Misano 2024, Race: incredible Piqueras. Wins with two penalty laps | FP

Moto3 is always a guarantee of spectacle and uncertain races until the finish line, in some cases with results to be established even after the checkered flag. A perfect example was the San Marino Grand Prixwhere the winner was the least expected driver on the eve: Angel PiquerasThe Spaniard, with his first success in this category, won after a spectacular comeback in a race in which he had to pay for a good two long lap penaltiesconcluding in front of Daniel Holgado with only 35 thousandths of advantage. Spanish hat-trick completed by Ivan Ortolawith the championship leader David Alonso fighting for the podium until the end but slipped to sixth position, which then became seventh following a penalty for exceeding track limits.

Race report

It was clear from the start that Piqueras was in a state of grace, with an excellent start that allowed him to take the lead in the standings from fourth position. However, the #36 of the Leopard team had to serve two long lap penalties for the contact that occurred during the second practice with Odgen, thus leaving the leadership to Ortolà and Holgado. A hope for victory that seemed so vanished, as well as for Fernandez and Lunettaalso penalized with the same sanction but for an imperceptible jump start. The first half of the race continued with Ortolà and Holgado leading the way alone, followed by the group of Furusato, Alonso and Kelso, all fighting for third place. The gap, however, closed around lap 13, with the first attacks carried out by Furusato. The fight for the podium, characterized by continuous overtaking that also included Alonso, allowed the drivers behind them to recover, thus allowing the unexpected recovery of Piqueras. The most spectacular and breathless phase was concentrated in the last three laps, with continuous overtaking and not without contact between Piqueras and Alonso, who subsequently risked another fall with Ortolà. For this episode, the Colombian arrived 6th at the finish line, but the track limits exceeded during the race pushed the Race Direction to penalize the world championship leader, 7th behind Veijer, with the Dutchman thus recovering points in the standings, as did Holgado and Ortolà. Piqueras, on the other hand, was exceptional. Thanks to decisive and spectacular overtaking, the Spaniard managed to take the lead right during the last lap, crossing the finish line first with just 35 thousandths of an advantage over Holgado, with Ortolà 3rd.

Moto3 – San Marino GP 2024: arrival order (top-15)