DNF for Alonso, 16th for Yamanaka in the #PortugueseGP

Daniel Holgado has become the first winner of this season in the Moto3 World Championship. The Spanish rider, who has started from fourth position on the grid, has achieved today his first victory in the small category after a beautiful race on the Portuguese track. David Muñoz, who has made a great comeback with eleven positions gained, has taken second place, while last season’s best rookie, Diogo Moreira, has managed to climb to the third step of the podium. José Antonio Rueda and Jaume Masià complete the top 5 positions.

Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team has not been able to complete the weekend with a better ending after the good results of the practice sessions. Japanese rider Ryusei Yamanaka has finished sixteenth in a race in which he managed to come back three positions at the start and in which he has competed with the front group constantly. However, Yamanaka leaves Portugal without points, but with a good feeling to continue working in Argentina. His teammate David Alonso couldn’t complete his first race as a permanent World Championship rider after an incident with Iván Ortolá on the third lap. The Colombian rider has crashed while he was fighting for the front positions and, although he could get back on track, he was running in the last position and finally he has entered the pits and has retired. Alonso will try to redeem himself next weekend at the Argentina Grand Prix.

16th Ryusei Yamanaka (+9.771):
“The start of the race was quite good and I was in the top group. With six laps to go I saw a Long Lap penalty and it was my mistake. The race was gone. A big shame but I need to learn from this. Argentina next and I have some experience there. Our weekend went well and we worked in the right way. I won’t make this mistake again.”

David Alonso (DNF):
“Today was a good day. In the last free practice we could complete a very good lap which allowed us to go straight into Q2. It was our first qualifying session in the World Championship and we have managed to start from the second row, which is one of our main objectives for this Grand Prix. Moreover, the feeling was even better because I was riding on my own. This gives me more confidence for Sunday’s race. Tomorrow we will see how the wind picks up and we will be ready to fight for the front positions.”