Ogura was then out the seat at Turn 3 though, he lost a position to Sasaki and then McPhee to drop to P11. Work to do for the Japanese rider as Garcia sat up Arenas at Turn 12, Arbolino was now right behind Arenas. With six to go, Arenas defended well from Arbolino heading into Turn 1. The news wasn’t good for Ogura fans, he was now P12 and the group he was now entangled in was dropping back from Arenas and Arbolino.

Here we go. Toe-to-toe, two men fighting for the title. Arbolino stuck it up the inside of Arenas at Turn 11 before Arenas dived back at Turn 12. On the drop-down the hill, slight contact was made between the two but Arenas held station for the time being. However, Arbolino used the Honda grunt to get past Arenas with five laps to go. And now, Ogura was right back on the tailpipes of Arenas.

Arbolino was flying and pulling away from Arenas, but he had a 1.7 gap to make up. Ogura shoved his way through on Binder at Turn 12 and was now in the slipstream of Arenas. It was four abreast into Turn 1 between Ogura, Arenas, Binder and McPhee as Ogura was out the seat on the exit. Turn 5 then saw Ogura slam it past Arenas but again, Arenas bit straight back. Then, Ogura was back through! Turn 8 was the place and the Japanese rider was now ahead.

Arenas then lost a place to Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and the title leader was P10. Three laps to go, Arenas was Champion by eight points as things stood as Ogura drops to the back of the group in P12. Arbolino was passed by Binder and the Italian was now P7, Arenas was back up to P8 with two and a half laps to go. Arenas was then out of the seat and was picked off by McPhee. The Spaniard was immediately back through and with two laps to go, it was still Arenas’ to lose.

Ogura, now desperate, was deep into Turn 1 after trying to pass five riders in one. He was wide on the exit and was P10 as Arenas was now back right behind Arbolino. With one lap to go, Arbolino, Arenas and Ogura were P6, P7 and P9. On the last lap, all Arenas had to do was stay on.

Contact at Turn 3 between Ogura and Vietti nearly cost the pair of them and while the latter looking over his shoulder, Arenas was trying to go around the outside. On the exit of Turn 4, Arenas was then out of the seat and onto the green. A huge moment on the final lap of the race and suddenly, Arenas was P12 – but that was ok. Arbolino was up to P5 and Ogura had regrouped to be P8, but Arenas was taking risks. At Turn 12, the KTM rider nearly got his front chopped by Öncü after a huge lunge, an almost catastrophic end to the Spaniard’s season on the last lap.

But, despite plenty of scares, with Arbolino 5th and Ogura 8th, Arenas crossed the line in P12 to claim the 2020 Moto3™ World Championship title. Super Arenas was on top of the world after a stunning season and it’s a thoroughly deserved crown, but hats off to Arbolino’s incredible effort from P27 on the grid. P5 wasn’t enough for the number one spot but with the equally awesome Ogura finishing P8, Arbolino takes P2 in the Championship based on number on wins. Four points was the difference between three riders in the end.

With the title fight going right down to the wire, Fernandez’ utterly dominant victory went relatively unnoticed. A second win of 2020 came the Spaniard’s was in sensational fashion, a perfect end to a season that sees him finish just 15 points from Arenas in the standings. Foggia’s race was also phenomenal. Two long-lap penalties to P2 is an outstanding effort from the Italian and credit to Alcoba too. That’s his first Grand Prix podium as he finishes just 0.056 from second place.

Garcia finished half a second away from the podium in P4, another great ride from the double Valencia podium finisher, with Arbolino completing the top five. Binder ended his KTM Moto3™ career with a great P6 as Vietti pips Ogura to P7 in the Italian’s last Moto3™ race. McPhee picked up P9 to beat Öncü, Antonelli was P11 ahead of World Champion Arenas. Sasaki, Carlos Tatay (Reale Avintia Moto3) and Kaito Toba (Red Bull KTM Ajo) were the final point scorers of 2020.

A fitting way to end another crazy Moto3™ campaign. A dog fight right to the wire, with Arenas emerging as the 2020 Champion. Congratulations to the Spaniard and his Aspar team on a wonderful 2020 season, and congratulations to Arbolino and Ogura for taking the fight down to the last lap. Now, the riders will take a hard-earned winter break and come back aiming to be even stronger in 2021.

Top 10:
1. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo)
2. Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) + 5.810
3. Jeremy Alcoba (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) + 5.866
4. Sergio Garcia (Estrella Galicia 0,0) + 6.447
5. Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team) + 12.998
6. Darryn Binder (CIP Green Power) + 13.065
7. Celestino Vietti (SKY Racing Team VR46) + 13.907
8. Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) + 13.929
9. John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) + 13.945
10. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) + 14.438.

GRANDE PRÉMIO MEO DE PORTUGAL

Moto3 Race Classification 2020.

Moto3 World Standing 2020