Aragon Moto3: Masia victorious in chaotic last lap battle

Jaume Masia left it late to make his push for the win but made his late move count to hold on fo the win in the Moto3 Aragon Grand Prix.

The Leopard Racing rider was a feature in the front group once the chasing trio of John McPhee, Jeremy Alcoba and Masia caught the breakaway quintet at the front, but had left it to the penultimate lap to show his cards.

His home win was somewhat controversial after appearing to venture outside track limits on the final lap, but no penalty was applied and the Spaniard took the top step on the podium.

His first win of the season, all the more impressive after lining up 17th on the grid, is also Honda’s 100th different winner in grand prix racing.

Darryn Binder thought he had timed his final lap to get the sliptream over the line after making his bike fit to move up to second in a chaotic final three laps with eight riders in contention for the win.

It was not to be, the CIP Green Power rider was the best of the KTM riders in second and just 0.091s slower to the line than Masia.

Pole man Raul Fernandez was fastest in warm-up too and brought that pace into the race, leading the most laps over the duration.

This time there was no fade away on used tyres from the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider, who kept in contention to collect his first podium finish.

McPhee had an eventful Sunday for Petronas Sprinta Racing. Starting tenth, he completed his long lap early once the stewards gave him the nod to take the loop, his practice around the long lap in warm-up paid off and he instantly set about chasing through the pack.

Hitting the lead group with Masia and Alcoba, he looked to be out of contention when a late error saw him run wide, but he rallied again to take fifth over the line.

Kommerling Gresini’s Alcoba also made up for his lacklustre qualifying, he started 16th, to cross the line just behind in sixth and was the top rookie.

Albert Arenas (Solunion Aspar) lead the race briefly late on but was completely raced out of contention in the run to the line and finished seventh. The Spaniard also appeared to run off track on the final lap but like Masia was deemed to have not been at fault as no penalty was applied to his result by race direction after checks.

He remains championship leader, now by thireteen points, after Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) could only manage a best of 14th in the race. Third placed overall Celestino Vietti also failed to capitalise - crossing the line ninth in the race for Sky Racing. 

Tatsuki Suzuki was the last of the lead group ahead of Vietti in eighth for SIC 58 Squadra Corse, though he faded while managing his late track limits warning.

Dennis Foggia had enough in the tank to complete the top ten on the second Leopard entry.

Katio Toba fought back to climb to eleventh for Red Bull KTM Ajo, while Carlos Tatay found improvements to secure twelfth for Reale Avinita.

The remaining points went to Ayumu Sasaki in 13th for Red Bull KTM Tech 3, Ogura and Sasaki’s team-mate Deniz Oncu who climbed to 15th late in the race. 

Alonso Lopez struggled to recover from his long lap penalty for his crash with his team-mate Fenati in Le Mans, he finished just outside of the points in 17th. Sergio Garcia saw his points hope fade with the same punishment applied late in the race for exceeding track limits.

Gabriel Rodrigo had already fallen in warm-up and repeated the feat on the first lap. Andrea Migno lasted until lap nine when he slid out of the race with Maximilian Kofler falling on the penultimate lap

Tony Arbolino misses the race to stay within Coronavirus guidelines despite a negative test after flying with someone who tested positive.