Moto3: Martin wins as Bezzecchi fights through to 2nd at Aragon

Jorge Martin stormed to victory at MotorLand Aragon, taking the perfect win as he led from lights out to chequered flag. The Spaniard enhanced his lead at the top of the standings with his sixth win of the 2018 campaign and his third consecutive podium, whilst nearest rival Marco Bezzecchi battled fiercely through the Moto3 field from 18th on the grid to 2nd, putting in the perfect display of damage limitation.

Martin got a good start and by turns four and five, was already streaking clear of the pack behind, of which numerous riders were involved. Fabio Di Giannantonio, Jaume Masia, Marcos Ramirez and Gabriel Rodrigo all went head-to-head, trying to chase down the runaway leader at the front. Tatsuki Suzuki, Adam Norrodin and Albert Arenas all had good starts too, in the big gaggle of riders who fought over 2nd place.

Marco Bezzecchi was fighting tooth and nail to make his way through the pack, climbing into the top ten by the end of lap two, although the race for victory was already over with Martin setting a red-hot pace out front. When Bezzecchi made it to 2nd place, he began stretching the pack as his superior pace took over and as he also set-off after Martin. However, try as the Italian might and after initially closing Martin down a fraction, the Spaniard responded and after lap nine, the gap never dropped below four seconds.

Enea Bastianini – one of the favourites at Aragon who suffered a 12 place grid penalty – also worked hard to come through the pack and eventually made it up into the podium positions, of which he, Bezzecchi, Ramirez and Di Giannantonio would trade places over for the remainder of the race.

Martin knocked the pace off in the final few laps, knowing full well that he had secured yet another win as he goes in his quest for the 2018 Moto3 title. The Gresini Honda-ace took a convincing win and despite big pressure from Enea Bastianini, Bezzecchi was able to hold his fellow Italian off for 2nd place. Di Giannantonio and Marcos Ramirez completed the top five, whilst Tatsuki Suzuki fended off Albert Arenas for 6th and 7th. Adam Norrodin took his best dry-weather result of the season in 8th, ahead of an injured Jaume Masia and John McPhee, who completed the top ten.

In the championship, Martin now leads Marco Bezzecchi by 13 points as they head to the unknown territory at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand. Fabio Di Giannantonio is still in with a mathematical chance with a 41 point deficit, whilst Enea Bastianini moves into fourth place in the title race, 58 points adrift of the series lead with five races and 125 points still up for grabs.