MotoGP Austin: Masia ignites season with Moto3 win

Red Bull KTM’s Jaume Masia finally ignited his Moto3 season with victory at the Circuit of the Americas on Sunday.

Two DNF’s were quickly forgotten as the Spaniard battled Leopard’s Dennis Foggia and Rivacold Snipers’ Andrea Migno for podium domination in a frantic final race in the United States.

The concluding action of the AmericasGP schedule came from the lightweight class as Migno commanded the grid ahead of the 17-lap clash. Foggia and PruestelGP’s Xavi Artigas completing the front row ahead of a KTM onslaught with VisionTrack’s Scott Ogden enjoying a career best start in 12th.

A lightning start found MT Helmet’s Diogo Moreira up to second from sixth before Deniz Öncü took charge overall on the Tech3 KTM, Migno dropping to the final podium position with Green Power’s Kaito Toba behind as Artigas and Foggia trailed in the slipstream.

With two laps done, the Brazilian rookie swept into the lead. Artigas rising to fourth from Foggia and Toba with the Red Bull KTM duo of Masia and Daniel Holgado neatly behind.

The back straight proved dramatic as the pack swarmed five abreast with the standings shuffling accordingly. Izan Guevara struck with double long lap penalty after a jump start on the Gaviota GasGas as Foggia found himself in tenth.

Sterilgarda Husqvarna’s Ayumu Sasaki was the next to better Migno as the Snipers rider dropped to sixth, Guevara and Sergio Garcia doing likewise shortly after before Foggia added to the pain.

Out front Artigas took charge from the rookie with Öncü and Sasaki soon in touch. Holgado losing three places in one as the KTM dipped to seventh with Guevara still yet to complete his penalty runs.

Moreira was back in the lead at third race distance as Josh Whatley retired on the second