It was Martin who got the best launch off the line from pole position but with a long run down into Turn 1, Bezzecchi was able to get in his slipstream and brake later to get the holeshot. A tentative lap followed for Martin who dropped down to P5 by the end of the first lap and at the end of lap 2, the Championship leader was P8. Bezzecchi, meanwhile, was heading the pack.

The latter then lost the lead of the race at the start of lap 4, fellow KTM rider Darryn Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – after getting a good start from P11 – was arguably a little too aggressive heading into Turn 1, forcing Bezzecchi out wide as the latter dropped to sixth, just ahead of Martin. Meanwhile, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) had got past his teammate as the duo battled for P8 – Martin was P9, which soon changed to P10 at the end of lap 5.

You could cut the tension with a knife and on Lap 6 there was a nerve-wracking moment between Bezzecchi and fellow Italian Tony Arbolino (Marinelli Snipers Team) came together on the exit of Turn 6, both – thankfully – staying upright. Then, with 10 laps to go, Martin started to make progress and at the final corner, a phenomenal late lunge underneath race leader Bezzecchi from P6 almost paid off. The slipstream down the straight did pay off as Martin took the lead of the race – was this Martin pulling the pin?