harsh move came from Masia early on as he forced himself and Sasaki wide. lhttps://twitter.com/i/status/1726241506158137515Both rejoined the group and found their way back towards the front of the freight train. It was a 15-rider battle for victory as the laps ticked away and the riders continued to battle it out. Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) put his name firmly in the mix with 12 laps to go as he took the lead ahead of the title rivals. It was deja vu with 10 laps remaining as Masia made the same move again on Sasaki as he tried to stuff it up the inside but misjudged it and sent the pair of them wide once again as they dropped down the order 5th and 7th. It didn’t take long for the pair to climb their way back to the front before Sasaki reaped his revenge and pushed Masia wide to line up behind the now-leading Daniel Holgado. As the laps ticked the bar-bashing continued as Holgado, Masia, Sasaki, and Alonso swapped and changed positions. David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) and Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) joined the party ahead of the final six laps with 15 bikes still in contention for victory. Masia hit the front with four laps to go as Sasaki made sure to put himself just behind the Spaniard. They came across the line one lap later and Sasaki made his move with Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse) now up into the top three. It didn't last long for Sasaki as the Japanese rider got swallowed up by the chasing pack and dropped like a stone down to 8th. It went from bad for worse for the 'Crazy Boy' as the front five broke away with the number 71 stuck battling with Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) with Masia still leading the way. The final lap came around and it was Öncü who had recovered from his double long lap penalty to join the top three with Alonso and Rossi still in podium contention. No one could touch Masia on the final lap as he took victory with Sasaki trying everything he could to recover positions but a big moment halted his progress to P6 as Masia was crowned the 2023 FIM Moto3™ World Champion. David Alonso tried everything he could to get the better of the Leopard machine ahead of him, but it wasn't meant to be for the Columbian as he was forced to settle for 2nd place ahead of Deniz Öncü who took a very hard-fought P3. Despite his efforts in the latter stages Riccardo Rossi just missed out on a podium position as he came across the line just behind Öncu in P4. Over a second further back was Vicente Perez (BOE Motorsports) who got the better of Sasaki following the Japanese rider's last-lap moment. Matteo Bertelle (Rivacold Snipers Team) was also in that battle and took 7th place, with the Italian leading Kaito Toba (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Daniel Holgado, and Collin Veijer across the line with the Dutchman making out the top 10. Romano Fenati (Rivacold Snipers Team) finished 1.5s further back in 11th with David Muñoz, Joel Kelso (CFMoto Racing PruestelGP), Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and Ivan Ortola rounding out the top 15. With the title decided the Moto3™ season now heads to the final round of the 2023 season in Valencia.
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Post by truenorth on Nov 19, 2023 10:56:07 GMT -8
Hat-trick hero: Aldeguer shines brightest again in Qatar The Spanish star lights up Lusail for a third straight win as Gonzalez and Canet go head-to-head for P2 and P3 Thailand, Malaysia, and now Qatar. It’s three wins in the last three races for Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) as the Spaniard lights up the Lusail International Circuit to bag another 25-point haul in 2023, as Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Team) and Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) finish just 0.009s apart in the battle for the podium – the former clinching a debut rostrum with P2. Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) got a good launch from pole position to grab the holeshot ahead of Celestino Vietti (Fantic Racing) and Aldeguer, with Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) grabbing P4 from P6 on the grid. Canet went backwards at the start but a great recovery ride on Lap 1 saw the Spaniard climb back up to P2 by the time the field crossed the line for the first time. At the start of Lap 2, Aldeguer was well wide going into Turn 1 – a mistake that saw the #54 drop to P9. Canet then pounced on Roberts for the lead on Lap 2, with Dixon passing Vietti for P3 on the same lap. The Italian then dropped behind Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) with 15 laps to go, as Aldeguer began to pick his way back through the pack. With 12 laps left, the top nine were split by 1.9s. Vietti had slipped to P10, just ahead of World Champion Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) who were only two seconds adrift of P1 themselves. On Lap 7 of 18, Dixon made a move stick for P2 on Roberts and soon after, Aldeguer followed the #96 through – and then got the better of him. Aldeguer then led with 10 to go and on Lap 8, the Spaniard slammed home a 1:57.725 – over half a second quicker than anyone else could muster up. A couple of laps later, Aldeguer was 1.1s up the road from Canet and Gonzalez, with Dixon dropping to just over a second away from the podium fight in P4. A run of three 1:57.6s saw Aldeguer’s lead climb to two seconds despite the best efforts of Gonzalez, who had got the better of Canet for P2. A comfortable final couple of laps came for Aldeguer as Gonzalez and Canet went head-to-head for P2. It was Dixon vs Ogura for P4 as we enjoyed two great battles unfold, but for a third straight race it was all about Aldeguer – another stunning ride from the SpeedUp star as he hunts down P3 in the Championship heading to Valencia. Canet was pipped to P2 by Gonzalez who celebrates a first podium in Moto2™, while Ogura’s last corner move on Dixon saw the Japanese rider claim P4 from P12 on the grid. Vietti claimed P6, 1.2s off Dixon, with Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) and Acosta completing the top eight. Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) and Arbolino rounded out the top 10. Roberts slipped to P11 by the chequered flag as Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) – who set the fastest lap of the race on the final lap – was left to rue a poor start to finish P12. Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing), Darryn Binder (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), and Jeremy Alcoba (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) were the final points scorers in Qatar. Three in a row for Aldeguer. Can anyone stop the Spaniard’s late-season charge in Valencia? We’re all set for a special season finale at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
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Post by truenorth on Nov 19, 2023 12:20:19 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on Nov 19, 2023 12:22:57 GMT -8
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kidrybot
Full Member
Dr. Jerry Punch's future son-in-law
Posts: 1,445
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Post by kidrybot on Nov 19, 2023 12:44:27 GMT -8
It was great to see DiGi get the win. Will Pramac ever be saying anything about what Whoregay's problem was?
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kidrybot
Full Member
Dr. Jerry Punch's future son-in-law
Posts: 1,445
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Post by kidrybot on Nov 19, 2023 18:02:31 GMT -8
g
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Post by truenorth on Nov 20, 2023 6:39:57 GMT -8
kid: haven't heard anything but will pass it on if I do. He just seemed to come undone after spinning the rear on the grid. Some were making good jokes about Gigi having sabotaged his bike. All isn't lost but the chances are clearly skewed now. Martin will need to be even more amazing to win both Sprint and race in Valencia.
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Post by truenorth on Nov 20, 2023 7:26:24 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on Nov 20, 2023 7:27:04 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on Nov 20, 2023 7:30:53 GMT -8
Ayumu Sasaki I ran until the end without giving up. I am proud of all the fans who have sent me so much support, strength, and love. I wasn't able to make that come true, but the final game definitely won't end like this. I will prepare for a race where I can show my strength for everyone. Thank you very much.
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Post by truenorth on Nov 20, 2023 7:33:32 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on Nov 20, 2023 8:01:19 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on Nov 20, 2023 8:06:22 GMT -8
Simon Patterson Sasaki’s press release quote makes it very clear that there was dirty riding at play
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Post by truenorth on Nov 20, 2023 8:08:35 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on Nov 20, 2023 13:30:50 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on Nov 20, 2023 13:57:12 GMT -8
Fabio Di Giannantonio's crew chief Frankie Carchedi confirmed that 'Mapping 8' was the dash message to alert Diggia that there was 5 laps to go
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Post by truenorth on Nov 20, 2023 14:49:42 GMT -8
Diggia has scored 81 points total, Bagnaia 118, Martin 100. Diggia has 2nd highest total in Sunday races, 68 to Bagnaia's 101
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Post by truenorth on Nov 20, 2023 15:12:02 GMT -8
Aleix Espargaro: “I didn't want to hit Franco, but just push him away. He's been walking around the track for a year and a half and yesterday he got in my way three times. Martin? It had no traction due to the bad tire.
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