GASGAS touched down at the home of British motorsport for an edge of the seat racing return after five weeks off. GASGAS riders led the way with outright pace and finished on the podium in Moto2, but unfortunately endured a double retirement in Moto3.
High speed and high drama were the order of the day as Grand Prix racing roared back into action after the traditional five-week summer break. The legendary 5.89km venue - known affectionately as the home of British Motorsport - sizzled under the intense heat of the sun, with track temperatures peaking at 43°C throughout Sunday.
It was a fitting scene for GASGAS’s Moto2 and Moto3 squads, who have been patiently waiting to get back on track, after the checkered flag dropped in the Netherlands at the end of June. You would forgive Sergio Garcia and Izan Guevara for feeling the pressure ahead of the British Grand Prix weekender - however not so. The duo were cool, calm, and collected - leading the riders standings - separated by just three points - as well as a combined points tally that puts the Gaviota GASGAS Apsar Team at the top of the Moto3 standings.
With the second half of the season ahead of them, Guevara and Garcia pushed themselves and their GASGAS RC 250 GP machines to the limit around Silverstone. Guevara in particular qualified into second position; eager to chase down his team mate, who currently leads the championship standings.
While both Guevara and Garcia fought hard straight off the lights, settling into the white-hot battles in the pack, frustration was just around the corner. There had not been a single crash in Moto3 over the entire weekend until the closing laps of the race. Unfortunately both Guevara and Garcia featured in two separate incidents - through no fault of their own. After Garcia had worked his way into the lead pack with three laps to go, rival Ayumu Sasaki crashed into the back of the Spanish ace on turn 13.
Shortly after that Guevara - who had been on blistering form, and looking likely for a podium finish - was blindsided by rookie Ivan Ortola at turn 7 on the final lap. Despite the double-DNF, both Garcia and Guevara remain at the top of the standings.
The drama continued in Moto2, with Inde GASGAS Aspar rider Albert Arenas - who qualified fourth - crashing out of the race with a high-speed slide on turn four. The GASGAS story of the weekend belongs to Jake Dixon however.
The British rider had been one of the class's pace setting riders all weekend, and after absolutely dominating FP1 and FP3, set about repeating the speed in qualifying. Despite a fall at the long-lap loop Dixon regrouped to claim P6 for the race. On Sunday, Dixon again showed true grit, fighting his way into the top three, and despite intense competition from rivals Aron Canet, Alonso Lopez, Ai Ogura and Augusto Fernandez held his nerve throughout the 18 laps race. Setting a personal best lap in the process - Jake crossed the line in 3rd place to secure his third Grand Prix podium and second in succession. Dixon now sits in 7th position on 92 points, while Arenas is in 15th on 45 points.
The action continues at the CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich at the technical and picture-perfect Red Bull Ring on the 21st August.
#11 - Sergio García: “I felt very strong all race and was using all that the bike had to offer today. I was well positioned approaching the last laps but I guess Sasaki didn’t see me and hit me off. These things happen and it’s a big shame because the weekend had been going well and we’d worked hard for this. I hope we can turn around our luck for the next GP. The only positive is that the championship points stayed the same and the positions also. We could have made a forward step today though.”
#28 - Izan Guevara: “A strong start to the race with good lap-times in the 11.5s but by the fourth lap I could feel the tire was pushing. I didn’t really know what was going on and slipped back into the group. I didn’t have a great feeling and was just trying to keep with the guys. With two laps to go I was running 6-7 and thought the podium might be possible but all I know is that I was hit by a bike and the race was gone. It could have been worse for the championship but Sergio also went down so now we just have to think about Austria and hope for more luck.”
#75 - Albert Arenas: “A fast race from the beginning but I was able to get into the group going for the win. It wasn’t my day today. I don’t think we were quite ready to carry that pace but I decided to go for it anyway until I went just over the limit. I couldn’t avoid the crash. We’ll continue with the same ambition to try and win and chase success. We’ll see what we can improve to be more in with a chance of the podium. We’re close.”
#96 - Jake Dixon: “Words can’t describe it! I know it’s only a third place but this really feels like a victory! Especially from where I came from at the beginning of the race, to where I was at the end. It feels so amazing, the crowd has been absolutely awesome - I can’t thank them all enough for their support. As they could see - I fought until the very end, and I fought like a lion. I was never going to give up; and I gave everything I could.”
Results - 2022 Moto3 World Championship, Round 12:
1. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 17 Laps; 2. Jaume Masia (KTM) +0.252, 3. Deniz Öncü (KTM) +0.297, DNF. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) +1 lap, DNF. Sergio García (GASGAS) +3 laps,
Moto3 Championship Standings - After Round 12:
1. Sergio García (GASGAS) 182pts; 2. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 179pts, 3. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 140pts,
Results - 2022 Moto2 World Championship, Round 12:
1. Augusto Fernandez (Kalex) 18 Laps; 2. Alonso Lopez (Kalex) +0.070, 3. Jake Dixon (GASGAS / Kalex) +0.662, DNF. Albert Arenas (GASGAS / Kalex) +8 Laps,
Moto2 Championship Standings - After Round 12:
1. Augusto Fernandez (Kalex) 171pts, 2. Ai Ogura (Kalex) 158pts, 3. Celestino Vietti (Kalex) 156pts, 7. Jake Dixon (GASGAS / Kalex) 92pts, 15. Albert Arenas (GASGAS / Kalex) 45pts,