Moto3 Valencia Race: Sergio Garcia survives chaos and wins GP in sprint

Andrea Migno (Mugen Race) qualified in pole position, ahead of Marcos Ramírez (Leopard Racing) and Jaume Masiá (Mugen Race). On the second row we found Arón Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), Sergio Garcia (Estrella Galicia 0,0) and Filip Salac (Redox PrüstelGP), then on the third row Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing), Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse ) and Romano Fenati (VNE Snipers).

Valencia Moto3™	2018	2019
FP1	1'52.782 Nakarin Atiratphuvapat	1'40.291 Marcos Ramírez
FP2	1'51.873 Alonso Lopez	1'39.612 Jaume Masia
FP3	1'49.406 Marco Bezzecchi	1'39.492 Marcos Ramírez
Q1	XXX	1'39.500 Tatsuki Suzuki
Q2	1'46.773 Tony Arbolino	1'38.683 Andrea Migno
warm up	1'50.712 Marco Bezzecchi	1'39.959 Jaume Masia
Course	Öncü, Martin, McPhee	Garcia, Migno, Artigas
All time lap record	1'38.428 Jorge Martin (2017)

With Lorenzo Dalla Porta having been titled and Aron Canet assured of second place, the interest of the race shifted to the fight for third position between Tony Arbolino (175 points) and Marcos Ramírez (174). John McPhee (156) still had a chance, but quite limited.

When gridded, the air temperature was 14° and the tarmac temperature was 10°. The start was delayed due to liquid lost on the track by Arón Canet's KTM. The Spaniard fell as did Ayumu Sasaki, without seriousness.

The track was cleaned and the race was going to start with a slight delay.

When the lights went out, the fastest to set off was Marcos Ramírez.

Jaume Masiá overtook him, but he fell, without seriousness in Turn 4. Ramírez recovered first position ahead of Migno, Garcia, Salac, Suzuki and Arbolino. Ramírez opened up an impressive gap of 1.4 at the end of the second lap, ahead of Suzuki, Migno and Garcia. Niccolò Antonelli, Makar Yurchenko, Carlos Tatay, Jeremy Alcoba and Dennis Foggia crashed in Turn 11. Foggia's bike burned, causing the race to be interrupted at the red flag.

Three laps having not been completed, all the drivers who could had the right to restart. The distance of the event was reduced to 15 laps, with the original places on the grid.

Jaume Masiá, suffering from a left shoulder, withdrew from the match. Niccolò Antonelli also, due to his injured collarbone, as well as Dennis Foggia transported to the medical PC, likewise Carlos Tatay. Romano Fenati, not having left the pits in time, had to start from the back of the grid.

During this new start, the fastest to start was Migno ahead of Ramírez, Canet, Salac, Suzuki, Garcia, Arbolino and Dalla Porta.

Ramírez took first position, ahead of Migno, Canet and Salac. Fenati moved up to twenty-first place, just behind Can Öncü.

Six drivers stood out after the first lap: Ramírez, Suzuki, Migno, Canet, Garcia and Salac. Arenas seventh was already more than two seconds behind.

Albert Arenas fell shortly after without seriousness and seventh became Tony Arbolino, 2.8 behind the leader.

Darryn Binder fell without gravity in Turn 4. Arbolino, Dalla Porta, Lopez and McPhee all fell together in Turn 4. Raul Fernández fell without gravity in Turn 5, and there were only 19 drivers left on the track after 4 laps .

Ramirez still dominated, followed very closely by Suzuki, Garcia, Migno, Canet, Artigas and Salac. López retired at his stand. Dalla Porta returned to the track in last position.

Garcia took command at mid-race ahead of Ramírez, Suzuki, Artigas, Migno, Canet and Salac.

Wildcard Artigas moved into first position for his first Grand Prix. The Barcelonan was ahead of Migno, Garcia, Suzuki, Salac, Ramírez and Canet.

Artigas was firmly in first position ahead of Migno, Garcia, Suzuki, Salac, Canet and Ramírez.

Artigas dominated Migno, Suzuki, Salac and Garcia. Victory would go to one of these five men. Migno took the lead entering the last lap ahead of Garcia, Artigas, Suzuki and Salac.

Garcia won at the finish ahead of Migno, Artigas, Suzuki and Salac.

Grand Prix results:

Final ranking of the World Championship:

Xavier Artigas

Video below: Celestino Vietti, rookie (beginner) of the year

Photos © motogp.com / Dorna