MotoGP Austria: Sasaki stuns for second Moto3 victory

Sterilgarda Husqvarna’s Ayumu Sasaki rode a stunning recovery ride to take the AustrianGP Moto3 victory after a double penalty at the Red Bull Ring.

Having dropped outside of the top 20 in the opening laps, a lightning quick recovery saw Sasaki back in the hunt after repeated fastest laps before holding off Leopard’s Tatsuki Suzuki and BOE Motorsports’ David Muñoz for the full 25 points.

The lightweight class lined up behind Red Bull KTM rookie Daniel Holgado at the manufacturer’s home track ahead of the 23-lap race. While Saturday’s forecast rain failed to materialise, Sunday was looking more ominous as the clouds continued to threaten overhead. The new chicane providing another unknown for the opening laps as the action prepared.

Lights out and it was Tech3’s Deniz Öncü who grabbed control with Sasaki taking second from Holgado. Leopard’s Suzuki and Dennis Foggia split by Diogo Moreira as the Aspar pairing of Izan Guevara and Sergio Garcia sat seventh and eighth.

Sasaki swept through to lead as Suzuki advanced to third, with the poleman hitting back for the final podium position moments later. The Sterilgarda rider facing a double long lap penalty as the opening laps of the race unfolded.

A four-rider battle found Suzuki in the lead as Sasaki took the first of his penalties. Holgado and Öncü retuning to dominance as fellow rookie Muñoz arrived from nowhere to contest the podium with the championship leader neatly behind.

Foggia was cut adrift as the Silverstone winner found himself down the order in ninth, John McPhee suffering a similar fate as he circulated in 17th with teammate Sasaki now one place ahead with VisionTrack’s Scott Ogden and Josh Whatley running 22nd and 29th respectively.

Suzuki and Muñoz battled for