Front-running potential for Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 at Motegi MotoGP™

Pedro Acosta fought for the lead at the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix in one the most competitive and promising weekends of the season for Red Bull GASGAS Tech3. The Spaniard started from Pole Position for the first time but a tumble at the final corner of the lap at Motegi ended his bid for a podium. Augusto Fernandez also did not complete the race distance.

• Tough conclusion to round sixteen for official Rookie of the Year Acosta who crashes out of second place and while pushing for P1 in the early stages
• Fernandez hopes for points at Motegi but the Spaniard also falls out of the running
• Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 remain present at the very front of Moto3™ as Daniel Holgado tussles for the podium and takes 4th, just 1.1 seconds from P1 while Jacob Roulstone rediscovers some mojo for 17th

All the signs were in place for another strong Grand Prix for the Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 team. Pedro Acosta, officially stamped as the 2024 Rookie of the Year on Saturday morning in Japan, had been fast all weekend and broke the lap record on his way to Pole Position. He then started to make a breakaway while leading in the Saturday Sprint and only a small error scrubbed his chances of a win. Augusto Fernandez had been searching for a cure to his vibration issues but the changeable conditions between wet and dry in Motegi meant consistent set-up work was tricky. He started the Grand Prix race from 18th on the grid.

In more dark but dry conditions Acosta had another chance to put his name in the 2024 Japanese history books. He started well and charged after world champion Francesco Bagnaia but lost traction through Victory corner and went into the gravel. He picked up and tried to continue but damage to the motorcycle eventually ended his race. Augusto pushed as hard as he could with his current state of feeling and confidence but unfortunately his hopes were dashed at Turn 5.

Acosta is 6th in the world championship standings and lies 2 points from the top five. After three consecutive weekends of racing, MotoGP now takes a well-deserved break before another ‘triple’ in Australia, Thailand and Malaysia. First up: Phillip Island in two weeks.

Pedro Acosta, DNF: “I saw the possibility to go for the lead but it was my mistake. We have to look at the positive; we had a weekend of making a lot of steps and a feeling that we were unbeatable. I don’t feel like that right now! But we made progress and we have to show the same again in Australia.”

Augusto Fernandez, DNF: “A shame to crash that early. We had changed a lot on the bike to gain more feeling and for what we’ve been missing a bit this season. I’m keen to get to Australia and to continue to work with this base. I want to finish the year in a stronger way.”

Nicolas Goyon, GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 Team Manager: “We really felt we had everything in our hands to have one of our best weekends of the season. Pedro was happy with the bike and the way everything was working so the DNF today was tough, especially when fighting at the front. We have to learn from our mistakes and I’m sure this will make him a stronger rider. Augusto had a big change in terms of set-up and we reduced the vibration issue that he has been having but it was another crash and we did not meet our target today. Now, one week to rest and to analyze and we’ll be ready to fight again in two weeks.”

Results MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix

1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati 42:09.790

2. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati +1.189

3. Marc Marquez (ESP) Ducati +3.822

6. Brad Binder (RSA) KTM +18.502

10. Jack Miller (AUS) KTM +31.184

DNF. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3

DNF. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3

World Championship standings MotoGP

1. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati, 392 points

2. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati, 382

3. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Ducati, 313

5. Brad Binder (RSA) KTM, 183

6. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3, 181

15. Jack Miller (AUS) KTM, 66

21. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3, 20

Moto3

17-laps of Moto3 action launched the Grand Prix in Japan and finally in consistent weather conditions after the mix of wet and dry track states throughout Friday and Saturday. Daniel Holgado and Jacob Roulstone tried to get a firm handle on the demands in practice and quali and it was the Spaniard who performed a little brighter to sit 9th on the grid and in the third row. Roulstone was four rows back in 21st.

Holgado gunned the Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 machine from the red light to slot into the leading sect of riders. Roulstone had to negotiate the crazy weave of position-swapping mid-pack and mingled inside the top twenty. Holgado was a strong and easily identified force at the front and used the limit of the tires and the package to bid for the podium and was less than half a second away at the line, earning P4. Roulstone passed the flag in 17th.

The current Moto3 championship standings places Holgado in 2nd while Roulstone is 15th with just four races remaining.

Daniel Holgado, 4th: “A good race. We did a decent job today and gave our best. My feeling on the bike was strong but I was not the fastest and I have to congratulate David [Alonso] and his team for the title. Now I need to stay focused for 2nd place in the championship.”

Jacob Roulstone, 17th: “Some positives from today’s race. I made a good start and got my head down to fight back to a decent position. I felt quite good with the pace. I was able to iron-out some issues and we made a big revision overnight. We made a step and I’m happy. Big thanks to the boys for their work. I’m super-excited now for the home GP.”

Results Moto3 Japanese Grand Prix

1. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO 33:03.606

2. Collin Veijer (NED) Husqvarna +0.525

3. Adrian Fernandez (ESP) Honda +0.766

4. Daniel Holgado (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 +1.168

5. Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP) KTM +1.209

7. Tatsuki Suzuki (JPN) Husqvarna +2.336

15. Joel Esteban (ESP) CFMOTO +13.294

17. Jacob Roulstone (AUS) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 +22.452

18. Xabi Zurutuza (ESP) KTM +22.539

World Championship standings Moto3

1. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO, 321 points (Champion)

2. Daniel Holgado (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3, 212

3. Collin Veijer (NED) Husqvarna, 209

8. Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP), KTM, 121

12. Tatsuki Suzuki (JPN) Husqvarna, 81

15. Jacob Roulstone (AUS) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3, 50

17. Joel Esteban (ESP) CFMOTO, 45

22. Xabi Zurutuza (ESP) KTM, 11