MotoGP Assen: Sasaki celebrates maiden Moto3 victory

Sterilgarda Husqvarna’s Ayumu Sasaki celebrated his long-awaited debut Moto3 World Championship win at TT Circuit Assen on Sunday.

Seven years in the making and having already secured the pole position for the Dutch GP, Sasaki secured the victory from Aspar GasGas teammates Izan Guevara and Sergio Garcia. His own teammate John McPhee crashing out from podium contention on the final lap.

A cool and bright Cathedral of Speed welcomed Sunday’s opening action with 26℃ track temperatures ahead of the 22-lap lightweight battle. Sasaki headed the grid after an impressive early comeback from injury with Leopard’s Tatsuki Suzuki and Izan Guevara alongside. McPhee launching from 11th with VisionTrack’s Scott Ogden and Josh Whatley 24th and 29th respectively as the lights released.

Rookie David Muñoz took control of the race, from fourth, as the action fired up before Suzuki swept through to the lead at turn one. McPhee wide and down to 18th in the opening drama with Dennis Foggia dispatching the rookie out front to join his teammate in the top three.

Guevara remained in the mix as the top five continued to jostle for position as the second lap began. Sasaki back in charge from the GasGas Aspar and Muñoz as the Leopard pair dropped to the back of the leading group. CIP Green Power’s Joel Kelso up to sixth from a gaggle of KTMs, Adrian Fernandez heading Jaume Masia with Sergio Garcia, who started 18th, slotting in front of the second Ajo of Daniel Holgado before the rookie dropped down to 24th.

Guevara lead the way as lap four fired up, Suzuki and Muñoz remaining in check from Sasaki, Masia and Fernandez. Foggia demoted to seventh with Kelso, Garcia and Xavi Artigas for company as McPhee began to regroup from 14th.

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