Garcia charges from 19th to win in front of 19,000 fans at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
While any visit to the legendary Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is special, this particular Grand Prix will be one to remember for a long time. Featuring edge-of-the seat racing, an epic Solunion GASGAS Aspar Team victory, and thousands of screaming fans; round seven of the Moto3 World Championship was simply off the excitement level charts both on and off the track.
Sergio Garcia arrived at the Gran Premi Monster Energy De Catalunya determined to make up for lost time in the wake of the challenges he faced at the last race in Mugello. A difficult qualifying session forced a 19th place grid start, and with the rain clouds looming, the odds were beginning to stack up against the young Spanish rider from Burriana. However, if his previous victory at round five of the championship - in Le Mans - this season has taught us anything; never count out #11.
Garcia made a lightning start, leaping up into 13th on the first lap and then further up the order to 5th by lap three. His charge was so hard and aggressive that by lap eight he was circulating in second position, and by the half-way point of the Catalan Grand Prix Garcia was leading the race aboard his GASGAS RC 250 GP machine.
The second half of the 21 lap sprint - now bathed in beautiful sunshine - proved to be a race of tactical attrition. Judging the slipstream effect perfectly along pit straight and carrying enough speed around the 4.6km circuit, Garcia emerged as the winner in absolute awesome style.
For Izan Guevara, a taste of a podium came so tantalisingly close. Having qualified in an impressive 5th, the 16 year old former Junior Moto3 Champion gave it absolutely everything during the race.
Similar to his teammate, he made a lightning start, jumping straight up to 3rd position and then into the race lead by the end of the first lap. Recording a blistering 228km/h through the speed trap along the pit straight, Guevara battled consistently in the top five pack throughout the 21 laps. However, disaster struck in the final metres, when he lost the front wheel around turn 10 and crashed out of 4th.
#11 - Sergio Garcia: “It was a very crazy race! I was just trying as hard as I could to get to the finish and push for the podium. Every lap I was having to plan my track position, because of the huge slip stream down the pit straight. I’m very happy to get this victory. It's just absolutely amazing - I’m lost for words! I want to say thank you to the team and my family. I’m very, very happy!”
#28 - Izan Guevara: “It’s been a good weekend and we were running in the top five in every session apart from FP3 when we were trying some different tires. The race was going really well and it’s such a shame about the crash because I was strong in that front-running group. We were fast and I had fun today. I’m already looking forward to the next race at the Sachsenring.”
Results - 2021 Moto3 FIM World Championship, Round 7:
1. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 21 laps; 2. Jeremy Alcoba (Honda) +0.015, 3. Deniz Öncü (KTM) +0.118, DNF. Izan Guevara (GASGAS), +1 Lap
Championship Standings - After Round 7:
1. Pedro Acosta (KTM) 120pts; 2. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 81pts; 3. Jaume Masia (KTM) 72pts; 16. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 26pts