Moto3 Austria 2 Race: First victory for Celestino Vietti

Who can counter Super Arenas? Author of four podiums in five races, the native of Girona seems unstoppable since the start of the season. The one who is already the big favorite is of course Albert Arenas (KTM, Aspar Team Gaviota). Since the start of the season, the Catalan has won three victories for a total of four podiums. Results which allow him at this stage to be 28 points ahead of his closest opponent.

With dark clouds floating in the background, the first qualifying session of the day saw some dramatic moments but that had nothing to do with the weather. Having proven to be a little faster than his opponents in Q1, Jaume Masia (Honda, Leopard Racing) suffered a fall at turn 6 and returned to the pits without gloves, on an almost naked, smoking machine, completely soaking the track with oil. This prompted a lengthy clean-up operation, at the end of which Masia was suspended from participation in Q2, despite his first place in Q1, as punishment for irresponsible driving.

Once the Q2 session finally got underway, track conditions were slipperier and the action was slow to resume, with several pit runs and a parade of lap times canceled for track limit infractions. Nobody seemed to want pole, with the drivers seemingly unwilling to put in a timed lap. But gabriel rodrigo (Honda, Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) was the quickest to adapt to the conditions and the Gresini rider took pole position by a hundredth of a second. Raul Fernandez (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo) was again among the fastest riders, narrowly missing pole, but firmly ensconced in the middle of the front row, ahead Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse).

Tony Arbolino (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team) opens the second row in front Celestine Vietti (KTM, Sky Racing Team VR46), with both riders running just a tenth slower than pole, even though the times were well short of the benchmark set during testing. John McPhee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing) joined them on the second row, while Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing), Ai Ogura (Honda, Honda Team Asia) and Albert Arenas (KTM, Aspar Team Gaviota) complete a fairly competitive third row. After reaching Q2 following Q1, Darryn binder (KTM, CIP-Green Power) has secured a good position in the top ten, given his qualifying performances this year, and will be joined on the fourth row by Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Filip Salac (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team).

This morning, at the end of the Warm-Up, the fastest on the track was the Tech3 driver, Ayumu Sasaki, before Raúl Fernández (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Celestine Vietti (KTM, Sky Racing Team VR46).

Will the Japanese driver of the French team be able to make it happen during the race? He had to do a “Long Lap” last week in the race as he fought for the top spots. The show promises to be grandiose!

Moto3™ Red Bull Ring 2	16/08/20	23/08/20
FP1	1'36.550 Tony Arbolino	1'35.997 Celestino Vietti
FP2	1'37.060 Johan McPhee	1'36.398 Tatsuki Suzuki
FP3	1'42.775 Celestino Vietti	1'36.055 Sergio Garcia
Q1	1'37.032 Ricardo Rossi	1'36.921 Jaume Masia
Q2	1'36.277 Raúl Fernández	1'36.470 Gabriel Rodrigo
Warm-up	1'36.483 Celestino Vietti	1'36.253 Ayumu Sasaki
Course	Arenas, Masia, McPhee	Vietti, Arbolino, Ogura
All time lap record	1'35.778 Tony Arbolino 2019

 

At the end of the morning, the air temperature was 22°C and that of the track 31°C. The sky is cloudy but not threatening, normally the races should be spared by the rain, which heavily cleaned the track last night.

Following his fall yesterday in Q1, Andrea Migno (KTM, Sky Racing Team VR46) will be penalized in the race by a “Long Tour” during the race, for having taken with him in his fall Maximilian Kofler (KTM, CIP-Green Power). As for Sergio Garcia (Honda, Estrella Galicia 0,0) and Carlos Tatay (KTM, Reale Avintia Arizona 77), who collided while braking at the famous turn 3 this morning, the Race Direction has decided that the wrongs are shared and is issuing a warning to everyone, asking them to be more attentive during the race. The race has not yet started and the penalties are raining down!

The drivers are ready to set off for this 23-lap race.

When the lights went out, the fastest driver to exit the starting grid and reach the first corner was the pole sitter. gabriel rodrigo (Honda, Kömmerling Gresini Moto3), which got off to an impressive start. Tony Arbolino (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team) follows closely, Raúl Fernández (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Tatsuki Suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse) fighting for fourth place. What can we say about the fantastic rise of Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3), which is sixth from the first turns. The battle rages on, what a fantastic first round!

On the first pass on the line, Arbolino is leader, in front Rodrigo et Fernandez. Albert Arenas (KTM, Aspar Team Gaviota) is in eleventh position. He fights with Celestine Vietti (KTM, Sky Racing Team VR46) and John mcphee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing).

The British driver from the Petronas Sprinta Racing team achieved the best lap in the race at this time. As is often the case in Moto3, the top 10 can play for victory!

A group of 18 drivers stands out slightly from the rest of the peloton, and Darryn binder (KTM, CIP-Green Power) in turn achieved the best lap in the race. He is currently fifth, and suffered a scare at turn number 3, without impact on the ranking.

Ayumu Sasaki (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3) confirms his great form this Sunday and closes the top 10, just behind his teammate Deniz Oncu. The French team is also well placed to fight for victory!

Darryn binder (KTM, CIP-Green Power) puts on a show and is already at the forefront, brilliant driving. The fight for the podium is already underway with Tony Arbolino (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team), Gabriel Rodrigo (Honda, Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) and John McPhee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing).

With 15 laps to go, when we thought the battle was already well underway, there were more and more contacts.

gabriel rodrigo (Honda, Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) is impressive when braking for turn number 3, which allows him to remain on the virtual podium of the race, despite the fight on the track, which is virile between John mcphee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Albert Arenas (KTM, Aspar Team Gaviota). First place in the World Championship is at stake!

Halfway through the race, Tony Arbolino (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team) is in front gabriel rodrigo (Honda, Kömmerling Gresini Moto3), Darryn binder (KTM, CIP-Green Power) and Ayumu Sasaki (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3). But John mcphee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing) is in ambush.

Jeremy Alcove (Honda, Kömmerling Gresini Moto3), who was in the leading group, fell at turn number 3. This braking is really delicate, whatever the category. Maximilian Kofler (KTM, CIP-Green Power) also suffered a crash in this corner, a few laps later.

Ayumu Sasaki (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3) is at the front and is clearly aiming for the podium this weekend. He is trying to forget his penalty from last weekend, without which he could also have been in front. He is also very good when braking.

Sergio Garcia (Honda, Estrella Galicia 0,0) is warned for having exceeded the limits of the track at turn number 1. We remember that on this same circuit, during the Austrian Grand Prix last weekend, many drivers were penalized during the final laps of the race.

Unfortunately, 5 laps from the finish, the 2 drivers of the Tech3 team collided at turn number 1, following complicated braking for Deniz Oncu who hits Ayumu Sasaki. What a shame, that’s it for the podium dreams this weekend. The Turkish pilot will return to the medical center to carry out examinations following this fall.

A group of 4 pilots then breaks away: Tony Arbolino (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team), Ai Ogura (Honda, Honda Team Asia), Celestino Vietti (KTM, Sky Racing Team VR46) and John McPhee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing). Is the winner among these 4 drivers? What about Albert Arenas (KTM, Aspar Team Gaviota), who is back for the final battle?

John mcphee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing) fell less than 2 laps from the finish at turn 10, while Tony Arbolino (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team) and Celestine Vietti (KTM, Sky Racing Team VR46) escape.

What a last round of madness between Drive et Arbolino! Finally, it is Celestino Vietti (KTM, Sky Racing Team VR46) who wins in front Tony Arbolino (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team) and Ai Ogura (Honda, Honda Team Asia). Albert Arenas finishes fifth and retains leadership in the World Championship.

Tony Arbolino (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team) made a small mistake on the last lap, but celebrates his place on the podium.

Ai Ogura (Honda, Honda Team Asia) finished a strong third, and is now second in the World Championship standings.

We hope that Celestine Vietti will be more careful with the bottle of champagne this time, and that he will not hurt his hand. Lando Norris, F1 driver and big motorcycle fan, normally gave him valuable advice on this subject. Ultimately, he chose a more conventional bottle opening!

Finally, a beautiful image of a camera placed on a race commissioner, who intervenes following the fall of Kaito Toba (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo) during the last lap.

Styrian Moto3 Grand Prix results:

Classification credit: MotoGP.com