It was in a widely palpable tension that Qatar was awarded the Moto3 world title, with Jaume Masia winning a crown in Losail after a controversial race. Everything was done more to extinguish the last chances of Ayumu Sasaki than to play for the victory which still came for the Spaniard from a Leopard Honda team which had a second blade to pull the rug from under the Japanese's feet in the person of teammate Adrian Fernandez. This event overshadowed the entire season of Jaume Masia, the only driver in the top 10 of the general classification not to ride on a machine from the Pierer Mobility group. Time has passed, the pressure has fallen, and the one who will find Sasaki in Moto2 next year returned to this epilogue. Apologizing, but not for what you think...
Which is why James Masia apologizes, it is this sentence escaped under the effect of the adrenaline of a sensational arrival: “ whether you like it or not, a Spaniard won ". The message was intended for the commissioners, officials including the pilot Leopard Honda had convinced himself that they had ganged up against him by warning him for his maneuvers on Sasaki. He returns in an interview to Mark on this hot assessment: “ my comment was wrong, it was a tense moment, the adrenaline level was very high. Perhaps I misinterpreted certain actions of the race management. The work they do is very complicated and it is difficult to be completely impartial. In a distressing moment, a little thing is enough to feel insulted, but I would like to point out that I did not want to offend other drivers ».
« I am lucky to be surrounded by people who love me very much », specifies the pilot of already 23 years. And this affection served him a lot after the criticisms received for this consecration, starting with those of Mick doohan. To the point that the Spaniard must recall this: “ a world championship is won in 20 races, it does not depend on a single race. I think I did a really good job and we were very clear as a team about what teamwork meant, that we would support each other. Something that didn't seem to be as clear on the other team ».
Jaume Masia: “ I'm the only Honda rider, so I wouldn't have liked to experience a final in Valencia, but I have an idea of what would have happened »
« When you see a group of people so determined to improve and win, you can't sleep easy if you don't give 120%. » he said about his team Leopard. " I thought about it constantly in my daily life at home. For me, I've always had the best bike, despite the differences in acceleration, and all the rest. I got on the bike thinking it was the best bike and I had the best package and the best people. This led us to our goal ».
Then he mentions what he feared the most: a final in the der de Valence: “ I am the only Honda representative in the Top 10. That also says something. I wouldn't have wanted to experience that, but I have an idea what would have happened ". The fact remains that sympathy went to the side of the loser, the winner being seen as a bad boy. A situation that James Masia will not forget in 2024, the year which will be his first in Moto2, as for Sasaki ... " We'll see how Ayumu does, if he really is such a good driver, or if it came from his motorcycle ...That's something we'll see ».
