David Alonso asserts his dominance in Moto3™ thriller
Phil Branagan
Sunday, 20 October 2024
David Alonso has underlined his title-winning form with a brilliant Moto3™ victory in the opening race at the Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix 2024.
The 18-year-old Colombian won his record 11th Grand Prix of the season after taking control of the lead pack in the middle of the 21-lap race and, even after he gave up the lead, looked to have the race under his control. With three laps remaining, the CFMoto Gaviota Aspar KTM star stretched his lead to cruise to the win by 2.816s.
“I am very happy,” said Alonso, who was one of the few riders to choose the harder of Pirelli’s tyres.
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“It is important for me to keep the intensity and to keep winning. I really want to maintain the advantage in the last races.”
Alonso arrived in Victory lane with his head bandaged – the same celebration that Valentino Rossi did when he set the one-season record of 10 wins in the lightweight category, when he raced in what was then the 125cc class in 1997.
Daniel Holgado won the dash to the line to take second place for the BOE Motorsports KTM team, just ahead of Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Honda) and Stefan Nepa – who missed taking a maiden podium result by 0.018s after completing two Long Lap penalties after clashes in the buildup to the race.
Holgado was delighted to be back on the podium.
“It was a crazy [last] lap, I am very, very happy with my race,” said Holgado.
“Now I am second in the championship and the gap is very good for me. Thailand is very important, I need to have [win] the vice-championship.”
“The race was really crazy. It is a good feeling going into the race in Thailand,” said Fernandez, after his third successive podium finish.
The two Australian riders in the field, Joel Kelso and Jacob Roulstone, had difficult races. Kelso led the pack a number of times in the opening five laps before dropping to eighth place after a bump from another rider, then to 17th after another bump, this time at the Doohan Corner. He dropped behind Roulstone in the late laps but gained places over the final lap to take 11th place.
Roulstone (Red Bull GasGas) finished two places further back in 13th position.
The Moto3™ teams and riders now lead the dash to Thailand for next weekend’s 18th round of the championship at the Buriram circuit.
