Joel Kelso (KTM, AGR Team) took victory for the second time this year in a thrilling round of the FIM Junior Moto3™ World Championship at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. The Australian pulled off a daring move in the final sector to beat Ivan Ortolá (KTM, Team MTA) and David Muñoz (KTM, Avatel Cardoso Racing), after championship leader Dani Holgado (GasGas, Aspar Junior Team) crashed earlier in the race.
David Muñoz started from pole position but drifted to the right before colliding with Joel Kelso on the descent of turn 1. The Australian, who was not bothered by the contact, took the holeshot and quickly lowered his head. The pace of number 66 was immediately too much for many, with only Ortolá, Muñoz and Holgado able to keep up.
Further behind, Scott Ogden (GasGas, Aspar Junior Team) found himself frustrated after ending his race prematurely following a collision with Dani Munoz (KTM, Avatel Cardoso Racing). At the front, the championship leader Daniel Holgado lost the rear of his Moto3 in turn 15 on lap 4, the young Spaniard making his first mistake of 2021 and missing his first match point for the title.
There were three of us in the lead, Joel Kelso
leading the dance. Ivan Ortola et David Munoz studied the 18-year-old until three laps from the finish, the fight for victory heated up.
David Muñoz threw himself on Ivan
Ortolá at turn 1 before taking the lead when Joel Kelso went wide at turn 4.
Ivan Ortolá, who was not happy to remain in second position behind his compatriot, was able to find an instant response and dove on the brakes in turn 8. Things went from bad to worse for
David Muñoz when Joel Kelso
made a surprise maneuver at turn 15 to move up to second place.
There were then two rounds remaining and Joel Kelso is back in the lead thanks to a courageous maneuver at the fast turn 12.
Kelso, Ortolá, Munoz
Joel Kelso started the final lap in the lead but made a costly mistake at turn 10. The Australian went wide and Ivan Ortolá took the opportunity to pass. The Spaniard was half a lap away from his first victory and was therefore going on the defensive. However, Joel Kelso pulled off a magic trick at turn 12 by going around the outside Ivan Ortolá to gain the advantage and ultimately achieve victory.
Ivan Ortolá remains in the fight for the title, 43 points behind, after a fifth podium of the year, while David Muñoz, who slowed down in the last lap, is now 26 points behind Daniel Holgado thanks to a fourth consecutive podium. Joel Kelso will ride next year in the world championship as part of Alain Bronec's CIP – Green Power team.
Three men, two races, a title which will be decided in Valencia in two months.
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