David Alonso wins his first Moto3 race, and from the back of the grid – Ayumu Sasaki and Daniel Holgado complete the podium at Silverstone
Moto3 rookie David Alonso won his first Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday. The GasGas rider started from 28th on the grid, but worked his way up to the front of the field early on and eventually edged out Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) and Daniel Holgado (KTM) in a close battle.
With this, Alonso made history by becoming the first Colombian ever to triumph in a World Championship race. “This feeling is unbelievable!” he exulted after his maiden victory. “Last night I was down because I had lost so much and I knew it would be difficult in the race.”
“This morning, though, I gave myself courage. I just focused on the race. In the last two corners I knew it was going to work. Unbelievable! I dedicate this victory to my team, my family and my friends.”
The first race started in cool but largely dry conditions. There were only isolated damp patches on the tarmac. The race was scheduled for 15 laps.
Polesetter Masia crashes while leading
Jaume Masia (Honda), Scott Ogden (Honda) and World Championship leader Holgado were on the front row of the grid. But for local hero Ogden, the warm-up lap already started with problems. He couldn’t get off the track and had to push his bike off the track to then roll up the field from the last place on the grid.
Nooooooo! @ScottOgden19 has problems off the line! He’ll start from the back of grid instead of the front row! BritishGP pic.twitter.com/iWXREBehBQ
– MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) August 6, 2023
Masia had the best holeshot. But he was already overtaken by Holgado in turn 1. But he didn’t stay in the lead for long. After a few corners Deniz Öncü (KTM) surged ahead. In the course of the first lap, the lead changed back and forth between these three names several times.
Sasaki and Ivan Ortola (Honda) kept up in fourth and fifth place. Alonso, who had started from the back of the grid, had made up many positions in the first two laps and was already in seventh place.
The first crash occurred on lap three when Masia, of all people, slipped off the front wheel in turn 4 while leading the race. He continued, but was last.
The race was characterised by constant changes in the lead
Holgado took the lead. His first pursuer was Diogo Moreira (KTM), who was now also in the fight for the lead. As always, the peloton was close together. The first bigger gap of a good second only formed after 18th place.
From qualifying LAST to running FIRST in the race!
And David Alonso has never even been to Silverstone before! BritishGP pic.twitter.com/FuY9VwXFAy
– MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) August 6, 2023
With ten laps to go, Alonso took the lead for the first time, but even he could not shake off his pursuers. It remained a typical Moto3 group race with tough duels in which no clear favourite emerged until the end. The positions changed with almost every turn.
Three laps before the end, after Masia, his Leopard team mate Tatsuki Suzuki (Honda) also dropped out in the fight for the podium. He crashed, taking Matteo Bertelle (Honda) with him. Holgado, meanwhile, received a track limits warning. He was therefore not allowed to commit any more offences, otherwise he would have to pay a penalty.
Second fastest top 15 in Moto3 history
In the final phase, things got hectic once again. The decision was made on the last lap. Holgado started in the lead, followed by Alonso and Öncü. Behind them, Sasaki took advantage of the slipstream and moved from fourth place to the lead.
HISTORY MAKER!
David Alonso becomes the FIRST-EVER Colombian Grand Prix winner! BritishGP pic.twitter.com/66o88ENFRZ
– MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) August 6, 2023
But Alonso didn’t give up and passed again on the hangar straight. In the last three corners, he didn’t let himself take the win. Sasaki had to settle for second place for the third time in a row. Holgado successfully edged out Ortola in the battle for the final podium spot.
David Munoz (KTM) completed the top five, with David Salvador, Diogo Moreira, Antonio Jose Rueda (all KTM), Colin Veijer (Husqvarna) and Romano Fenati (Honda) taking the remaining top 10 places. Öncü dropped back to eleventh after a late mistake.
With the first 15 riders within 1.572 seconds of each other, the Silverstone race goes down in Moto3 history as the second closest. Only at Mugello 2017 was it even closer. Back then, the top 15 were within 1.553 seconds of each other.
Masia did not make it into the points after his crash. The pole setter finished 18th – right behind Ogden, who finished 17th after the problem at the start.
In the World Championship, Masia lost one place and dropped back to third behind Sasaki. Holgado is still at the top of the overall standings, with a lead of 22 points. Masia is 32 points behind. Ortola and Öncü are in fourth and fifth place. Alonso is now sixth after his victory.
