Moto3: Astute Arenas Takes Austrian GP Win

The 2020 Moto3 Austrian Grand Prix took place at the Red Bull Ring. There were clouds lurking over the mountains in the backdrop, but the conditions remained dry throughout the 23-lap race. 

Overall, the race was a complete mess, in the typical Moto3 way. Riders were passing at every corner, swapping places and paint, taking big risks. This type of racing comes with the territory of a track made up of three long straights and that includes three hard braking points. 

Still, there were riders who stood out: Albert Arenas, Jaume Masia, Darryn Binder and Deniz Oncu. All of these riders were able to stay in the top positions throughout the second half of the race, and all looked relatively comfortable doing so. 

The last laps presented an opportunity for Jaume Masia, and a lunge from Arenas to take second place at turn three on the final lap allowed a gap for the #5. But Arenas’ second half of the lap was very strong, and the #75 was able to close in on his compatriot. 

Going into the penultimate corner, Arenas, Masia and Ai Ogura – who had come from seventh to third on the final lap by this point – were three-wide. Ogura backed out, Arenas did not. The championship leader asserted yet more authority on the series, passing Masia into turn nine, not running wide on the exit, and braking late enough to block any attack from his compatriot into the final corner. 

This was enough for Arenas to claim his third win of the season, his first since the Spanish Grand Prix, and extend his championship lead to 28 points over John McPhee. It was another champion’s ride from Arenas, who seems to be a step above the competition when it comes to consistency and racecraft. 

Masia was able to hold off Ai Ogura and John McPhee over the line to take his first podium of the season, which was a good response from the #5 after crashing out last weekend. Completing the podium was John McPhee, despite the race not really playing to his strengths. The Scot also took over second in the championship from Ogura, who finished fourth and dropped to third in the standings. 

Celestino Vietti had good speed in the race but didn’t have the best track position going into the final lap, meaning the best the Italian could do was fifth place, ahead of Darryn Binder, Tony Arbolino, Deniz Oncu who had his first standout ride in the World Championship, Raul Fernandez who suffered in the straights with the big group, and Tatsuki Suzuki who completed the top 10. 

Gabriel Rodrigo finished 11th, ahead of Andrea Migno and Ayumu Sasaki who did well to come back from a late long lap penalty to claim 13th and three points. Behind the #71 was Jeremy Alcoba, and then Stefano Nepa who took the final point. 

Sergio Garcia finished only 16th, ahead of Romano Fenati, Riccardo Rossi, Niccolo Antonelli and Kaito Toba who rounded out the top 20. Then, in 21st, was last week’s race winner, Dennis Foggia, who had a humbling experience in Austria, finishing ahead of Carlos Tatay, Alonso Lopez, Ryusei Yamanaka, Maximilian Kofler, Yuki Kunii, Davide Pizzoli and Jason Dupasquier who was the final classified finisher. 

Khairul Idham Pawi did not start the race, whilst after the lights went out there were only two retirements: Barry Baltus and Filip Salac.