Moto3 Catalunya: Marquez leads Honda to victory, Bastianini a great protagonist

Alex Marquez led Honda to success in the Moto3 class. The Spanish driver succeeded in his native Catalunya, in front of his fans, who came in large numbers to support all the Iberian drivers. A victory desired with determination, which led him to win his second GP in the world championship.

However, we want to underline the performance of Enea Bastianini, who after yesterday's beautiful front row achieved his first podium in the world championship, finishing in second position. Romano Fenati's race was also amazing, starting sixteenth and recovering up to second position, but on the last lap the Team Sky VR46 driver was passed by Efren Vazquez and Jack Miller, with the latter taking the lead. by three points over Ascoli. In fact, the Australian has 117 points against Fenati's 110 and Vazquez's 92.

Race report

Seventh round of the 2014 world championship for the Moto3 class, it takes place at Montmelò, theater of the Catalunya Grand Prix, seventh stage of the 2014 world championship. Alex Marquez (Honda) will start in first position, taking his first career pole. Best time for him was 1'50.912. Also on the front row is a great Enea Bastianini, making his debut this year in the world championship and riding the KTM of Team Gresini and Alex Rins with the second Honda of Team Estrella Galicia 0.0.

In the second row the South African Brad Binder (Mahindra), the Finnish Niklas Ajo with the Husqvarna/KTM and the Spanish Isaac Vinales, with the KTM of Team Calvo. Third row for the Portuguese Miguel Oliveira (Mahindra), for Efren Vazquez (Honda) and for the world championship leader Jack Miller (KTM).

The other Italians are further back. Niccolò Antonelli (KTM Team Gresini) is 12th, while Alessandro Tonucci (Mahindra Team CIP) is 14th. Romano Fenati (Sky Racing Team VR46), winner at Mugello, set the sixteenth time and will therefore be called upon to compete in a comeback race. His teammate, Francesco Bagnaia achieved the 20th time, while Matteo Ferrari and Andrea Locatelli, riders of the San Carlo Team Italia, had the 22nd and 31st time respectively. All ready, 22 laps to go for 103.994 km. The traffic lights go out, the fastest at the start is poleman Alex Marquez, followed by Enea Bastianini and Brad Binder. Antonelli is 9th while Romano Fenati has already recovered three positions and is 13th.

The first lap is about to end, but there is a crash. He is a Team Gresini rider; once again it's Niccolò Antonelli, with yet another crash of the season. A start to forget for the rider from Cattolica, who finished only one race this year.

Meanwhile, the others cross the finish line. Marquez leads the way ahead of Bastianini, Rins, Ajo, Binder, Vinales, Vazquez, Miller, Fenati and McPhee. Double fall. Wild card Maria Herrera falls, taking Azmi with her. Fortunately, as for Antonelli, there are no physical consequences.

In front, Marquez continues to hammer, while Fenati is actually fifth. Amazing comeback for the rider from Ascoli of Team Sky VR46, who is now in the group chasing Marquez.

Marc's brother (reigning MotoGP champion) continues his march, while they hinder each other behind, making it easier for the Honda rider, home team looking for his first victory in Moto3.

As usual, imaginative trajectories for Romano Fenati, who is trying to mend the gap with Marquez, who however seems unattainable. Technical problem for Rins! the Spanish Honda rider is desperate, he seems to have a problem with the gear lever. He returns to the pits, the race is over for him. #42 ran with three micro-fractures in his left foot, the very one that controls the gear lever.

They continue to hinder each other behind Marquez, with Fenati fighting, moving from second to fifth position in just a few corners, before returning to second again, while Enea Bastianini's race is worth highlighting, still in the small group chasing the race leader Honda.

Having reached the halfway point of the race, this is the ranking: Marquez first, then the group led by Bastianini, Vazquez, Fenati, Vinales, Binder, Ajo, Miller, Bagnaia and McPhee, three seconds behind. Alessandro Tonucci is 13th, Matteo Ferrari 22nd and Andrea Locatelli 29th and ahead of Ana Carrasco, the only woman on the track after the fall of her compatriot Herrera.

Risk for Marquez, who takes a big risk a few corners before entering the finishing straight, widening his trajectory and almost touching the synthetic grass. Behind, Fenati continues to attack, regaining second place overall. His race was good, as was Bastianini's. If he finished the race like this, he would take the lead in the world championship, given Jack Miller's provisional eighth place.

Juanfran Guevara also falls, rider ok. Three laps to go, Alex Marquez crosses the finish line almost four seconds ahead of Bastianini, now second. It's Fenati who loses a few positions, but it will be a battle until the end.

The last lap begins, Marquez leads the Honda to take its first success, while behind Enea Bastianini comes out on top, taking his first podium in the world championship. Efren Vazquez finishes third, while Jack Miller beats Romano Fenati and thus maintains the championship lead.