MotoGP Portimao: Garcia wins wild Moto3 rollercoaster

Valresa GasGas Aspar’s Sergio Garcia secured a dramatic Moto3 victory at Portimao after fending off a five-strong battle in Sunday’s race.

Red Bull KTM’s Jaume Masia overcame a difficult qualifying to launch from the fifth row of the grid to second at the flag with Sterilgarda Husqvarna’s Ayumu Sasaki completing the celebrations.

Tech3 KTM’s Deniz Öncü headed the Moto3 grid ahead of 21 demanding laps around the rollercoaster Algarve Circuit. Rookie Mario Aji continuing his impressive weekend on the Honda Team Asia bike alongside, with Lorenzo Fellon completing the front row despite a handful of crashes across Saturday.

VisionTrack Honda’s Scott Ogden lined up from a career-best eighth with teammate Josh Whatley doing likewise ten places back as the rookie team continued to enjoy a successful weekend in Portugal. John McPhee frustrated to be watching from trackside as his recovery continued, Adrian Fernandez also missing out after fracturing two fingers in a crash on Friday.

Öncü maintained his control as the lights released, Garcia launching to second with Aji third while Carlos Tatay and Izan Guevara claimed fourth and fifth. Leopard’s Dennis Foggia dropping to 16th as the race fired up with his teammate Tatsuki Suzuki running eighth, just behind an advancing Ogden.

Garcia took charge at the end of lap one, with Aspar teammate Guevara and Tatay swapping places as they progressed to third and fourth. Ogden reeling in Aji’s Honda ahead as he set his sights on sixth. The move came as lap three began, Sasaki dispatching Ricardo Rossi further back as Öncü and Guevara battles for second out front.

Garcia held a clear one second lead as lap four began, his pace increasing with his confidence as the duo behind continued to