Joan Mir triumphant at Spielberg as rookie converts first pole to first victory

 In Moto3, News

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After the pole position yesterday, Joan Mir, the Palma de Mallorca rookie won his first GP in the World Championship in a nailbiting thriller of a race.

11:00 o’clock saw the lights turn off at Spielberg under a full sun with ideal temperatures for young lions in Moto3, ready to carve up the curbs and corners on the 4.3 km Austrian track. Joan Mir starting well from pole position, the first ever in his career and the first for the Leopard team this year, and running together with Binder and Bastianini.

Behind them Fabio Quartararo got rid of his opponents and, to the sound of fast laps, he caught up to the leading trio: soon joining the poker game of four players looking to command the race. Even Andrea Locatelli was not far behind, able to climb at the start of the race and entering the Top 10 by force. The Italian exceeded countrymen Bulega and Di Giannantonio grabbing provisional 6th place, leading the second group during the race.

Ten laps from the end, Quartararo jumped his rivals and threw himself in pursuit of Binder. The Talent of Nice took the fight to the South African and three laps later passed to command of the race. Just one lap later, Joan Mir was stuck to his teammate. The last five laps were a succession of passes and counter passes among the five contenders for victory.

The last lap was thrilling, a fight with nothing left to give at the end. Joan Mir was quickly in the lead and, with determination and lucidity, held his rivals back until the checkered flag. In his tenth appearance in the World Championship and after the extraordinary pole position yesterday, the Palma de Mallorca rookie won his first race in the championship standings and lies in 7th place overall with 75 points. The battle for Rookie of the Year continues to tighten, Mir only seven points behind Bulega.

The Leopard Racing team dominated the Red Bull Ring thanks to Fabio Quartararo in fourth, only 8 thousandths off the podium after photo finish at the finish line and the points finish of Andrea Locatelli (13th). This victory is a strong signal for the Leopard Racing team but there is no time to relax: between a week in Brno there is the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic.

#36 Joan MIR – 1st
“It’s all so unbelievable, I’m speechless. Win a round of the World ChampioNship and also starting from pole position is fantastic. I managed my race perfectly, always in the leading group without letting anyone run away. In this area we improved, not making the mistake of the previous races, to stay behind and wait, but I went to attack and I struggled. I want to dedicate this win, in addition to the Leopard team and my family, to Luis Salom.”

Source: Leopard Racing

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