Moto3™ – Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) produces last lap stunner to pip Foggia in Portugal.

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P2, P1, and P1 again. The name is Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) ladies and gentleman and it’s the rookie sensation who once again claims victory in Moto3™ as the Spaniard produces a final lap stunner to pip Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) to victory at the Grande Prémio 888 de Portugal. 70 points from a possible 75 is Acosta’s at the beginning of his Grand Prix career, Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) wins the battle for third to stands on the rostrum.

The big news ahead of lights out was two more riders were to join Jeremy Alcoba (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) and John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) in starting from pitlane. Judged to have been riding irresponsibly in Q2, second in the Championship Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Deniz Öcnü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) had a mountain to climb in Portimao. Öncü’s was a five second penalty added on, the same as Alcoba.

On the start line, polesitter Migno launched off the line perfectly to hold off Leopard Racing’s Xavier Artigas and Foggia ascending into Turn 1, with Sergio Garcia (GASGAS Valresa Aspar Team) slotting into P4. It was line astern around the opening lap at the rollercoaster, but the front straight saw Artigas take the lead as Migno got shuffled back to P5. Championship leader Acosta was getting busy in the opening exchanges, with Migno retaking the initiative at Turn 5 on Lap 3.

After making a fantastic start, Artigas’ race was over at Turn 3 on Lap 4. Contact from Gabriel Rodrigo (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) behind, Artigas could do nothing as his Honda chucked him off, thankfully the rookie was ok. Meanwhile, it was the other Leopard machine of Foggia leading the way from Acosta, with Migno third. The leading 13 on Lap 5 were split by 1.9 seconds, a typical lightweight class freight train had formed.

As we’re now used to seeing, the Leopard Racing Honda was an absolute missile. Even tucked in the slipstream, Acosta, Migno, Rodrigo and co. couldn’t draft past Foggia into Turn 1, and the Italian was looking good leading for several laps. More drama then unfolded at Turn 3, this time on Lap 8. Katio Toba (CIP Green Power) ran into the back of Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia Esponsorama Moto3), ran wide and into the path of Izan Guevara (GASGAS Valresa Aspar Team). Nothing the latter could do, Toba collected the rookie and both were down – riders Ok.

Because of the incident with Artigas, Rodrigo was handed a long-lap penalty, and the Argentine dived through the penalty lane and slipped from P3 to P15. Three 1:47s in a row saw Rodrigo bridge the gap to the leading group, with Masia now making moves with eight laps left. The Qatar GP winner was up to P3, past Migno and Garcia, to tuck himself right behind teammate Acosta and long time race leader Foggia. Acosta then decided to break Foggia’s rhythm with seven laps remaining, Turn 3 the chosen spot, but Fogga wasn’t having any of it.

Again, Turn 3 hosted a crash involving two riders. Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and rookie Adrian Fernandez (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) were in the gravel from the leading group, Fernandez getting it wrong in the braking area and taking out the helpless Japanese rider. With five laps to go, Alcoba and Öncü were brilliantly inside the points but 13 seconds adrift of 13th placed Stefano Nepa (BOE Owlride), however, the focus was on the leaders. Foggia was still leading from Acosta, Migno and Garcia had got the better of Masia with five to go.

Acosta, Foggia and Migno, heading onto Lap 18 of 21, were three abreast into Turn 1. Acosta broke late, ran wide, with Migno taking the inside line and the lead of the race. It was now Migno from Foggia and Acosta, but that changed in a flash. Foggia was back leading from Acosta and Migno, with six tenths covering nine riders. Three to go, nine riders in with a shout of victory. Moto3™ producing the goods yet again.

Two to go. Still it was Foggia holding the P1 baton, and on Lap 19 he produced his fastest lap of the race. It was now squeaky bum time and somehow, launching into Turn 11, Acosta got his KTM pulled up to the apex as the riders desperately tried to get themselves in prime position for the last lap. Foggia led Acosta, the latter backing into Turn 3 but no way through. Just behind, Garcia somehow saved a highside but that was the Spaniard’s podium hopes over.

Masia was up to P3 but then drama at Turn 5: the Spaniard slid down the road, his hopes of a race win were over too. Now, it was a straight fight between Foggia and Acosta. Again, Acosta was a monster on the brakes at Turn 11 and must have clawed back five bike lengths. Then, at Turn 13, the rookie sensation made his move: late on the brakes, up the inside, full lean angle, clean pass. Now, two corners remained before a run to the line. Coming over the crest of the final corner, Acosta’s KTM was squirming but somehow he didn’t crash, but did that give Foggia the chance as they both went full gas to the line? It did, but Acosta held it and won his second consecutive race by 0.051s. Simply sensational from the number 37 who continues to take the Grand Prix scene by storm, Foggia makes it back-to-back podiums in Portimao after a fantastic race.

Polesitter Migno managed to win the battle for the final spot on the podium, that’s the Italian’s first rostrum since the 2019 Valencia GP. Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech3) missed out on a dream podium by just 0.031s, but that’s a fantastic P4 for the Japanese rider. Rodrigo did excellently to finish P5 after his long lap, he beat Antonelli and Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) by less than a tenth as the fastest seven riders finish 0.773s apart – incredible racing again in Moto3™.

Garcia was in amongst it throughout but that late, out the seat moment on the last lap cost the Spaniard. P8 isn’t a disaster for Garcia but he would have been hoping for more. Also hoping for more was Masia. Despite the Turn 5 tumble, the former Championship leader salvaged P9, but it was a damaging day for his title aspirations with teammate Acosta winning again. Ryusei Yamanaka (CarXpert PrüstelGP) picks up another top 10 in 2021, he led Nepa and teammate Jason Dupasquier over the line. Filip Salac (Rivacold Snipers Team) took home P13 from Portimao, with Alcoba and Öncü doing fantastically well to pick up the remaining points from pitlane starts.

With Binder failing to score points from pitlane, Acosta sails into a 31-point lead in the overall standings after just three races. The golden rookie has taken 70 points from a possible 75 in the opening three races, the elder statesmen have a job on their hands to stop Acosta in 2021.

Next up: Jerez. Another track Acosta knows well. Will the dream Grand Prix debut season continue? You wouldn’t bet against it.

Top 10:
1. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo)
2. Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) + 0.051
3. Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) + 0.584
4. Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) + 0,615
5. Gabriel Rodrigo (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) + 0.675
6. Niccolo Antnonelli (Avintia Esponsorama Moto3) + 0.729
7. Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) + 0.773
8. Sergio Garcia (GasGas Valresa Aspar Team) + 1.245
9. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 12.487
10. Ryusei Yamaka (CarXpert PruestelGP) + 12.508.

GRANDE PRÉMIO 888 DE PORTUGAL

Moto3 Race Classification 2021.

Pos.	Points	Num.	Rider	Nation	Team	Bike	Km/h	Time/Gap
1	25	37	Pedro ACOSTA	SPA	Red Bull KTM Ajo	KTM	152.1	38’01.773
2	20	7	Dennis FOGGIA	ITA	Leopard Racing	Honda	152.1	+0.051
3	16	16	Andrea MIGNO	ITA	Rivacold Snipers Team	Honda	152.1	+0.584
4	13	71	Ayumu SASAKI	JPN	Red Bull KTM Tech 3	KTM	152.1	+0.615
5	11	2	Gabriel RODRIGO	ARG	Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3	Honda	152.0	+0.675
6	10	23	Niccolò ANTONELLI	ITA	Avintia Esponsorama Moto3	KTM	152.0	+0.729
7	9	55	Romano FENATI	ITA	Sterilgarda Max Racing Team	Husqvarna	152.0	+0.773
8	8	11	Sergio GARCIA	SPA	GASGAS Valresa Aspar Team	GASGAS	152.0	+1.245
9	7	5	Jaume MASIA	SPA	Red Bull KTM Ajo	KTM	151.3	+12.487
10	6	6	Ryusei YAMANAKA	JPN	CarXpert PruestelGP	KTM	151.3	+12.508
11	5	82	Stefano NEPA	ITA	BOE Owlride	KTM	151.3	+12.541
12	4	50	Jason DUPASQUIER	SWI	CarXpert PruestelGP	KTM	151.3	+12.593
13	3	12	Filip SALAC	CZE	Rivacold Snipers Team	Honda	151.2	+12.833
14	2	52	Jeremy ALCOBA	SPA	Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3	Honda	151.2	+13.743
15	1	53	Deniz ÖNCÜ	TUR	Red Bull KTM Tech 3	KTM	151.2	+13.788
16		92	Yuki KUNII	JPN	Honda Team Asia	Honda	151.1	+15.234
17		99	Carlos TATAY	SPA	Avintia Esponsorama Moto3	KTM	150.9	+18.032
18		19	Andi Farid IZDIHAR	INA	Honda Team Asia	Honda	150.8	+20.284
19		54	Riccardo ROSSI	ITA	BOE Owlride	KTM	150.7	+20.343
20		40	Darryn BINDER	RSA	Petronas Sprinta Racing	Honda	149.9	+33.374
21		73	Maximilian KOFLER	AUT	CIP Green Power	KTM	149.9	+33.410
22		20	Lorenzo FELLON	FRA	SIC58 Squadra Corse	Honda	149.9	+36.502
23		17	John MCPHEE	GBR	Petronas Sprinta Racing	Honda	149.6	+37.540
24		28	Izan GUEVARA	SPA	GASGAS Valresa Aspar Team	GASGAS	147.7	+1’08.552
		27	Kaito TOBA	JPN	CIP Green Power	KTM	106.7	6 Laps
Not Classified
		31	Adrian FERNANDEZ	SPA	Sterilgarda Max Racing Team	Husqvarna	145.8	5 Laps
		24	Tatsuki SUZUKI	JPN	SIC58 Squadra Corse	Honda	152.0	6 Laps
		43	Xavier ARTIGAS	SPA	Leopard Racing	Honda	109.9	17 Laps

Moto3 World Standing 2021

Pos.	Rider	Bike	Nation	Points
1	Pedro ACOSTA	KTM	SPA	70
2	Jaume MASIA	KTM	SPA	39
3	Darryn BINDER	Honda	RSA	36
4	Niccolò ANTONELLI	KTM	ITA	36
5	Andrea MIGNO	Honda	ITA	29
6	Gabriel RODRIGO	Honda	ARG	25
7	Ayumu SASAKI	KTM	JPN	22
8	Sergio GARCIA	GASGAS	SPA	21
9	Dennis FOGGIA	Honda	ITA	20
10	Romano FENATI	Husqvarna	ITA	20
11	Izan GUEVARA	GASGAS	SPA	19
12	Kaito TOBA	KTM	JPN	18
13	Ryusei YAMANAKA	KTM	JPN	16
14	Jason DUPASQUIER	KTM	SWI	15
15	Tatsuki SUZUKI	Honda	JPN	12
16	Filip SALAC	Honda	CZE	6
17	Stefano NEPA	KTM	ITA	5
18	Carlos TATAY	KTM	SPA	4
19	Maximilian KOFLER	KTM	AUT	3
20	Jeremy ALCOBA	Honda	SPA	2
21	Yuki KUNII	Honda	JPN	1
22	Deniz ÖNCÜ	KTM	TUR	1
23	Adrian FERNANDEZ	Husqvarna	SPA
24	Andi Farid IZDIHAR	Honda	INA
25	Riccardo ROSSI	KTM	ITA
26	Lorenzo FELLON	Honda	FRA
27	John MCPHEE	Honda	GBR
28	Xavier ARTIGAS		SPA

Credits : Photos and content courtesy of MotoGP.com

Moto3™ – Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) produces last lap stunner to pip Foggia in Portugal.

05-jaume-masia_dsc7228.small

382890_pedro-acosta_red-bull-ktm-ajo_moto3_ktm-rc4_algarve-international-circuit-_por_18-04-2021-8.small

_dsc3369_0.small

_dsc3615_0.big

GRANDE PRÉMIO 888 DE PORTUGAL

Moto3 World Standing 2021

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