Hashtag: Diogo Moreira

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Moto3: Moreira with Bonkers Win in Indonesia!

Image Credit: MTHelmets - MSi

The Moto3 Indonesian Grand Prix was one to remember and a race that you could write a book about. It was Moto3 madness at its very best, as Diogo Moreira (MTHelmets-MSi) won an incredible race in Mandalika. He is the first Brazilian rider to win in any class since Alex Barros at the 2005 Portuguese Grand Prix.

In the hottest conditions of the year so far, the 3 title contenders of Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing), Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna Intact GP) arrived at the circuit separated by just 9 points.

At the end of the race, and the all of the chaos, the top 8 riders were separated by less than a second. Thanks to his victory, Masia now leads the championship by 16 points as we head to Phillip Island in Australia next weekend. 

Image Credit: MTHelmets-MSi

AS IT HAPPENED

We had drama here in Indonesia before the lights went out, with the Husqvarna team scrambling to fix Sasaki’s bike on the grid. Sasaki had a fall during the sighting lap which seemed to hinder him throughout the Grand Prix. It was the last thing he needed, being 1 of the 3 main contenders fighting for this year’s Moto3 championship.

Sasaki also had an issue off the start and dropped way back. At the same time, Moreira shot off from pole position and led the race after turn 1. Moreira led with Collin Veijer (Husqvarna Intact GP) up in 2nd with David Alonso (GASGAS Aspar Team) in 3rd. Veijer was enjoying a great start to the race.

Holgado seemed more determined than ever to get to the front and went up the inside of both Alonso and Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) at turn 16. It was a superb start for Holgado, going from 7th to 3rd on the opening lap of the race. Holgado was desperate to take back control of the championship.

On lap 2, Veijer ran wide to let Holgado go through into 2nd. Holgado wasn’t stopping there, getting by Moreira and taking the lead of the race. Sasaki dropped all the way back to 22nd from the opening lap.

Masia posted the fastest lap of the race as they started lap 3 and quickly moved up into 4th, getting by Alonso at turn 1. Masia was picking his way back through the field after a poor start from the front row.

Into turn 10, Veijer took the inside line getting by Holgado to retake the lead of the race. Masia then went by Moreira up into 3rd. As per usual in Moto3, we had a tonne of overtakes and after a few laps this was shaping up to be another fantastic battle for the win in Mandalika.

As Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team) took his long lap penalty at the start of lap 4, Holgado led with Veijer and Masia just behind dicing with each other for 2nd. Sector 3 and yellow flags waved as Ana Carrasco (BOE Motorsports) had a nasty crash at turn 10, her first crash of the 2023 season. Hopefully Carrasco will be ok after that one.

With the first quarter of the race completed, Holgado was leading from Masia 2nd and Alonso in 3rd. Holgado had a few tenths of a second gap to Masia in 2nd, but still with a long way to go in the race.

Lap 7 and into turn 10 the riders fan out 6 abreast going into the corner as Masia was the last on the brakes and took the lead of the race. Masia only led for a few corners as Holgado, yet again with another overtake at turn 16, retook the lead from Masia. Alonso and Veijer continued to swap places with Alonso now back up into 3rd.

Coming up to half race distance, into the favourite turn 16, Veijer went up the inside of both Alonso and Masia. The second double overtake of the race. David Munoz (BOE Motorsports) went by Alonso up into 5th with Moreira setting the fastest lap of the race. It was still all to play for at this point and it was anyone’s guess as to who would come out on top at the end. Holgado led from Veijer in 2nd and Masia in 3rd at this stage.

Yellow flags waved as Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) crashed out of the race in sector 2. Moreira dove and Munoz barged their way by Masia in the fast sector 2. Masia was going backwards from 3rd to 5th with 10 laps to go. As it stood, Holgado would retake the lead of the championship.

8 laps left and we had a six-way shootout for victory at the Mandalika circuit. Holgado led but not for long as Moreira went by and back to the front of the race. Moreira lead from Holgado 2nd, Veijer 3rd, Alonso 4th, Masia 5th and Munoz in 6th. Any of the top 6 still had a chance of winning this race in an ever changing order at the front.

Into the final phase of the race, with 7 laps to go, Holgado dove up the inside of Moreira into turn 1 with Moreira back passed Holgado into turn 2. Into the fast sector 2 and Holgado cut the corner and into the lead of the race. Holgado was his own worst enemy and was handed a long lap penalty as a result. There was no room for Holgado to get by Moreira but, with a bit of patience, Holgado could have avoided that. With Sasaki way down in 19th place and Holgado with a long lap penalty to serve, this was all playing into the hands of Masia in the championship.

Masia was gifted the lead as Holgado slotted back into 10th place after serving the long lap penalty. Masia lead from Alonso in 2nd and Veijer in 3rd. Up to the end of lap 16, Munoz went up the inside of Veijer into 3rd place with just 4 laps left to go.

Munoz and Alonso diced and swapped positions throughout the lap in the battle for 2nd place. Holgado set the fastest lap of the race after his long lap penalty and fought his way back up to 8th. Holgado recovered rapidly and was not far off catching the leaders.

2 laps to go and down into turn 1 Masia led from Munoz 2nd, Moreira 3rd and Veijer in 4th. Masia made a mistake into turn 3 and opened the door for Munoz to go by and into the lead at turn 4. Another long lap penalty was issued for Holgado just as he went for the lead of the race and ran too deep, almost colliding with Masia. Moreira now led with Alonso 2nd, Munoz 3rd and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) up to 4th. Holgado, in 5th, has a long lap penalty to serve and Masia was down in 6th.

THE LAST LAP

Pole sitter Moreira led into turn 1 with Munoz 2nd and Alonso in 3rd. Holgado refused to take the long lap penalty and instead took the time penalty that would be issued at the end of the Grand Prix. Holgado quickly dispatched Alonso and Munoz and then up the inside of Moreira into the lead with half a lap to go. Holgado was just too good through the fast, sweeping sector 2. Holgado, at this point, could have been totally unaware of his 2nd long lap penalty.

Both Moreira and Alonso swooped by Holgado at turn 12 and into turn 13 the carnage continued. 3 abreast they went and Masia squeezed Holgado wide. Moreira led into the final sector of the race with Alonso in 2nd and Munoz in 3rd. Veijer went from 7th to 3rd in one corner, an incredible performance from the Dutch teenager Veijer.

Into the final corner we went, Moreira led and Munoz tried all he could to get by Alonso, who clung onto 2nd as they crossed the line. That race was Moto3 in its purest form. Madness in Mandalika from start to finish. It’s for races like this that we watch Moto3 and why we love it so much. What a race and what a win for Moreira!

After all of the chaos, Holgado was relegated from 9th to 14th, salvaging 2 points after failing to comply with the 2nd long lap penalty. After the troubles for Sasaki and the penalties for Holgado, Masia is now 16 points clear in the championship as we head to Philip Island in Australia next weekend.

Race Classification

Image Credit: MotoGP

Championship Standings

Image Credit: MotoGP

Feature Image Credit: MotoGP

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Moto3: Moreira Magic in Mandalika

Image Credit: MT Helmets - MSI

Round 15 and with 6 races remaining, Diogo Moreira was back to his best here in Indonesia. The Brazilian showed everyone what he’s capable of and why he’s heading to Moto2 next season. A first pole position of the season for Moreira.

Championship leader Jaume Masia qualified in 2nd and David Alonso made up the front row qualifying in 3rd. Masia’s rivals Daniel Holgado 7th and Ayumu Sasaki way down in 11th place. We’re all set for another fantastic Moto3 race tomorrow at the Mandalika Circuit.

Image Credit: MTHelmets-MSi

AS IT HAPPENED

Qualifying 1

With all of the title contenders through to the Q2 session, it was Husqvarna’s Collin Veijer the stand out name taking part in the session. Xavi Artigas was the first rider out of the pits to get us started in the 15mins session.

As the first riders completed their first flying laps, it was Taiyo Furusato at the top of the timings with Mario Aji 2nd, Veijer 3rd and Adrian Fernandez in 4th.

Veijer lead with several minutes left of the session, with Furusato just behind, both riders over half a second clear of the rest of the field, with Aji 3rd and Yamanaka in 4th.

After a quick trip the pits we had just 2mins left of the session. Sector 1 was lit up in yellow flags as Nicola Fabio went down at turn 2. Fabio ok and the riders now only had 1 more attempt at getting into the top 4 for Q2.

Riccardo Rossi ran wide at turn 16 and ruined a great lap. Josh Whatley up to 4th was the only change to the top 4 going through to Q2, as Ryusei Yamanaka was unable to get his GASGAS into Q2.

 

End of the Q1 session and Furusato top with Veijer 2nd, Fernandez 3rd and Whatley in 4th.

Qualifying 2

After the battle in practice this morning between title rivals Masia and Holgado, we were all set for a great fight for pole position at the Mandalika circuit here in Indonesia.

With 10mins left of the session and the first set of flying laps completed. It was Moreira at the top with David Munoz second and Fernandez rounding off the front row currently in 3rd.

 

With the tyres now warmed up, the times were tumbling with an ever changing order at the front for tomorrow’s race. David Alonso currently in 2nd with Holgado moving up the order to 3rd in the timings. With Masia sat in the pits after his first run, we were yet to see any rapid time from the Spaniard. Deniz Öncü also yet to leave the pits and set a time with just 7mins left of the session.

5mins left of the session and title contender Holgado was currently sat in 3rd, Sasaki 4th and Masia was down in 11th. Masia at this point in the session had a lot of work to do.

Masia responded and up onto the front row. 2nd in the timings, just +0.223 tenths of a second back to the provisional pole time set by Moreira. Öncü was out of the pits and posted and a quick time up to 4th on his first attempt at pole position.

With 2mins left of the session, Scott Ogden had a painful highside crash coming out of turn 4. Sector 1 waved yellow flags with just a minute left of the session. Ogden was up and moving but will be in a lot of pain after that one.

Last laps now in the session and a key couple of minutes here in Indonesia.  Masia barged his way by the Brazilian Moreira and tried all he could to get pole position. Masia missed out on pole by just +0.040 tenths of a second.

With the rest of the field coming through and not improving, it was the first pole position of the season for MTHelmets – MSi team’s Moreira.

A great qualifying for Moreira. After the promotion to Moto2 next season, it seems to of definitely given Moreira the boost of confidence he needed.

Leopard Racing team’s Masia will be happy with that qualifying going from the front row of the grid in 2nd. David Alonso who is surely a clear contender for rookie of the year, rounded off the front row in 3rd.

In the 3 horse race for the championship this season, we have Masia starting 2nd, Holgado 7th and Ayumu Sasaki way down in 11th in tomorrow’s race. Masia will be keen to extend the championship lead at the top.

Starting Grid

Image Credit: MotoGP

Championship Standings

Image Credit: MotoGP

 

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Moto3: Masia wins Chaotic Clash in COTA

Jaume Masia has come out on top, winning in COTA, ahead of a seven-way battle that rumbled on for much of the race. He was joined on the podium by Dennis Foggia and Andrea Migno.

It was the experienced Moto3 riders who came out on top at the Grand Prix of the Americas today. The chaotic race saw seven riders battling for only three podium positions for most of the race. Eventually, it was Jaume Masia who came out on top, taking the lead on the final lap.

Masia hasn’t won a race since the first round of the 2021 season, making it an emotional return to the top step of the podium for the Spanish rider. Having spent last year in the shadow of his teammate and eventual 2021 Moto3 champion, Pedro Acosta, this win will provide him with some much-needed confidence.

On the podium were fellow Italian riders Dennis Foggia, in second, and pole-sitter Andrea Migno, in third.

As the race commenced, it was Deniz Oncu who took an early lead, passing Migno at the first corner. He took rookie Diogo Moreira with him as he leapt from his starting position of sixth up to second. Oncu and Moreira were then battling for the lead and came to be side-by-side on the long straight. As they crossed the line to start the second lap, Moreira swerves across in to Oncu’s path. Oncu was forced to back off and Moreira stole the lead.

Further back, Kaito Toba enjoyed a good start as he leapt up from eighth to fifth. However, Scott Ogden had a more difficult start as he was shuffled back to 17th, despite claiming his best qualifying result and starting the race in 12th.

Foggia and Masia also struggled and, by lap 4, they were quickly shuffled back to 10th and 11th despite starting second and fifth respectively.

On the same lap, Oncu took the lead back from Moreira. Shortly after, Xavier Artigas got the best of both of them and flew his way up in to the lead. Two laps later and Moreira was back in the lead of the race, only to be overtaken by Oncu shortly after.

At this point, a number of other riders joined the leading pack, stating their intentions for the win. Championship leader Sergio Garcia closed up to the leading three but then clashed with Daniel Holgado, who crashed in to him on the final corner. Both riders were able to rejoin the race but Garcia eventually retired on lap 13 and Holgado crashed again on the final lap of the race. Holgado will be disappointed with his race result today, as he makes his return from injury.

Lap 8 saw Ayumu Sasaki and Masia join the leading group, taking second and third respectively behind Oncu.

For much of the rest of the race, seven riders were battling at the front of the pack – these riders were Masia, Sasaki, Oncu, Moreira, Foggia, Artigas, and Migno.

As the grid started their final lap, Migno was leading ahead of Masia in second and Foggia in third. Moreira crashed at the first corner of the lap – he was trying to hard to make his way through the leading pack and showed his inexperience with a rookie error that ruined his hard work.

Due to a number of incidents around the circuit, yellow flags were hampering the progress of most riders and left it difficult to find a way past Migno. However, down the long straight, Masia made his move and took the lead. He went out wide and found himself on the rumble strips, giving some hope to Migno. However, as Migno tried to make his way around the outside of Masia at turn 19, giving it everything he had in an attempt to win, he ran wide and let Foggia through the inside to take second. Masia remained unbeatable out in front and crossed the line in first.

Just missing out on a podium finish was Sasaki in fourth, Oncu in fifth and Artigas in sixth.

Izan Guevara was deemed to have jumped the start and was given a double long lap penalty. As this wasn’t served quickly enough, the penalty then went up to three long laps. This should have ruined his race but he was able to climb back up the field and ended the day in seventh.

The top ten was rounded out by Carlos Tatay, Ricciardo Rossi and Tatsuki Suzuki in eighth, ninth and tenth respectively.

Championship Standings

Thanks to Foggia’s second-place finish today, he has now jumped to the top of the championship standings. He leads Garcia, in second, by 16 points. Migno is in third ahead of Guevara in fourth. Oncu is sitting in fifth ahead of today’s winner, Masia, in sixth.

Feature Image Credit: MotoGP

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Moto3: Tatay secures maiden pole ahead of Indonesian GP

Ahead of tomorrow’s race, qualifying was topped by Carlos Tatay as he clinched his maiden pole. Lining up alongside him on the front row will be Diogo Moreira and Mario Aji.

As MotoGP returns to Indonesia for the first time in 25 years, qualifying saw the uprising of the rookies with two securing a front row start for tomorrow. One of these rookies is Indonesian rider, and home hero, Mario Aji.

However the honours of the day when to Carlos Tatay, who has secured his maiden pole position in his fourth year in Moto3. It is also the first pole position for the new CFMoto Racing team. The Spanish rider set a time of 1:41.232s with six minutes left of Q2.

Just 0.083s behind Tatay was the top rookie of the day, Diogo Moreira. The Brazilian also took the top rookie award when the chequered flag fell in Qatar last weekend, finishing the race in sixth.

Rounding out the front row for the start of tomorrow’s race will be Indonesian rider and home hero, Aji. The Honda Team Asia rider came through from Q1 to set the early pace in Q2.

Mario Aji; Image Credit: MotoGP

Xavier Artigas is in fourth thanks to excellent teamwork with Tatay. Andrea Migno, who set the fastest times in FP2 and FP3, will start the race in fifth. Having won the race in Qatar, he will be looking for a similar result this weekend.

The top six riders were covered by less than half a second, with Dennis Foggia just 0.442s off the polesitter. He claimed sixth despite crashing at turn two.

Sergio Garcia also took a tumble, crashing in Q1. However, he managed to make it in to Q2 and secured seventh place. This comes a week after his podium finish in Qatar.

Garcia’s teammate took eighth with Deniz Oncu and Ayumu Sasaki rounding out the top ten.

John McPhee isn’t in action this weekend after fracturing two vertebrae in a training accident.

Moto3’s race will commence at 12pm (GMT+8) and you can stay up to date with all the action here at Crew On Two.

Feature Image Credit: MotoGP

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