The two opened up a gap to third and traded blows on the third and fourth laps, but it was Garcia who set the pace for the majority of the race, with Championship leader Acosta lurking in his shadow. The wet conditions meant that overtakes were at a minimum, and the top three remained the same as they ticked off the laps, with the front two exchanging the fastest laps of the race on numerous occasions.

At the race’s midway point, the gap to the front was already insurmountable with more than five seconds separating them and the group battling for third. In that chasing group, Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) slipped by Fenati and into the podium places on the 13th lap. Up top, Garcia still led, but it was clear that Acosta was holding back, like a cheetah stalking its prey, waiting for his moment to strike. The youthful Spaniard did move in to test the waters at Turn 8, but Garcia wasn’t having any of it and found the drive on the exit to retake the lead.

Again the laps continued to tick down and yet we were no closer to knowing who would stand where on the podium. A Turn 6 wobble on the 16th didn’t affect Acosta’s strategy, while an attempt for the lead saw Garcia retaliate immediately once again on the 18th. With just two laps remaining it was impossible to take your eyes off the battle for the win, Acosta tried again on the penultimate lap, and again Garcia fought back. Further back, Fenati went through on Masia, but the Spaniard responded immediately to stay third.