Moto3 Brno: Last lap heroics see Canet power to victory

Aron Canet put in a masterclass of a final lap to take victory in the Moto3 Czech Republic Grand Prix at Brno.

The Sterilgarda Max Racing Team rider had been in contention in the lead group for the whole race, but made himself known in the final laps.

The Spaniard slipped up to second at turn three on his KTM, then hit the front at the perfect moment with a move which left the rest of the field for dust, powering out of turn nine and away for the win.

Canet is just the second rider to win more than one race this season, with this victory handing him back the lead in the championship, with a total of 148 - three ahead of Lorenzo Dalla Porta.

The Leopard rider was at the front for much of the race after recovering swiftly from his 17th place grid position and gave chase but could not catch Canet, +0.159s behind at the line.

Third place went to fellow Honda rider Tony Arbolino, who also lead over the duration after starting from pole. With little grip available he found it hard to fight back on the final laps, allowing Canet to pass the VNE Snipers rider with that final lunge.

Jaume Masia had to fight hard to claim back fourth, leaving Niccolo Antonelli fifth after staging an amazing comeback for SIC58 Squadra Corse. 

Antonelli brought drama before the lights went out when his bike wouldn’t start. Beginning his race from pit lane and repeatedly put in the fastest lap of the race to move back into the points he then kept his forward momentum to be in contention for the win before being forced wide during Canet’s final move.

Sixth went to the top rookie Ai Ogura for Honda Team Asia, as he held off the rapidly approaching Italian duo of Andrea Migno (Bester Capital Dubai) and Romano Fenati (VNE Snipers) who finished seventh and eighth respectively.

Jakub Kornfeil was the top home rider in ninth for Redox PruestelGP after team-mate Filip Salac’s turn one, lap one crash.

Darryn Binder (CIP Green Power) was as feisty as ever as he fought hard to keep the final spot in the top ten.

Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) was a distant eleventh, with Raul Fernandez (Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team) even further adrift, though he won his personal battle over the line with Makar Yurchenko (BOE Skull Rider Mugen Race) who had to settle for 13th.

The final points on offer went to Can Oncu (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in 14th and Dennis Foggia (Sky Racing Team) in 15th. 

Deniz Oncu (Red Bull KTM Ajo) finished the first of his two consecutive wildcard performances in 18th.

Tatsuki Suzuki was an early faller, as were Celestino Vietti, Riccardo Rossi and Albert Arenas -Arenas rejoined but fell again. Vietti also had a second attempt but finished out of the points in 19th.

Kaito Toba exited from the lead group in the closing stages, with five laps remaining. The group was split further when the Estrella Galicia team-mates clashed on track, with Sergio Garcia taking a different, inside line. Alonso Lopez was unable to control his emotions, shoving his compatriot as they made their way out of the gravel.

Kazuki Masaki also failed to go the distance, crashing on the penultimate lap.

John McPhee’s bike failed to launch as he hit the pit limiter as the lights went green, the Brit immediately put his hand up but wildcard Yuki Kunii couldn’t avoid hitting the Petronas bike, ending his race before it had began. Kunii initially seemed to be unconscious, but walked away from the clash.

McPhee retired to the pits shortly after and attended the medical centre for a check on his ankle injury, disappointing given his front row start.

Tom Booth Amos (CIP Green Power) needed stitches overnight following his qualifying crash, but fell again on lap two, ending his race in the gravel.

Gabriel Rodrigo missed race day after his huge practice highside left him with multiple fractures.