MotoGP Portimao: Maiden Moto3 victory for Holgado and Tech3

Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Daniel Holgado celebrated his and his team’s maiden Moto3 victory in the opening race of 2023 at Portimao on Sunday.

Last season’s impressive rookies maintained their front running prowess as the new year kicked off, BOE’s David Muñoz and MT Helmets MSI’s Diogo Moreira completing the podium less than two tenths of a second adrift of the winner with Red Bull KTM rookie Jose Antonio Rueda a mere three hundredths behind.

Liqui Moly Husqvarna’s Ayumu Sasaki lined up on pole for the first Moto3 race of the 2023 season. 19 laps around the Algarve International Circuit awaiting the lightweight class with reigning JuniorGP Champion Rueda and CFMoto’s Joel Kelso alongside on the front row. British hopefuls Scott Ogden and Josh Whatley preparing to launch their VisionTrack Hondas from 20th and 24th respectively.

The warm up lap saw drama for Deniz Öncü as his KTM Ajo was wheeled off the grid and facing a pitlane start, Kelso taking control as the lights went out. Holgado was up to second as the opening lap unfolded, Rueda slow off the line and attempting to regroup from sixth. Further disappointment found CIP Green Power’s Lorenzo Fellon failing to start with Ogden down and out at turn four.

Back at the front Holgado was in the lead from Kelso, Sasaki and the second CFMoto of Xavi Artigas. MTA’s Ivan Ortola and Stefano Nepa circulated together from fifth and sixth before Muñoz launched to better the pair from seventh. The BOE rider continuing to climb as lap three played out.

Kelso was back in charge at the start of lap four. David Alonso crashing the Aspar out of his maiden Moto3 GP from the leading pack after contact with Ortola with Tech3’s Filippo Farioli the next to fall moments later.

Sasaki and