Moto3: David Alonso takes his fourth win in a last-lap shootout

David Alonso wins his fourth race of the season at the Thailand Grand Prix

Deniz Oncu (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was the rider who qualified on pole position after setting a new Moto3 lap record. Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) was second with Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) joining him on the front row.

Oncu had a good initial start to the race but would lose positions on the straights to his competitors. This is due to the Oncu being one of the taller and heavier riders in the Moto3 class.

The Championship leader, Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) hit the front of the race and began to put pressure on his rivals. One of his rivals, Ayumu Sasaki hit the back of David Munoz (BOE Motorsports) when his bike began to slow.

This forced Sasaki to retire from the race and caused huge implications and the Championship. Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) had to take avoiding action, dropping him out of race contention.

It was disaster and delight for the Husqvarna team with Colin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) battling for the win. The rookie is currently 12^th in the World Championship standings.

There were two wildcards this weekend at the Thailand Grand Prix with Krittapat Keankum (Yamaha Thailand Racing – BOE) and Tatchakorn Buasri (Honda Team Asia) making their debuts. The two Thai riders competed and qualified in 27^th and 29^th at their home World Championship round.

Tatchakorn Buasri’s weekend would end early after a crash in the early stages of the race, forcing the Thai rider to enter the pits. He would eventually rejoin the race but would receive a long-lap penalty. Krittapat Keankum also received a long lap penalty on lap nine of the race.

The battle at the front was fierce throughout the whole race with seven riders in the leading group. Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) was in the lead group and looked motivated to have the highest Grand Prix finish of his career. The Japanese rider’s best finish of his career was a seventh-place finish.

13 rider battle at the front

The front seven fought so much that the front group went from seven riders to 13 riders who were in contention. David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) was in the front group throughout the whole race and left his pace till the last lap.

On the final lap of the race, Veijer led before David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) reclaimed the race lead. As the riders behind battled it allowed Alonso to have a clean final corner and win the Thailand Grand Prix.

Furusato managed to clinch second place in the final corner ahead of the rookie, Colin Veijer in third. Both riders would step on the podium for the first time in their Grand Prix careers.

Jaume Masia came home in fourth position but most importantly kept the Championship lead. In the Championship it is now 17 points separating Masia and Sasaki who scored 0 points.

Deniz Oncu rounded out the top five and ahead of Championship contender, Daniel Holgado. Matteo Bertelle (Rivacold Snipers Team) finished the race in seventh, after qualifying in 13^th. Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse) finished as the fourth Honda and eighth overall.

Image credit: Red Bull Content Pool