Moto3: Di Giannantonio takes first win in scintillating Moto3 race, Bezzecchi new series leader

A thrilling Moto3 race that was chaotic from lights out to chequered flag was won by Italian rider Fabio Di Giannantonio for the Gresini Honda Moto3 team. The Italian was riding like a man possessed and was putting on some hard moves on his rivals, particularly at turn 8. He was able to hold off a late charge from Aron Canet and home-hero Jakub Kornfeil to take his first race win after 47 race starts.

Behind the leading three, Enea Bastianini completed a remarkable recovery to ghost up to 4th place, ahead of Argentine Gabriel Rodrigo and new championship leader, Marco Bezzecchi. Ramirez, Oettl, Arenas and Dalla Porta completed the top ten.

Nico Antonelli finished 11th with Dennis Foggia in 12th. Foggia led for a long period of time in the middle stage of the race before dropping back through the pack as faster riders made their way forwards. Masaki, Suzuki and Arbolino completed the points as the front 15 were covered by just 2.770 seconds.

An elated Di Giannantonio stated, “We’ve been working for this for a long, long time. I am improving and growing up as a rider and we needed to show it on the track – well, we did it. We started the race with the idea to stay at the front but the KTM bikes were very quick, so I had to rethink my strategy.”

Having dropped back in the early stages, he picked his way through and soon found himself dicing at the front. At one point, he began to pull away and himself and Rodrigo had clear air behind them. However, Kornfeil reeled them in to the delight of the home crowd but it turned out to be enough.

“I believed in my chances like never before and we did it. Jorge’s absence is surely a shame, I hope he’ll be back on the bike soon. I can say – even if it doesn’t sound like a nice to say – that I made the most of the opportunity to get back into the title fight. We’re all very close now, so we need to keep our heads down.”

Di Giannantonio is now just 17 points behind championship leader and fellow countryman Marco Bezzecchi, whilst he is just 14 behind Jorge Martin as they now head to the Red Bull Ring in Austria – a track that Fabio has never been outside the top ten on, with a best result of 6th last year, 0.7 behind 2nd placed Philipp Oettl.