MotoGP Phillip Island: Guevara crowned Moto3 Champion with AustralianGP win

Gaviota GasGas Aspar’s Izan Guevara claimed victory in both race and title fight after a dramatic all-action Moto3 Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island.

A lights to flag four-rider fight saw the Spaniard leave nothing on the table as he celebrated the spoils of an electric season with Tech3 KTM’s Deniz Öncü and teammate Sergio Garcia completing the podium.

After heavy overnight rain a wet track greeted the Moto3 class for warm up with damp patches still scattered across the Victorian circuit - including at the bottom of Lukey Heights - as the 23-lap race prepared. Guevara lining up from seventh on the grid for one of the most important days in his world championship career with Sterilgarda Husqvarna’s Ayumu Sasaki on pole.

VisionTrack’s number 19 Scott Ogden began his 19th birthday from 19th on the Australian GP grid with teammate Josh Whatley 29th, while morning warm-up’s runner-up John McPhee sat 16th after a tricky Saturday.

A brief delay due to track conditions was broken as the lights released the 30-strong pack with Aspar’s Garcia immediately grabbing the holeshot from MT Helmets’ Diogo Moreira and MTA’s Ivan Ortola. Guevara battled on the fringes of the top six as title-rival Dennis Foggia dropped to 15th on the Leopard Honda.

Sasaki advanced back to third as the second lap began, before making waves to second, Moreira taking charge moments later but it was the Austria winner who would take charge as the lap concluded. Home talent Joel Kelso set the fastest lap of the race as the CIP Green Power rider battled in the top seven, KTM’s Daniel Holgado and Honda’s Taiyo Furusato out on lap three after crashes at the Hayshed.

The Southern Loop found Guevara round the outside of the pursuing group as he pushed his way