Moto3 Qatar: Entertainment on the track, Masbou outdoes Bastianini, Antonelli finishes eighth

Qatar Moto3 GP – Amazing race in the Moto3 class in Losail, scene of the Qatar Grand Prix. The Frenchman Alexis Masbou (Honda) prevailed by just 27 thousandths after a very hard-fought race which saw more than 10 riders as protagonists, beating our Enea Bastianini, who had made a great recovery compared to the tests. Also on the podium was the British Danny Kent, riding the Leopard Racing Honda. Francesco Bagnaia's race was great, riding the Mahindra, who only gave up on the last lap and after a contact with the rookie Fabio Quartararo, finishing ninth, behind Niccolò Antonelli. A race to forget for Romano Fenati, never fighting for the positions that matter and which ended with a retirement. The dominance of Honda should be underlined, placing seven bikes in the top ten positions, including the top five.

Race report

First race of the 2015 season for the Moto3 class, a category which this year more than ever sees Italian colors as protagonists. There are many new features, from Niccolò Antonelli who moved from the KTM of Team Gresini to the Honda of Team Ongetta-Rivacold to Francesco Bagnaia, who rides the Mahindra of Team Aspar. There are nine Italians on the track, in addition to the two just mentioned: Romano Fenati and Andrea Migno with the KTMs of Team Sky VR46, Enea Bastianini (in the photo) and Andrea Locatelli with the Hondas of Team Gresini, Alessandro Tonucci with the Mahindra and the two riders of Team Italia Matteo Ferrari and Stefano Manzi, with the latter however missing this first race due to the minimum age requirement, 16, which he will only turn today. In his place on a one-off basis Marco Bezzecchi.

Yesterday the pole position went to the Frenchman Alexis Masbou, who brought his Honda ahead of the Husqvarna of the Spaniard Isaac Vinales and the Honda of Niccolò Antonelli's Team Ongetta-Rivacold, reborn with the move to the Japanese manufacturer.

In the second row we find Francesco Bagnaia (Mahindra), John McPhee (Honda) and the rookie Fabio Quartararo (Honda), CEV champion. Third row for Andrea Locatelli (Honda), Miguel Oliveira (KTM) and Danny Kent (Honda).

Romano Fenati and Enea Bastianini disappointed expectations as they not only went beyond seventeenth and twenty-first position in their first qualifying of the year and are called upon to make a great comeback. Twenty-third and thirtieth positions for Alessandro Tonucci and Matteo Ferrari, both on Mahindra, the first from the Outox Reset Drink Team and the second from Team Italia, while Marco Bezzecchi (who crashed twice in qualifying) is thirty-third. Problems for Tonucci, who will start from the pit lane. Everything is ready, eighteen laps to go (96.84 km) under the artificial lights of Qatar (in fact, the race will take place at night). The traffic lights go out, the fastest at the start is poleman Masbou, who started ahead of Antonelli, McPhee, Vinales, Quartararo, Bagnaia and Locatelli. Enea Bastianini is 17th, while Romano Fenati is 19th.

There is immediate contact between Bagnaia and Oliveira, with the Portuguese having the worst of it. Antonelli meanwhile takes command. The first lap ends with Antonelli ahead of Masbou, Binder, McPhee, Quartataro and Bagnaia. Oliveira gets back on the bike and moves into last position. Meanwhile, Niklas Ajo falls, with no physical consequences for him.

Antonelli tries to pull ahead, but the large group is very tight and on the second lap the Team Ongetta rider precedes Binder, Quartararo, Masbou, Bagnaia and Kent. Game of trails at the end of the straight, Quartararo takes advantage of it and takes the lead. Bagnaia's race was beautiful, very spirited, on par with Antonelli. Romano Fenati, on the other hand, is struggling and continues to lose ground.

Now the South African Brad Binder is in command, with Bagnaia and Antonellii in fourth and fifth position. Fast lap by Bastianini, who tries to make a comeback from twelfth position. The top eleven continue to swap positions, all with a chance of victory. Even the chasing group is getting closer, we are about to witness an epic race.

With twelve laps to go Antonelli takes the lead again, but the brawl is such that it is difficult to make any predictions. The positions change again and a Francesco Bagnaia in world format and reborn with Mahindra takes the lead.

Meanwhile, the comeback of Enea Bastianini was amazing, author of an incredible recovery and who is now fighting for the victory. The Team Gresini rider even moved into third position halfway through the race, while Niccolò Antonelli, now tenth, lost positions.

With eight laps to go the British Danny Kent is in the lead, followed by Brad Binder's KTM and our Francesco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini. There are sixteen riders fighting for victory, even if a small gap is opening between the top five and the rest of the group. The gap increases but Niccolò Antonelli, sixth, tries to get back in, pulling the Hondas of Quartararo and Navarro behind him.

Attack by the Italians, Bastianini and Bagnaia move into first and second position, now it is the Mahindra driver who overtakes the Honda driver and this tussle is favoring the recovery of the pursuers. Three laps to go, the positions change again, Vazquez in the lead, but Bagnaia and Bastianini are still fighting for the victory. Quartararo also recovers, now third, even second! The Honda rookie, winner of the CEV is now in the lead! Last two laps of passion, at the braking point of the straight the cards are shuffled again, Bastianini takes advantage of it, now in the lead.

The last lap begins, Quartararo is in the lead, but is passed on the straight, Vazquez is now in the lead, with Bastianini and Bagnaia in the very first positions. Quartararo – Bagnaia contact, with the latter forced to widen. Last corners, Bastianini in the lead, comes out of the last corner, but is overtaken on the home straight by Masbou. Bastianini and Kent on the podium. Antonelli finishes eighth, ahead of Bagnaia. Romano Fenati's race ended with a retirement.