Jaume Masia and Dani Holgado battle in the group fighting for the podium, finishing seventh and ninth, respectively.

The Mandalika International Circuit hosted a round of the Moto3 World Championship for the first time on Sunday, with the Red Bull KTM Ajo riders putting in a great performance and battling in the group that decided the podium positions. After an intense finale, Jaume Masia placed seventh and scored important points. Teammate Dani Holgado claimed ninth, gaining significant experience in the tussle at the front.

Masia, who started from the fourth row, pushed to move up the order within the leading group, making it to fifth at the start of the seventh lap. After the leader managed to open an insurmountable gap, the Spaniard remained in the pack and pushed to the maximum for one of the remaining spots on the podium. Following an intense battle, the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 rider finished seventh.

Holgado had a brilliant start to the race, going from 19th position on the grid to ninth on the opening lap. The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 rookie joined the leading pack, continuing to climb places to complete the third lap sixth. Halfway through the contest, the leader escaped and Holgado remained battling in the chasing group, learning from fighting with some of the most experienced riders in the class. He completed an excellent showing with ninth position.

After the second round of the season, Jaume Masia occupies 12th place in the Moto3 World Championship with 9 points. Dani Holgado is 14th with 7. Now the Red Bull KTM Ajo will enjoy a week off before travelling to Termas de Rio Hondo, where the Argentina GP will be held from April 1st-3rd.

Results (Moto3 Race)
1. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 38:51.668
2. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) +2.612
3. Carlos Tatay (CFMOTO) +3.639
4. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) +3.759
5. Deniz Öncü (KTM) +3.870
7. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +5.289
9. Dani Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +5.533

Moto3 World Championship Standing 2022
1. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 34 points
2. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 33 points
3. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 28 points
4. Andrea Migno (Honda) 25 points
5. Deniz Öncü (KTM) 24 points
12. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 9 points
14. Dani Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 7 points

AKI AJO – TEAM MANAGER

“Today we saw a very exciting and hectic race once again in Moto3. I think we should be quite happy about the results. Of course, we are always aiming higher, especially in Jaume’s case because he has experience in the class. However, as we well know, many things can happen during a Moto3 contest. At this moment, at the beginning of the season, we need to be happy with seventh after riding in the top group and collecting important points. Dani had a really great race, considering the little experience he has in the series. What we really respect is how calm he was during the weekend, focusing and keeping his calm in the contest. It’s been an important experience and has brought him points as well.”

#5 JAUME MASIA

“It has been a hard-fought battle, and we have given everything we have. I am happy with the performance we showed, as we were fast and competitive. We needed to manage the end of the race a little better, and this is something that we will work to improve at the next round. I want to thank the team for all their efforts throughout the weekend. In two weeks, we will try again at the Argentina Grand Prix.”

#96 DANI HOLGADO

“I’m very happy. It was a fantastic race. It wasn’t easy, since it was hot, but we were able to manage the tires and fatigue well. I feel satisfied because we finished the contest, which was the important thing, and we also fought for the podium positions. Taking into account our physical condition and the fact that it is only our second round with the team, we value it as positive. I want to thank the whole team for the incredible work they have done, for always supporting me and for encouraging me to do my best. I am really looking forward to the next GP in Argentina.”