Moto3 Austria Race: Sergio Garcia hits the gas and wins ahead of Deniz Öncü

Romano Fenati, who won at the Red Bull Ring in 2019 in addition to finishing third last weekend, qualified on pole position for the fifth time in Moto3, and for the first time since the Grand Prix. Brittany in 2017. This is the first time he will start from the front row in three successive Moto3 races from Valencia/2015 to Argentina/2016. With Fenati on pole, it's the second pole for Husqvarna in Moto3 with Danny Kent in Japan in 2014. True, but in the last 22 Moto3 races, only one rider has won after qualifying in pole position: Raul Fernandez last year in Portugal…

Tatsuki suzuki, who fell in Q2 during an incident with gabriel rodrigo, qualified second for his fourth front row of the season so far with Spain, Italy and Germany. He will attempt to reach the podium for the first time since San Marino last year.

Jeremy Alcove qualified in third position, which is the sixth time this season he has qualified in the top three despite starting from the pitlane in Portugal. In his four previous Moto3 visits to the Red Bull Ring, he has only scored points once, finishing 14th in last year's Austrian GP.

James Masia, who made his Grand Prix debut in Austria in 2017, qualified in fourth position, his best qualifying result since third in France earlier this year. He will try to reach the podium for the first time since Italy, also this year.

In pole position last weekend, Deniz Oncu qualified in fifth position, the second best result of his Moto3 career. Ayumu Sasaki qualified in sixth position, his best result since his third place last year in Portugal.

Championship leader and winner of the Styrian Grand Prix last weekend, Peter Acosta qualified in seventh position. This is the ninth time this year that he has failed to qualify in the top six. His rival in the general classification, Sergio Garcia, is thirteenth.

What will this Moto3 race have in store for us? Before answering this question, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far.

Moto3™ Red Bull Ring	Styria 2021	Austria 2021
FP1	1'37.143 Sergio Garcia	1'36.215 Darryn Binder
FP2	1'36.809 Darryn Binder	1'36.752 Darryn Binder
FP3	1'35.933 Ayumu Sasaki	1'35.838 Izan Guevara
Q1	1'36.526 Dennis Foggia	1'36.451 Riccardo Rossi
Q2	1'36.453 Deniz Öncu	1'35.850 Romano Fenati
Warm-up	1'45.557 Pedro Acosta	1'36.181 Deniz Öncü
Course	Acosta, Garcia, Fenati	Garcia, Öncü, Foggia
All time lap record	1'35.778 Tony Arbolino 2019

It's 25° in the air and 32,4° on the track. The sun is out.

The drivers will have 23 laps to complete before securing victory.

It's off and it's Fenati who comes out in front ahead of Oncu, Suzuki, Sasaki and Acosta.

Oncu takes charge of operations. He wants to set his pace quickly. Behind, Fenati is under threat from Ssaski, Acosta is 4th, Garcia is 5th.

Migno crashes in turn 10 following contact with his teammate Salvador

Acosta seizes leadership to the detriment of Oncu and Fenati. Fenati charges Oncu, it passes, the Italian is 2nd.

Fenati, who doesn't give up, takes his place in 1st position, Oncu takes advantage of this and takes 2nd position, Acosta drops back to 3rd position.

Oncu, who is not to be outdone, attacks Fenati, he takes the lead again.

The top5 is as follows: Oncu, Fenati, Acosta, Garcia and Masia. 19 rounds left

Entering turns 9 and 10, Fenati regains the lead of the race. Oncu very incisive, tries a blow but it doesn't work. Acosta bides his time behind the Turk. Garcia and Masia bring up the rear of the top5.

Binder makes Sasaki fall following a touch. Fall in turn 10. Sasaki returns to the box.

Oncu heckles Fenati and takes the lead again. The Italian lost several positions, he fell to 5th position.

Masia in turn takes over the leading group. Acosta, Oncu, Fenati and Garcia complete this top5.

Stunning exterior from Fenati. He overtook 3 drivers at once! He's back in the lead!

But Oncu, tough as hell, wants his victory, he takes control again. He is the fastest on the track.

Long lap for Tatay for having passed too many times in the green part. Same punishment for Alcoba.

Abandonment for Fernandez.

With 10 laps to go, the top 10 is as follows: Oncu, Acosta, Garcia, Fenati, Masia, Foggia, McPhee, Binder, Guevara and Toba. 

Who of these 8 drivers will win? They all fit in a pocket handkerchief!

There are 8 laps left and Öncü still holds the line ahead of Masia, Acosta, Fenati and Garcia. 

Acosta gets rid of Masia and Fenati as well. Max Biaggi's driver got the better of Acosta and took 2nd position. But Masia doesn't give up either, he's not the last in the fight. He recovers 3rd position. The leading trio is made up of 5 laps from the goal: Oncu, Acosta, Garcia who has just forced his way over Masia!

The checkered flag is near.. Who will win? the furious ones are unleashed!

3 more laps: Acosta is still in “sleep” mode in the saddle of Öncü. Garcia takes the lead! Acosta goes too, the war is on! Öncü iron it's hot! Behind, Acosta fights with Garcia who he has in his wheel. Foggia and Fenati complete this top5.

The fight reaches its peak! Oncu leads the way in front of Garcia! But Garcia is threatening, he takes control! The Turk is 2nd, Foggia is 3rd, Acosta and Fenati, 4th and 5th.

Victory for Garcia ahead of Oncu, Foggia, Acosta and Fenati!

 

 

            Moto3 Austria Race: classification

 

Credit classification motogp.com