Lights! Camera! Action! The wait was finally over for the GASGAS Gaviota Aspar, as riders Sergio Garcia and Izan Guevara raced off the line in Qatar to open their 2021 Moto3 Grand Prix accounts in fine style.
Junior Moto3 Champion Izan Guevara started his first ever Grand Prix from the front row (2nd)
Sergio Garcia charged from 8th to 4th just missing the podium by 0.43 seconds
GASGAS make a spectacular team debut under the lights of Losail in Qatar scoring a combined 22 championship points in the Moto3 World Standings
Battling howling headwinds and dusty conditions at the Losail International Circuit, both riders finished inside the top eight aboard their all-new GASGAS RC 250 GP race bikes; teasing an incredibly exciting season of racing ahead.
Former Moto3 Grand Prix winner and GASGAS Aspar Team rider Sergio Garcia charged from his 8th place qualifying slot on the grid, to race to a blistering fourth place finish; just 0.43 seconds off the podium. The 18 year old Spanish rider from Castellón - and former Moto3 Grand Prix winner - pushed all the way to the line battling ever changing track and wind conditions, and his rivals in equal measure.
Meanwhile former FIM CEV Moto3 Junior World Champion Izan Guevara started his first Moto3 Grand Prix of the season from the front row. The 16-year old rookie sensation who arrives on the World Grand Prix stage with two consecutive championships to his name, made a sizzling start initially circulating in podium contention. However, despite putting an extremely mature performance, and skillfully avoiding the numerous lap-by-lap crashes from his rivals, Garcia eventually crossed the line in seventh. The result only tells half the story though. The margins involved were truly blink-and-you’ll miss it at the opening Moto3 race of the year, with the top seven riders all finishing within a second of each other after 18 laps.
The action is green-lit for the year. Guevara, Garcia and the entire GASGAS Team won’t have to wait long to be back on track again. Returning to the Losail International Circuit again next week for round two on April 4th.
#28 - Izan Guevara: “It was a race in which I learned a lot. There were so many riders together and I never really imagined how close it would be! We tried as hard as we could for the podium and I set a good rhythm, we just missed a couple of laps to get into a better position. We have all week now to think about doing an even better job next weekend.”
#11 - Sergio Garcia: “The podium was almost there but the important thing is that my first race with GASGAS went well and I felt comfortable and fast on the bike. We were missing a little bit and there was a lot of wind with so many riders together but a new team, new bike; this was a good start.”
Jorge Martinez (GASGAS Gaviota Aspar Team Manager): “Our first grand prix of the year, the first with GASGAS and we’re really happy. We have two really young riders this season, 16 and 18 years old, and Izan was one of the revelations of the weekend while Sergio had a spectacular race. We were fighting all the way. Next weekend we have the chance to go again here and I hope we can make another little step. In truth though we’re very happy.”
Results - 2021 Moto3 FIM World Championship, Round 1:
1. Jaume Masia (KTM) 18 laps; 2. Pedro Acosta (KTM) +0.042, 3. Darryn Binder (Honda) +0.094, 4. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS), +0.435… 7. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) +0.965
Championship Standings - After Round 1:
1. Jaume Masia (KTM) 25pts; 2. Pedro Acosta (KTM) 20; 3. Darryn Binder (Honda) 19; 4. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS)13… 7. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 9