Moto3 Valencia Race: Xavier Artiguas wins his first race in Moto3, Acosta down, pushed by Foggia

Despite this World Champion title freshly won in Portimão, Pedro Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) had until then never scored the slightest pole position in the Moto3 World Championship. Here is who is corrected this Saturday during qualifying for the Valencia GP, with this lap 1'38.668. The World Champion will have the privilege of starting his final Moto3 Grand Prix from first place. And the latter stuck the equivalent of three tenths to his closest pursuer, Tatsuki Suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24). Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28) completes the front row.

Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) opens the second row of the grid in front Filip Salac (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #12) and Lorenzo Fellon (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #20), the Frenchman is doing very well after having had to go through Q1. He thus equals his best qualification of the year, as had already been the case at the Sachsenring. Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7), seventh, was almost half a second behind the poleman and will be joined on the third row by his compatriots Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55) and the leader of Q1 Niccolo Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23). Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11) looked strong in both qualifying sessions, but preferred to ride alone on track, a strategy which did not work as he dropped to 10th place on the grid, sharing the fourth line with Carlos Tatay (KTM, Reale Avintia Moto3, #99) and Jeremy Alcoba (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #52).

Despite a head and shoulders dominated FP3 session, Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) was unable to reproduce this in Q2 and had to settle for 13th place, opening the fifth row, ahead Stefano Nepa (KTM, BOE Owlride, #82) and John McPhee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #17). Darryn binder (KTM, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #40) will start his final Moto3 race from 16th on the grid, one second from pole position and sharing the sixth row with the rookie Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43) and the replacement Joel Kelso (KTM, CIP-Green Power, #66). The big surprise of Q1 was Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) who struggled to threaten the top positions and then had his best time revoked for exceeding track limits, meaning the local rider will start the race from the penultimate line of the grid.

Who will be the winner of this last Grand Prix of the season? Before answering this question, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far.

Moto3 ™	Valencia-2 2020	2021
FP1	1'38.413 Tony Arbolino	1'39.561 Izan Guevara
FP2	1'38.479 Jaume Masia	1'41.524 Dennis Foggia
FP3	1'39.399 Deniz Oncu	1'39.256 Deniz Öncü
Q1	1'39.667 John McPhee	1'39.159 Niccolo Antonelli
Q2	1'38.286 Darryn Binder	1'38.668 Pedro Acosta
Warm Up	1'39.511 Ayumu Sasaki	1'39.915 Pedro Acosta
Course	Arbolino, Garcia, Fernandez	Artigas, Garcia, Masia
All time lap record	1'38.286 Darryn Binder 2020

On this Sunday morning, the air temperature was 18°C and the track temperature was 13°C.

Here is the drivers' tire choice, shared by Dunlop.

The drivers are ready to set off for this 23-lap race.

When the red lights go out, Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) maintains the advantage over Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24), Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) took 3rd place.

Lorenzo Fellon (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #20) suffers a highside at turn 4, just like Darryn Binder (KTM, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #40) and Ryusei Yamanaka (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #6) falls to avoid them.

At the end of the first round, Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) maintains the advantage over Tatsuki Suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24) and Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28).

Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) misses at turn 3, during the 2nd lap, and loses time on the rest of the group, but remains in the top 5.

While 3 rounds have already been completed, Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28) took back control, ahead Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) and Filip Salac (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #12). Adrian Fernandez (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #31) received a double “Long Lap” for having anticipated the start.

Joel Kelso (KTM, CIP-Green Power, #66) and Jose Antonio Rueda (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #95) hang on at the start of the 5th lap.

The battle rages at the front, Pedro Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) and Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28) exchanging leadership at every turn. Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) also joins the fight, but the first 2 have taken a few steps ahead of their pursuers.

15 laps from the finish of this last race of the season, Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) is still in the lead, ahead Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) and Filip Salac (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #12). The drivers benefit from the slipstream on the pit straight and the places move regularly in the peloton.

Yukii Kuni (Honda, Honda Team Asia, #92) fell at turn 14, without seriousness.

Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37), Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) and Filip Salac (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #12) try to break away from their pursuers, but by fighting, they lose time.

With only 10 laps remaining, the first 12 drivers have gained a slight lead over their pursuers. Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) struggles to stay in the lead, ahead Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43) and Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53). More and more drivers are being warned for exceeding track limits.

We expected it, Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) receives a Long Lap penalty for exceeding the track limits 5 times. His chances of victory are dwindling, because he will lose around 3 seconds in the process, and should return to the track around 15th position. A few turns later, it's the turn of Filip Salac (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #12) to suffer the same punishment. These 2 drivers take their penalty together and come out 11th and 12th. They are still in the leading group, but no longer really in favorable positions, with 7 laps remaining.

During this time, contacts are increasing up front, even within a team, as the 2 GasGas drivers demonstrate.

6 laps from the finish, Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24) falls at turn 1.

Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) took control 5 laps from the finish, ahead Pedro Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) and Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11). Deniz Öncü (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) moved up to 6th, he is more than motivated to win this race. Filip Salac (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #12) is 8th, these 2 drivers have excellent pace, but are pushing a little too hard: Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) almost fell at turn 3 and found himself 9th, but that did not demotivate him, on the contrary, he left with the knife between his teeth.

Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7) has not said his last word and wants to take his revenge on Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37).

Alberto Surra (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #67) falls at turn 2, 3 laps from the finish.

At the start of the last round, Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7) leads, in front Pedro Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) and Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43). Deniz Öncü (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) is 4th.

Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) unfortunately falls at turn 2 when hitting Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7), the race is over for the World Champion. Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11) also falls a little further.

As you pass the checkered flag, Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43) wins, ahead Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11) and Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5)

The incident between Acosta et Foggia will be examined by Race Direction. It seems that the second left strongly, which caused the fall of the World Champion.

Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) is furious with Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7). The latter receives a 3-second penalty at the end of the race and drops to 13th position.

Ranking of the Moto3 Grand Prix of the Valencian Community in Valencia:

Credit Ranking: MotoGP.com