Halfway stage of Round 4 of the lightweight class World Championship and there were Red Bull KTMs sat first, second and third after Öncü had fought his way through to the front once more. The young Turk was being closely followed by the Red Bull KTM Ajo duo of Acosta and Jaume Masia, after the latter had moved up the field from the fifth row of the grid. Tatsuki Suzuki’s misery then continued as the poleman crashed out at Turn 2, making it a disappointing sixth DNF in his last eight races.

Eight laps remaining now and Öncü’s pace at the front was simply too hot for some to handle. A leading group of seven had now well and truly detached themselves, with victory appearing to come from one of Öncü, Acosta, Masia, Fenati, Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing), Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Migno. That was until the gloves then came off in Jerez through Turns 5 and 6. Acosta conjured up a divebomb that Darryn Binder would’ve been proud of into the fast Turn 5 to steal the lead away from Öncü. That compromised both of their drives down the back straight and the lightweight class riders were five abreast on the brakes into Pedrosa corner, with Fenati being the latest of the late brakers to hit the front.

Contact between both Migno and Sasaki at the back of the leading group saw them fall into the clutches of the chasing pack, who with seven laps left were starting to make some gains on the leaders. Corner after corner Öncü, Acosta and Fenati would swap places and paint, which worked perfectly for the riders behind because suddenly we were back to 11 riders at the front nose to tail. The following five laps were nothing short of box office as the leading trio of Öncü, Acosta and Fenati continued a three-way fight that could’ve easily headlined a show at Madison Square Garden.

Only two laps were left in a breathtaking Jerez scrap as a huge moment for Acosta out of Turn 6 nearly ended the 16-year-old’s chase for history. But the World Championship leader shook it off to start the final lap in third, behind Masia and Öncü. They plummeted down the hill towards Turn 6 for the final time and Acosta somehow managed to get the bike stopped and get the job done: a block pass saw him move through on both Masia and Öncü.