Moto3: Acosta returns to winning ways at the Sachsenring

Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was back on the top step of the podium at the Sachsenring and extended his championship lead to 55 points. The rookie sensation rode a clever and collected race to consistently stay in the front group and take the lead on the final lap.

Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power) bagged his first podium since October last year in second while Jeremy Alcoba (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) took the chequered flag in third, but was demoted one position due to an incident earlier in the race, gifting the position to Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing).

Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) remains runner-up in the title race despite his aspirations at the Sachsenring being brought to a halt by rider contact on the penultimate lap. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) still sits third in the standings after a non-score in Germany.

Filip Salac (Rivacold Snipers Team) had a dream start from pole, but Toba accelerated past him to take the holeshot. The Japanese successively ran wide, gifting the lead to his compatriot Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and the duo ran in the lead ahead of John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Salac.

While Toba regained the lead, McPhee executed a clinical manoeuvre at T1 on the second lap, diving down Suzuki’s inside on the brakes to take second. Foggia was on the move and up into third on L2 with his sights firmly set on the race lead.

Championship leader Acosta made his way up the order from a poor grid position and was swiftly in the mix at the front. Darryn Binder’s (Petronas Sprinta Racing) race ambitions meanwhile were over when he pulled into pit lane at the end of Lap 4 to take the ride-through penalty he was awarded for irresponsible riding in Q2.

Foggia and Acosta dictated proceedings at the head of the pack with a 14-rider freight train behind them. Positions were swapping and changing, but Foggia did most of the leading while Acosta was brilliant down the hill going into T12 to ensure he never dropped out of the top 4.

Disaster struck on Lap 13 when Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) made contact with Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) at T1 and sent the latter into the gravel. Lorenzo Fellon (SIC58 Squadra Corse) had nowhere to go and was wiped out by the Turk’s KTM while Ryusei Yamanaka (CarXpert Pruestel GP) and McPhee had their races impeded as they went wide to avoid trouble.

The incident left the field disjointed and a leading group of nine remained at the front. Masia was next to surrender his aspirations when the slightest of contacts with Foggia on Lap 15 saw the Spaniard highside out of the race.

Rider in form Garcia had worked his way into the fight at the very front after a so far quiet but consistent race. Foggia had his head down and tried to make a break with five laps to go, but his opponents left him no chance to escape and reeled the Italian back in.

Foggia, Acosta and Garcia looked the most likely at the top of the leading group, but seven riders were right behind them and still well within contention. Alcoba misjudged a move at T11 on the penultimate lap and nudged Garcia who did well to even stay on his GASGAS machine, but his victory hopes were terminated.

Acosta executed a signature move down the inside through T8 on the final lap to gain the lead and brought his advantage home to take the chequered flag first. Toba claimed second through the final corners and was back on the podium while Alcoba was third across the line.

However, the Italian had failed to serve a drop one position penalty for the incident with Garcia and lost the podium spot to Foggia. Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) was fifth from Niccolò Antonelli (Avintia Esponsorama Moto3) after both Garcia and Suzuki had to drop a position for exceeding track limits on the final lap. Xavier Artigas (Leopard Racing) and Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) completed the top 10.