DNFs for both Albert Arenas and Raul Fernandez in the Catalan GP

Just nineteen riders out of a starting grid of thirty-one made the finish in an incident-packed Moto3 race in Barcelona, where Marcos Ramírez emerged unscathed to take his first Grand Prix victory. A series of crashes and mechanical breakdowns in the lead group saw the likes of Gabriel Rodrigo, Jaume Masiá, Tony Arbolino, Lorenzo dalla Porta, Raúl Fernández and Albert Arenas all ruled out, as Ramírez, who escaped from an incident of his own, took the flag by just over a tenth of a second from Aron Canet and Celestino Vietti. Canet retains the series lead with a 23-point advantage over Lorenzo dalla Porta.

A multi-rider crash in Barcelona ended the hopes of both Albert Arenas and Raúl Fernández at one of their home races. The Spanish pair were running with the lead group over the opening laps and looked certain to challenge for strong results. However, on the fifth lap another rider came from behind and made contact initially with Arenas and then with Fernádez, ending the race for them both. Thankfully the two riders were uninjured and can head to the Dutch TT in good form, with their sights set on top results.

Albert Arenas (DNF):
“I was hit from behind and suddenly found myself on the ground. These things happen in racing, I am happy that I am okay and ready to come back stronger in the next race. I had a good feeling, I was up there at the front and wanted to stay there to make an attack at the end. I couldn’t do anything about being hit from behind.”

Raúl Fernández (DNF):
“I am fine but it makes me angry to finish like this. In France I rode injured, I still wasn’t fully fit for Mugello and here we had done a good job. I was up there and could have kept on making up positions – today was the day for a great race, because after four laps I was already in the top ten. I was doing well but when the racing is this close, these things happen. I think the rider responsible stepped over the mark because he has taken out six riders. I don’t know why it had to happen, why he had to go there. We have to think about ourselves though and keep working like this.”