Moto3 at the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas at the Circuits of The Americas in Austin, Texas

Moto3 at the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas at the Circuits of The Americas in Austin, Texas on April 10, 2022. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)

For the first time since the 2021 Qatar GP, Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) is a race winner after coming out on top of a classic Moto3 battle at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas. Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) takes the World Championship lead and with some margin after a second place finish, the Italian beating compatriot Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) to the second step on the podium. Former points leader Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) suffered a DNF, with his place in the standings taking a dent.

Polesitter Migno was able to hold onto P1 as the lightweight class field piled into Turn 1, but Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) was soon the race leader, the Turk through with an aggressive move at Turn 7. Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI), after contact on the home straight with Öncü, took over in the lead on Lap 2 though, and there was big progress for Garcia as he picked his way through to P8 from P15 on the grid. Foggia was going in the wrong direction early doors, meanwhile, the Italian had been shuffled down to P10.

Xavier Artigas (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP) took his turn leading for a couple of laps, but then came the drama for Garcia. On Lap 6 at the exit of Turn 13, there was contact between the Spaniard and compatriot Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo). Garcia was down and out of the running for points, as Holgado himself then tucked the front at Turn 20. Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team), after jumping the start, had to take two Long Lap penalties.

A lead group of seven had formed at the front: Masia now led from Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max), Öncü, Moreira, Artigas, Foggia and Migno with nine laps to go. With seven to go, Foggia hit the front for the first time, but a lap later, Masia was back through. With five to go though it was a costly Turn 12 for Foggia, the Italian shuffled down to P4 behind Masia, Migno and Sasaki after running slightly wide. It was all to play for with two laps to go in Austin, the top seven all locked together.

Heading onto the last lap, Moreira highsided out – unhurt – at the final corner, as Masia and Migno scrapped for the lead. Foggia was P3, Sasaki P4, Öncü P5 – it was between these five riders for victory. Migno led onto the back straight but Masia grabbed a nice slipstream and made a move stick into Turn 12. It was advantage Masia heading into the final sector, and Migno dived up the inside at the penultimate corner but went wide, allowing both Masia and Foggia through. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider made no mistake at the final corner and took victory ahead of Foggia and Migno, with Sasaki missing out on a podium by 0.096s in P4.

Öncü was in the fight for victory throughout but just lost touch on the last lap and the Turkish rider came home in P5. Artigas also lost touch in the closing stages, the Spaniard finished P6 ahead of Guevara, who did well to recover to P7 from his two Long Lap penalties. Carlos Tatay (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP), Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) rounded out the top 10.

Rookies Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) and Scott Ogden (VisionTrack Racing Team) produced great rides to pick up P11 and P12 on their first visits to COTA, the duo finished ahead of Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team), Adrian Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and the final point scorer Lorenzo Fellon (SIC58 Squadra Corse) - that’s the Frenchman’s first World Championship point. With Garcia eventually retiring after his crash, Foggia takes a 16-point lead to Portimão as the European leg of the season now appears on the horizon. And the Portuguese venue is one we've seen the Italian master. (Source: MotoGP)

Pos		#	Rider		Bike	Laps	Time	Gap	Interval	km/h	Points
1		5	Jaume Masia		KTM	17	38'58.286			144.2	25
2		7	Dennis Foggia		Honda	17	38'58.458	0.172	0.172	144.2	20
3		16	Andrea Migno		Honda	17	38'58.680	0.394	0.222	144.2	16
4		71	Ayumu Sasaki		Husqvarna	17	38'58.776	0.49	0.096	144.2	13
5		53	Deniz Öncü		KTM	17	38'59.399	1.113	0.623	144.2	11
6		43	Xavier Artigas		CF MOTO	17	38'59.862	1.576	0.463	144.1	10
7		28	Izan Guevara		GASGAS	17	39'01.173	2.887	1.311	144.1	9
8		99	Carlos Tatay		CF MOTO	17	39'06.494	8.208	5.321	143.7	8
9		54	Riccardo Rossi		Honda	17	39'06.656	8.37	0.162	143.7	7
10		24	Tatsuki Suzuki		Honda	17	39'06.764	8.478	0.108	143.7	6
11		48	Ivan Ortola		KTM	17	39'08.370	10.084	1.606	143.6	5
12		19	Scott Ogden		Honda	17	39'08.558	10.272	0.188	143.6	4
13		82	Stefano Nepa		KTM	17	39'08.710	10.424	0.152	143.6	3
14		31	Adrian Fernandez		KTM	17	39'16.253	17.967	7.543	143.1	2
15		20	Lorenzo Fellon		Honda	17	39'16.374	18.088	0.121	143.1	1
16		72	Taiyo Furusato		Honda	17	39'18.849	20.563	2.475	143
17		6	Ryusei Yamanaka		KTM	17	39'19.719	21.433	0.87	142.9
18		66	Joel Kelso		KTM	17	39'20.245	21.959	0.526	142.9
19		23	Elia Bartolini		KTM	17	39'27.385	29.099	7.14	142.5
20		87	Gerard Riu		KTM	17	39'32.622	34.336	5.237	142.2
21		64	Mario Suryo Aji		Honda	17	39'32.581	34.295		142.2
22		38	David Salvador			17	39'37.682	39.396	5.101	141.9
23		22	Ana Carrasco		KTM	17	39'59.195	1'00.909	21.513	140.6
dnf		96	Daniel Holgado		KTM	16	36'56.841	1 Lap	1 Lap	143.2
dnf		27	Kaito Toba		KTM	16	36'56.984	1 Lap	0.143	143.2
dnf		10	Diogo Moreira		KTM	15	34'23.642	2 Laps	1 Lap	144.2
dnf		18	Matteo Bertelle		KTM	15	34'37.678	2 Laps	14.036	143.2
dnf		11	Sergio García		GASGAS	12	28'28.270	5 Laps	3 Laps	139.4
dnf		70	Joshua Whatley		Honda	5	11'53.983	12 Laps	7 Laps	138.9

Moto3
Grand Prix motorcycle racing is the oldest established motorsport world championship and the premier class of motorcycle road racing events held on road circuits sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). Grand Prix motorcycles are purpose-built racing machines that are unavailable for purchase by the general public and unable to be ridden legally on public roads. The championship is currently divided into four classes: the eponymous MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3 and MotoE.

Moto3 replaced the the 125 cc class in 2012. This class is restricted to single-cylinder 250 cc four-stroke engines with a maximum bore of 81 mm (3.2 inches). The minimum total weight for motorcycle and rider is 148 kg (326 lb). The minimum age for the Moto3 class normally is 16, and cannot be older than 28 years, or 25 years for new contracted riders participating for the first time and wild-cards.

Circuit of The Americas
Circuit of The Americas (COTA) is the premier destination for world-class motorsports and entertainment in the United States. Just outside downtown Austin, Circuit of The Americas has hosted the biggest names in racing, action sports and music. At its heart is a 3.41-mile racetrack that was designed to challenge the world's most exacting competitors while providing a thrilling spectacle for audiences.

The 20-turn, counterclockwise circuit takes advantage of the naturally undulating landscape, including an intimidating 133-foot hill at Turn 1. It has hosted the Formula 1 United States Grand Pix, MotoGP Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas, ESPN's X Games, the FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Pirelli World Challenge and more. Nestled within the track is Germania Insurance Amphitheater, the largest permanent outdoor amphitheater in Central Texas, and its 251-foot signature observation tower.

MotoGP
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Photos by Ralph Arvesen
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