Moto3™ – Albert Arenas of Aspar Team Gaviota hangs on to clinch victory in season opener.

Five laps were left and a leading five were just starting to break clear. Arenas was still at the front, with Arbolino, Suzuki, Binder and Sergio Garcia (Estrella Galicia 0,0) queuing up behind. The five were unable to break clear though because as they came across the line to make it four laps left, Arenas was shuffled backwards as Arbolino hit the front. Suzuki pounced seconds later though, retaking the lead at Turn 2. McPhee was starting to make his move too, diving under Binder to sit third. The Scotsman wasn’t done there, calmly swooping past Arbolino to move second moments later.

Three laps to go and Suzuki lead over the line but the Japanese rider was swallowed up going into Turn 1 as everyone utilised the slipstream. It was McPhee that appeared out of the scrum in front of everyone else as the fight really began to heat up. The Scotsman held on but Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) decided the time was right to make his move as the final lap began it was the Argentinian leading the way.

Hard on the brakes into Turn 1 for the final time and there was always going to be drama. It involved Binder and Arbolino, with the South African crashing out after the Italian clipped his front wheel. Half a lap remaining and Arenas lead but he had pressure building behind from McPhee. Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) moved into third ahead of Ai Ogura in the fight for the final podium place but they were a few bike lengths back meaning it came down to Arenas and McPhee in the final sector.

The Scotsman was stuck to the rear wheel of Arenas, seemingly waiting to make his move down the start-finish straight but as the pair exited the final corner, the KTM of Arenas held off the charging Honda of McPhee and the first 25 points of 2020 went the way of the Spaniard. The final podium place was seemingly Masia’s, however, Ogura was gifted third after Masia received a one place penalty for exceeding track limits on the final lap.

Suzuki completed the top five after the Gresini duo of Rodrigo and Alcoba in sixth and seventh were also handed last lap penalties for exceeding track limits. Rivacold Snipers Team’s Filip Salac recovered from a disappointing qualifying to take eighth, ahead of Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) and Fernandez.