Acosta’s determination rewarded with points at Austrian MotoGP™
The speed, scenery and spiral of the Red Bull Ring was another educational experience for Red Bull GASGAS Tech3’s star rookie Pedro Acosta. The 19-year-old throttled to 13th position at the eleventh Grand Prix of the MotoGP season in the depths of Austria. Teammate Augusto Fernandez classified 15th – meaning a double dose of points for the team - while the Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 squad shone in Moto3™ as Dani Holgado motored to 3rd in a gripping first race of the day.
- Acosta leaves Austria holding 7th place in the series standings
- Fernandez makes better use of rear tire grip to increase his competitiveness and takes 15th
- Moto3 props once more go to Dani Holgado for his role in a five-rider scrap for the win and his fifth podium of the season so far with 3rd position
Friday and Saturday’s sunshine and heat cooled slightly on race day for the Austrian Grand Prix. Fans still packed the grassy hills and enclosures of the Red Bull Ring. Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernandez brought their GASGAS RC16s into 14th and 16th places on the grid for the 28-laps on Sunday.
Acosta leapt away at the lights to enter a chase for the top ten. A former GP winner at Red Bull Ring, Acosta had the confidence and the skill to push the limits from the outset but also had to be clever to make his tires last. Pedro pushed and probed and worked his way to three championship points. Augusto persevered to be the final scorer across the line.
The blend of corners and cambers that form the technical twist of MotorLand Aragon will bring round twelve to life in two weeks.
Pedro Acosta, 13th: “Hard to say much about today. We had some problems we did not expect. A hard race. Let’s look at how we can improve, keep working and be faster and better in Aragon and heading to Misano and the test. One positive thing was the big push from the factory here at their home GP. We can see how much the company really believes in MotoGP and wants to be at the top. We will make it.”
Augusto Fernandez, 15th: “A tough one. You have to manage the rear tire very well here and it almost becomes like a ‘survival’ race. In the end I’m happy with the point. We had been struggling all weekend and we were still quite far but I’m happy with the pace we made at least. I think we did our maximum possible today. Let’s move on and build some confidence for the rest of the season.”
Nicolas Goyon, GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 Team Manager: “Probably the most difficult weekend of the season for us and we knew it could be tricky when we were not able to make Q2. Thinking about the top five becomes much tougher. Pedro did not have the speed he wanted at this GP and we have to focus on our weak points at the moment to get strong again. Augusto showed some fighting spirit and was in P14 until the last corner. We’ll take it positively and build on it for the future.”
Results MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix
1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati 42:11.173
2. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati +3.232
3. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Ducati +7.357
5. Brad Binder (RSA) KTM +18.620
11. Pol Espargaro (ESP) KTM +30.526
13. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 +33.736
15. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 +36.522
19. Jack Miller (AUS) KTM +44.134
World Championship standings MotoGP
1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati, 275 points
2. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati, 270
3. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Ducati, 214
6. Brad Binder (RSA) KTM, 128
7. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3, 125
15. Jack Miller (AUS) KTM, 47
17. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3, 16
Moto3
Daniel Holgado came so close to victory at the Red Bull Ring in 2023 and was fast during practice and qualification throughout the weekend. Red Bull KTM Tech3 were therefore optimistic of more podium potential for the 20-lap dispute on Sunday morning, as well as charting the progress of rookie Jacob Roulstone. The pair took to the grid in 4th and 15th respectively and with the knowledge that Moto3 was likely to circulate in a large group in the chase for trophies. Holgado worked up to pace quickly and was vying for P1 from the second lap. Roulstone had to manage his space in the pack around 12th position.
The leaders broke free with two laps to go and the final dash to the line involved Holgado, David Muñoz and David Alonso. Holgado cut the timing beam in 3rd and a slim 0.1 of a second from P1. The result still marked his first visit to the rostrum since the French Grand Prix. Roulstone accumulated two points for 14th.
Holgado is also 3rd in the world championship standings and only four points from P2 with Roulstone further back in 14th place.
Daniel Holgado, 3rd: “Very happy to be back on the podium, the race and the result. It was a difficult race because the pace was fast from the first laps. Then, very Moto3! Crazy! I led in the middle of the race and I did my best today. Thanks to the team for the great job and I have a good feeling on the bike. Thanks also to all the fans here.”
Jacob Roulstone, 14th: “Overall happy to finish the race and get some points. I felt quite strong and was working my way to the front of the second group but then into Turn 3 I was passed sillily by a rider and lost positions there. I couldn’t quite come back from that. More experience after not finishing the last two races. Thanks to all the team.”
Results Moto3 Austrian Grand Prix
1. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO 33:40.607
2. David Muñoz (ESP) KTM +0.121
3. Daniel Holgado (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 +0.126
5. Collin Veijer (NED) Husqvarna +0.303
7. Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP) KTM +2.790
12. Tatsuki Suzuki (JPN) Husqvarna +8.447
14. Jacob Roulstone (AUS) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 +11.704
18. Xabi Zurutuza (ESP) KTM +19.272
25. Joel Esteban (ESP) CFMOTO +30.457
World Championship standings Moto3
1. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO, 224 points
2. Ivan Ortola (ESP) KTM, 153
3. Daniel Holgado (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3, 149
4. Collin Veijer (NED) Husqvarna, 142
8. Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP), KTM, 74
13. Tatsuki Suzuki (JPN) Husqvarna, 49
14. Jacob Roulstone (AUS) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3, 46
15. Joel Esteban (ESP) CFMOTO, 41
22. Xabi Zurutuza (ESP) KTM, 3