Moto3 Malaysia Sepang Race: Collin Veijer wins an elimination race, the big names on the mat!

How exciting this championship is. Moto3 resumes its rights for the race at Sepang; yet another contest which sees the young wolves with a bright future competing against each other. And at the end of the suspense, Collin Veijer wins for the very first time in his career. If, during the first days, the domination was shared between Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), it's good James Masia (Honda Leopard Racing Team) who shocked the motorcycle world with the fastest lap in the history of the track in qualifying. An unbeatable gem, which confirmed its position as leader of the championship. Behind, tempers were heating up, with Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) and Matteo Bertelle (Honda Snipers Team) on fire.

So, even if you already know the winner, come relive this race with us! Before we begin, here is a table which summarizes the known facts:

 

Moto3 Sepang™	2022	2023
FP1	2'12.226 Dennis Foggia	2'12.065 Jaume Masia
FP2	2'12.348 Dennis Foggia	2'12.518 Taiyo Furusato
FP3	2'12.418 David Munoz	2'11.139 Daniel Holgado
Q1	2'12.632 Ryusei Yamanaka	2'12.350 Collin Veijer
Q2	2'11.411 Dennis Foggia	2'10.846 Jaume Masia
Warm-up	2'25.542 Jaume Masia	XXXXX
Course	McPhee, Sasaki, Garcia (See here)	Veijer, Sasaki, Masia
All time lap record	2'11.411 Dennis Foggia (2022)	2'10.846 Jaume Masia

 

The weather is still good this Sunday near Sepang. Who will get the best start? Answer in a few moments.

 

 

Si Ivan Ortola (KTM Angeluss MTA Team) makes the best start from the second row, the holeshot is for Collin Veijer ! He leaves the first complex in the lead, just in front James Masia who didn't let it happen. Also pay attention to Deniz Oncu (Red Bull KTM Garlic), fourth, but also David Alonso (GasGas Aspar Team), started from the worst places but already at the level of the top 10.

 

 

Everyone left well, except Daniel Holgado ! Ayumu Sasaki is second for a while, nothing is lost for the Japanese, who even leads briefly too! Collin Veijer failed to contain the Spaniard for long. The spreads are extremely tight, as usual, and it is difficult to draw conclusions without being hasty.

 

 

Without surprise, James Masia has the respondent, he does not let it happen. While at the same time, Roman Fenati (Rivacold Snipers Team) experiences yet another fall. The battle is intense, fourteen drivers are in the leading group and everyone can dream of a podium.

But BE CAREFUL OF FALLING! Huge collective crash initiated by the highside of David Alonso ! Daniel Holgado is involved, both see their title chances absolutely destroyed! If Jaume Masia wins this Grand Prix, they will have no chance. Diogo Moreira (KTM MT Helmets MSi), Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), Riccardo rossi (Honda Sic58 Squadra Corsica) and Philip Farioli (Red Bull KTM Tech3) are also involved.

 

 

Right after, without being able to breathe, Jaume Masia failure to fall after contact with David Munoz (KTM Boé Motorsports) in the leading group! Munoz made a huge save, what images!

 

 

Up front, nothing has moved. Ayumu Sasaki leads in front of his teammate Collin Veijer to the direction James Masia stay on the lookout. A small group of five was formed: it should be added Matteo Bertelle, Deniz Oncu et Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Garlic) to the names previously mentioned. The game is intense, unpredictable. Sometimes for Masia, sometimes for Oncu, sometimes for Sasaki.

 

 

With four rounds to go, Kaito Toba (Honda Sic58 Squadra Corsica) falls in turn. Anything can happen ahead. And justly ! Jose Antonio Rueda takes away his teammate Deniz Oncu three laps from the end, Matthew Bertelli is forced to brake to avoid chaos! There are only three drivers left who can compete for victory, it's unbearable!

 

 

Ayumu Sasaki starts the last lap in the lead, but we all know his weakness: decision-making in the final moments, strong point of James Masia. But finally, in the last corner, it was Collin Veijer who took victory right under the noses of the favorites! The Dutch rookie takes his first victory in Moto3, incredible! Ayumu Sasaki is second, just ahead of Jaume Masia. What a race!

Obviously, emotions are mixed within the box Husqvarna Liqui Moly Intact GP, seeing as the hero of the day deprives the “Crazy Boy” Ayumu Sasaki valuable points in the title race! Jaume Masia still has a small eight point lead over the Japanese overall. David Alonso et Daniel Holgado are relegated to more than forty units, it's over for them.

 

 

Moto3 Malaysian Grand Prix 2023 result:

 

 

Classification credit: MotoGP.com

Cover photo: Intact GP