Moto3 Jerez Race: Demonstration by Collin Veijer, David Alonso fell!

The Moto3 race in Jerez always offers a great spectacle. And this edition of the Spanish Grand Prix is ​​no exception to the rule. Following an intense 35-minute battle, Collin Veijer won and therefore has a real option for the world championship, even if the road is still long until he obtains it. Before leaving, David Alonso (CFMoto Aspar Team) was the big favorite, well ahead of all the others. Indeed, he had dominated all the practice sessions, started from pole and set the track record. Behind the Colombian, we had to watch David Munoz (KTM Boé Motorsports) and Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), even if Ivan Ortola (KTM MT Helmets MSi), winner in 2023, was not far away. For Daniel Holgado (GasGas Red Bull Tech3), on the other hand, it was more complicated, notably due to a failed qualifying.

Even if you already know the result of this round, come and relive it with us in the comments! Before starting this retrospective, here is a table which summarizes the known facts :

Moto3™ Jerez	2023	2024
FP	1'46.173 Deniz Oncu	1'44.590 David Alonso
P1	1'46.915 Jaume Masia	1'43.710 David Alonso
P2	1'45.401 Deniz Oncu	1'55.619 David Alonso
Q1	1'45.908 Romano Fenati	1'47.823 Angel Piqueras
Q2	1'45.668 Deniz Oncu	1'44.954 David Alonso
Course	Ortolá, Alonso, Masia (See here)	Veijer, Munoz, Ortola
All time lap record	1'45.401 Deniz Oncu (2023)	1'43.710 David Alonso

 

It was sunny in Jerez shortly before departure. This time, no doubt; we are going to have a real Battle of Spain, in the dry. The lights go out one by one...here we go!

 

 

What a departure from David munoz ! From second place on the grid, he comes to pack down David Alonso twice to achieve the holeshot. But six turns later, Alonso took the lead again. His teammate Joel Esteban (CFMoto Aspar Moto3) is off to a good start too.

Are we heading towards Colombian domination? Well no ! David Alonso falls alone in the lead in the last corner, the Jorge Lorenzo hairpin ! It's incredible, the pole sitter, who had led the last nine sessions in Moto3, will not win the Spanish Grand Prix! He manages to restart, 13 seconds from the lead. Can he come back to score points? That's the whole question.

 

 

David munoz inherits the lead, but he also almost loses the rear. Collin Veijer et Ivan Ortola take advantage, here's their chance, now that Alonso is out of the competition. Tatsuki Suzuki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) is forced to return to his stand. He leaves nonetheless.

 

 

A small group of six escaped ahead, composed of Veijer, ortola, Munoz, Esteban, Joel Kelso (KTM Boé Motorsport) and Ryusei Yamanaka (KTM MT Helmets MSi). Everything remains to be done, but advantage to the Dutchman. Ivan Ortola is dangerous, and he won here last year. He can do it. Daniel Holgado, championship leader, is still struggling in 8th place. He struggles to come back to the first ones.

The battle is fierce, and in the meantime, David Alonso continues its ascent. He might be able to break into the top 10, but certainly not higher.

 

 

The situation remains exactly the same at the head of the race. The men look at each other and wait for the right moment. holgado is still 8th, without being able to move higher. David Alonso is 12th with five laps to go, but the gap with Veijer, the leader, does not reduce.

 

 

Ryusei Yamanaka cannot keep up with the unsustainable pace set by the three leaders. Joel Kelso et Joel Esteban are also behind, the battle will therefore be between only three pilots.

Collin Veijer seems to have the advantage, because he led more than the others but the shark Munoz lurks near him. Everything suggests that it will come down to the last bend, as is often the case on these lands! Ortola is a little behind in turn, but could pull the chestnuts out of the fire in the event of trouble.

 

 

Munoz fails to pull off a brilliant maneuver, which leads to the victory of Colin Veijer for only 45 thousandths of a second! Ivan Ortola is third. Joel Esteban, Aspar Martinez's rookie, falls in the last corner! Terrible for him, who could have secured his first top 6. Ryusei Yamanaka et Joel Kelso secure, respectively, the 5th and 6th places.

We felt Veijer faster, more dominant in this race with twists and turns. Daniel Holgado cuts the line in 7th place, while David Alonso is 11th. Clearly, the Colombian is the big loser of this Moto3 Spanish Grand Prix.

 

 

Moto3 Spanish Grand Prix result:

Classification credit: MotoGP.com

Cover photo: Intact GP