The 2024 Moto3 World Champion, David Alonso won the FIM Moto3 World Championship race Sunday at Phillip Island, in Australia. Aboard his Pirelli-shod Gaviota Aspar Team CFMOTO, the Colombian won the 21-lap race by 2.936 seconds.
Spaniard Daniel Holgado was the runner-up on his Red Bull GASGAS Tech 3 machine.
Adrian Fernandez crossed the finish line third on his Leopard Racing Honda.
Classification Moto3 race and worldstanding
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Alonso’s momentum grows as Holgado grabs P2 at Phillip Island. The Colombian has secured a historic 11th victory of the season after beating Holgado and Fernandez in Australia.
David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) is victorious at the Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, pulling off a Phillip Island masterclass from P10 on the grid. The Colombian battled hard, building a comfortable lead in the closing stages to win by 2.936s and equal Valentino Rossi with 11 wins in a single season in the lightweight class. Alonso took victory over Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), with the Spaniard charging from P14 on the grid to claim a photo finish podium. Holgado took second, beating Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) by a mere 0.003s.
Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) made an incredible launch from pole position, but a mistake at Turn 2 allowed David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) to take an early lead as the #48 dropped to second. It was a frantic start, with moves being made at every opportunity as Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) soon attacked on Lap 2, taking the lead for the first time at home.
Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA) had a tough task ahead, with the #82 forced to serve a double Long Lap during the Grand Prix. Nepa made an incredible start, taking the lead briefly before serving his first Long Lap on Lap 2 before serving the second on Lap 4 – dropping back to 19th.
Meanwhile, a huge group began to form at the front, with newly crowned Champion Alonso soon entering P1 for the first time. Slipstream proved to be vital at Phillip Island, with Holgado entering the podium battle after a challenging qualifying caused the Spaniard to start from the fifth row of the grid.
There would be further back drama for some key contenders as Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) and Ortola crashed out at Turn 4. It was a disappointing end to the weekend for the #48, who was forced to retire as Veijer remounted in the hopes of a point-scoring finish. The FIM MotoGP™ Stewards investigated the incident with no further action taken.
Alonso remained in control at the front until a mistake on Lap 14 dropped the #80 to third, with Muñoz and Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) now glued to his tailpipe. Yamanaka began to duel with Alonso as Fernandez spearheaded the field in P1.
It was building to be yet another showstopping finish at Phillip Island, with Alonso setting sights on an 11th victory of the season. The Colombian put the hammer down with three laps remaining, eking out a gap to the group behind and showing his true pace. Nobody could come close, allowing Alonso to continue to make history as Holgado and Fernandez completed the podium.
Fourth place was taken by Nepa, who had a race full of ups and downs, claiming fourth position at the line after successfully serving his double Long Lap. Meanwhile, Muñoz rounded out the top five places, securing a strong finish in Australia after a breathtaking finish. Yamanaka would cross the line in sixth, finishing as the sole MT Helmets – MSI rider and crossing the line ahead of Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) in eighth.
Meanwhile, Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) rounded out the top 10 as Kelso could only manage 11th at home. The Aussie took further points, with Riccardo Rossi (CIP Green Power) taking the flag in 12th as Red Bull GASGAS Tech3’s Jacob Roulstone completed a strong weekend in 13th. Meanwhile, Matteo Bertelle (Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team) finished ahead of Tatsuki Suzuki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), who took the final point on Sunday.
After an incredible weekend at Phillip Island, we now head to the technical Chang International Circuit for the Thai GP in just one week!