Sergio Garcia romped to a blistering second place podium finish after a thrilling 22 lap race at the 2021 Motul TT of Assen

The legendary Dutch circuit of Assen provided the perfect venue for Sergio Garcia and the Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team to showcase just why they are fighting for the top spots in the Moto3™ World Championship. Second place, and a haul of 20 points - cementing 2nd in the riders standings - went Garcia’s way after a breathless 22 laps.

• Sergio Garcia races to his 3rd podium of the season, finishing 2nd at the 2021 Motul TT of Assen
• Izan Guevara qualifies 13th and finishes 12th
  
• Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team places second in the team championship standings after nine rounds of the 2021 Moto3 World Championship

There is almost no better feeling on a Grand Prix bike than going flat out on a bright and sunny day around one of the fastest, and the oldest venues of the MotoGP calendar. The legendary and sweeping Dutch TT circuit, known to fans as the Cathedral of Speed is a firm favourite for many riders, and the perfect venue to score points and experience some awesome racing. Sergio Garcia knows this - and showed fans exactly why he is destined for big things in the future - by racing to his third podium of the season so far.  

The 18 year old Spanish young gun lined up in 4th position aboard his GASGAS RC 250 GP machine, and made short work of his rivals during the opening laps of the Dutch race. In what proved to be one of the overall fastest Grand Prix of the year so far - where lap records tumbled on multiple occasions - Garcia set the white hot pace amongst the leaders.

Despite the speed of eventual winner Dennis Foggia, Garcia frequently nosed into first place throughout the race, and used his incredible late-braking skill to close down any gaps that his rival had pulled on the straights

In the closing laps, Garcia kept the gap to less than two-tenths of a second. In fact, as Garcia rocketed through the final turns on the last lap, the 18 year old very nearly snatched the win from Foggia. He crossed the line just 0.078 behind the Italian.

Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team rider Izan Guevara recorded a solid top 12 finish, after a challenging race. The former Junior Moto3 World Champion, who turns 17 years old on the Monday after the Dutch Grand Prix, worked hard to find a consistent rhythm. Qualifying on 13th place on the grid, Guevara battled hard in the mid pack, and despite slipping outside the top fifteen on lap six, fought back into the points by the second half of the sprint.

The Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team and the Moto3 paddock now enjoy a much deserved month-long summer break, after which they head for Austria, and the Michelin Grand Prix of Styria on the 8th August.

#11 - Sergio Garcia: “I really enjoyed this race a lot today. I think this was potentially the fastest race we have had in the Moto3 World Championship all year so far. I was pushing as hard as I could, right until the finish. I was leading at times during the race, but the positions were changing so much between me and the other riders in the leading group. I had a small moment on lap 17 or 18 when I dropped back to 5th, but then I fought back. To fight for the podium in such a fast race is an amazing feeling.”

#28 - Izan Guevara: “It was not quite the race we hoped for, but we took some points today. We were looking quite good during the weekend but there was a crash in Turn 5 quite early on in the race and that meant it was tough afterwards to catch the group in front. We had good rhythm but could only make a few tenths back. Anyway, I’m happy and we’ll keep working like this to push onwards.”

Jorge Martinez (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team Manager): “It was a fast and surprising race where the front group eventually broke away. Sergio laid on a spectacular performance and, in my opinion, is the finest rider in the class at the moment. He rode very well considering the straight line speed of Foggia’s bike, so I just want to congratulate him for a very impressive job all weekend.”

Results - 2021 Moto3 FIM World Championship, Round 9:

1. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 22 laps; 2. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) +0.078, 3. Romano Fenati (Husqvarna) +0.207, 12. Izan Guevara (GASGAS), +13.555

Championship Standings - After Round 9:

1. Pedro Acosta (KTM) 158pts; 2. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 110pts; 3. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 86pts; 15. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 36pts