Jaume Masia finishes third but is relegated to fourth for exceeding the track limits. Pedro Acosta climbs 18 places to come home 7th.

The Catalan Grand Prix race saw the Red Bull KTM Ajo duo once again fight for the top spots in Moto3, with both riders putting in strong performances. Jaume Masia rode a very intelligent contest, mounting a final attack that took him to third position, although he was dropped to fourth for exceeding the track limits. Pedro Acosta made another astounding comeback, starting from 25th and at one point leading the round. Finally, the rookie placed 7th.

Masia, who began from the third row of the grid, rode smartly at the back of the leading group after a solid start. Waiting until the final lap to make his move, he upped his pace and snatched a position inside the Top 3 but was denied a podium upon review when he was adjudged to have exceeded the track limits. The Spaniard was eventually awarded fourth place.

Acosta worked hard off the line, going from 25th to 21st on the opening lap. The rookie continued to pass other riders, getting into the Top 10 before a third of the race had been completed. The highlight of his Sunday was a brilliant overtaking move on 5 riders to snatch the lead, but constant overtaking and a late mistake caused him to drop to seventh before the chequered flag.

After the seventh round of the Moto3 World Championship season, Pedro Acosta remains the series leader with 120 points. Jaume Masia is 3rd with 72. The Red Bull KTM Ajo duo will be back in action in two weeks’ time at the German Grand Prix, held from June 18-20th.

Results (Moto3 Race)
1. Segio García (GasGas) 38:33.760
2. Jeremy Alcoba (Honda) +0.015
3. Deniz Öncü (KTM) +0.118
4. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +0.079 (Penalty)
5. Darryn Binder (Honda) +0.204
7. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +0.380

Moto3 World Championship Standing 2021
1. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 120 points
2. Sergio Garcia (GasGas) 81 points
3. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 72 points
4. Romano Fenati (Husqvarna) 61 points
5. Darryn Binder (Honda) 58 points

AKI AJO – TEAM MANAGER

“We have to be happy with how our Moto3 race went. After a somewhat difficult weekend for us, we ended the Grand Prix with both riders in the Top 10. This is important, as we took further points. This round has been challenging since Friday, and that’s why we have to be positive about the job that we did today. In addition, today’s race was quite tight, with a lot of overtaking moves on the limit, which gives even more merit to the result.”

5 JAUME MASIA

“I feel like one of the luckiest riders of the weekend, despite everything that happened in the race, as we really struggled a lot here. I was very blessed to have caught the last slipstream. We took points, we cut the gap to the top spot a little, and we will work hard for the coming rounds.”

37 PEDRO ACOSTA

“It was a little hard for me to get to the front group, but I was quite comfortable when I finally latched onto them. We lacked the experience of knowing how to position ourselves well on the last lap and being able to read the contest. However, we had a good GP and we finished in the Top 10 again, getting more points. We have to continue working in the same way at the coming rounds.”