Alonso puts in a masterclass, Holgado vs Piqueras goes to the wire

David Alonso (CFMoto Valresa Aspar Team) proved unstoppable at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, taking off from pole and able to escape a dramatic contest behind to take his second Grand Prix win of the season in some style. After a rollercoaster route to a vital final lap, the fight for second went down to a near-photo finish between Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) and rookie Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing), with Holgado just holding on and holding on to the Championship lead in the process. Still, Piqueras takes a maiden podium and makes a statement in Texas.

Alonso got a good start to retain the holeshot, with Holgado slotting into second until an early race wobble for Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) in third saw him also tag Holgado, sending the number 96 wide. They did regroup, but the net result was a key gap at the front for Alonso. There was then even more drama as Ivan Ortola(MT Helmets MSI) collided with Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA), riders ok, but the Spaniard then trying to remount the wrong bike as both scrambled to get back in the race

Up at the front, there were no such dramas for Alonso – with Matteo Bertelle(Rivacold Snipers Team) a distance back in second before he peeled off to take the first of his three Long Lap penalties, leaving the Colombian with an even bigger gap.

By 11 to go, it was just over three seconds up the road to Alonso, and the second group was six strong: Holgado, Piqueras, Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), Kelso and Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI). But Furusato then crashed out from the chase, and by five to go the lead had come down to three seconds but the group lost another as Kelso slid off, remounting but out of the chase.

Veijer and Holgado were making inroads into the gap before even more drama as the Dutchman suddenly highsided out, right as Yamanaka went for a move on Holgado. Veijer was out, but Yamanaka and Holgado were both able to avoid the incident and straightline it across the run off. Piqueras got past both though.

After that, the lead was back up  to over six seconds by the start of the final lap, but the podium fight was close as Holgado led Piqueras led Yamanaka, teasing a photo finish. And that it was! The Japanese rider couldn’t quite make an attack but Piqueras tucked in behind Holgado on the back straight and made a move stick at the end of it, no nerves on show as he fought for his first podium. But Holgado was able to hit back, and it went down to the drag to the line.

Looking for one more shot at second, Piqueras took a different line round the final corner and the two headed for the flag side-by-side, split over the line by just 0.013 as Holgado just held on. In doing so the #96 retains the points lead, but Piqueras still takes that maiden Grand Prix podium on only his third Grand Prix start. Alonso, meanwhile, takes his second win of the season to move to just two points off Holgado in the standings.

Yamanaka took fourth, his best GP result yet, ahead of a gap back to David Muñoz(BOE Motorsports), Tatsuki Suzuki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) and Kelso after the Australian remounted but then got an LLP becoming a time penalty for the early race incident with Holgado. Rookie Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull GAGAS Tech3) took P8 ahead of fellow debutant Joel Esteban (CFMoto Valresa Aspar Team), with Bertelle able to complete the top ten despite those three Long Laps – and only half a tenth ahead of fellow triple LLP server Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing).

After a masterclass from Alonso but some great damage limitation amongst the drama for Holgado, the latter now leads the former by two points heading to Jerez. The Spanish GP will be a classic, so tune in in just under two weeks for more Moto3™!

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