Moto3: Alonso Wins Buriram Bananza

David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) took his 4th win of the season today at the Thai Grand Prix in Buriram. Newly crowned rookie of the year David Alonso has been incredible this season. Especially at Silverstone earlier in the year, when Alonso won the race from the back of the grid. Alonso is definitely a name we will be hearing a lot of over the next few years in MotoGP. Today though, in typical Moto3 fashion, the race had everything. Total carnage, heartbreak and a tonne of overtakes.

Coming into the race weekend, 4pts was the gap at the top of the championship between Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing ) and Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP).  We have a week’s break now before the final triple header of the season. Masia now has a 17pts advantage to Sasaki in the championship. The championship top 5 including rookie sensation Alonso is covered by just 39pts. A DNF in any of the final 3 races could be disastrous for current championship leader Masia.

^{Image Credit: Aspar Team on X}

AS IT HAPPENED

Despite a great launch off the line from pole position, Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) lost out to both Husqvarna riders shortly after turn 1. Both Sasaki and Collin Veijer went on the attack into turn 3. Masia with superb straight line speed on his Honda blasted by into 2nd up the long straight.

The top two in the championship Sasaki and Masia were leading the way, but it was short lived, as Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) got by both of them to take the lead of the race at the end of lap 1.

At the end of lap 1, Moreira led from Masia 2nd and Öncü in 3rd. Columbian rookie sensation Alonso was up 7 places at this point into 5th. Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) was another rider who gained massively from lap 1, up 8 places into 8th.

Lap 2 and heartbreak for Crazy Boy Sasaki running into the back of David Munoz (BOE Motorsports). Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) was also caught up in the crash and lucky to escape running into another bike or rider. Holgado managed to continue but dropped back to 27th place. Disaster for Sasaki’s title hopes here this weekend in Thailand.

Over the next few laps, we had a lead group of 8 riders and any of the 8 could claim victory at the Chang International Circuit. Holgado was also matching the pace of the leaders and making his way back through the pack.

A third of the race distance completed and Masia dropped from 1st to 4th on lap 6. Veijer led across the line from Moreira 2nd, Alonso 3rd and Masia in 4th. Holgado still determined as ever was now up to 16th place at this point.

 

Coming up to half race distance and it was still anybody’s guess as to who would take the victory. Holgado was +1.8seconds adrift to the leader and was in 13th place. No rider was able to pull away at this circuit, as any time gained was immediately lost on the straights with the nature of the slip stream. Moto3 pack racing was at it’s finest today.

Lap 11 of 19 and pole sitter Öncü was back at the front of the race, and trying all he could to pull away from the pack behind. Holgado moved up into the top 10, just +2seconds back of Öncü at the front.

Along the straight into turn 4, the slip stream completely changed the lead of the race. Öncü going from 1st to 5th. The positions at the front constantly changed. With 6 laps to go, Japanese teenager Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) took the lead of the race for the first time in his career. It was a rookie front three of Furusato, Veijer and Alonso.

As we headed into the last few laps, we had a lead group of 5 riders now slightly pulling away from the rest of the field. Around the final corner and with 3 laps left, Masia had a bit of wobble which opened up a gap to the 3 rookies at the front. However, the gap didn’t last long as the slip stream brought Masia and Öncü back to the leading 3 moments later.

THE LAST LAP

 

Veijer led the way and a group of 4 were in the battle for the win. As they headed down the long straight Masia and Alonso got by Veijer and after a scare Veijer dropped down to 4th.

The order changed until the riders took the chequered flag as Furusato got by Masia into 2nd place. In a desperate attempt to take the position back, Masia tried and failed to get passed Furusato at the final turn. The attempt also cost Masia a podium as Veijer snatched 3rd on the finish line.

What a win for David Alonso and the GASGAS Aspar Team! Alonso cemented his rookie of the year status today in some style. Moto3 at it’s very best and an incredible battle between them all.

Alonso now has the most wins of the season of anybody in Moto3. Alonso is still in the championship fight this season and in Moto3 anything can happen. A special mention to Holgado who finished in 6th place. To come back from way down in 27th in the manner in which he did was brilliant.

Race Classification 

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Championship Standings

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^{Feature Image Credit: Aspar Team on X}