Guevara pulls off iconic final corner move for magical win

Jerez has seen some classic moments down the years but I don't think it's ever witnessed a last lap move quite like Izan Guevara's at the Red Bull Spanish Grand Prix. The Gaviota GASGAS Aspar man rolled around the outside of World Championship leader Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team), Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) for only his second Grand Prix victory after a thrilling Moto3™ fight. Garcia stretched out his title lead with a third consecutive podium and Masia muscled out Öncü at the last corner for the final podium place.

FANTASTIC FOUR OPEN THE DOOR

Off the line, it was Garcia who rocketed into the lead from second on the grid, with poleman Guevara settling in behind him. There was also a strong start for Leopard Racing's Dennis Foggia as he moved through to third before he quickly dropped out of contention. The GASGAS duo were half a second clear after the first lap with Guevara hitting the front at Turn 5 on Lap 2. Masia closed the gap to the leading duo by Lap 3, with Brazilian rookie Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets - MSI) clinging in there as well. The leading quartet were a second clear after only three laps but they quickly threw away that advantage.

Guevara, Garcia and Masia began swapping places at every available opportunity, all of this allowing Öncü and CFMoto PruestelGP's Xavi Artigas to close in on the leading four. By Lap 8, Öncü and Artigas were there. They'd caught the leading group and didn’t waste much time before attacking, with the Turk up to fourth after finding a way through on Moreira. Lap 10 and Artigas came alive. The young Spaniard got his elbows out to go from fourth to first.

Meanwhile, the constant fighting at the front was allowing yet more lightweight class riders to join the leading group. SIC58 Squadra Corse's Riccardo Rossi, despite a long lap penalty, Red Bull KTM Ajo's Dani Holgado and, quite incredibly after starting from the back of the grid and serving a long lap penalty, Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max Racing's Ayumu Sasaki had all caught the leading group. 12 laps to go and now nine riders were in the fight for the lead.

Guevara then, after waving his arms in sheer frustration earlier, got to the front and started to increase the pace. He stretched the group out considerably and Holgado, Moreira, who was handed a long lap penalty for exceeding track limits, and Rossi, who eventually crashed out, couldn’t live with the pace and we were back down to six.

LORENZO STYLE AT LORENZO CORNER

After countless overtakes between the leading contenders, we were down to just three laps to go with Turkey's Öncü leading the way ahead of Garcia and Masia. Guevara was still fancying his chances in fourth, with Artigas and Sasaki, clearly lacking grip after pushing hard to reach the leaders, aiming to pick up the pieces in fifth and sixth.

Masia found a way through on Garcia to go second at Turn 6 with three laps remaining before Garcia pulled off a carbon-copy move on Masia a lap later to retake the place. That didn’t last long, though, with Masia finding an instant response. One lap left of the historic Jerez and Masia fancied a dream home win. He lead as he dived through on the brakes down the hill into Pedrosa Corner, Turn 6, but Öncü responded with yet another move at his favourite Turn 8. In the blink of an eye, Masia was back to fourth after both of the GASGAS riders elbowed their way through at Turn 10 - Garcia was second with Guevara following him through to third.

Into the final corner and Öncü was leading. Garcia went for the inside, Öncü in the middle and Guevara to the outside with the Mallorcan conjuring up some Lorenzo magic at Lorenzo Corner to pull of a quite incredible 'Por Fuera' move to hit the front. Garcia tried to drag his way past him to the line but the 17-year-old held on for just a second Grand Prix victory and in some style too. Masia had to nudge Öncü out of the way to take third, denying the Turk a first podium of the year in cruel fashion. Artigas claimed fifth, with Sasaki a commendable sixth after dealing with real adversity.

In the fight for seventh, Japan's Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power) came out on top against compatriot Ryusei Yamanaka, whilst Holgado and Moreira slipped back to ninth and tenth after sitting in the fight for victory at one stage.

DENNIS' DISASTER DAY

A third straight podium for Garcia helped him move 21 points clear of Foggia after a day to forget for the Italian. He eventually slipped all the way back 18th after being 3rd on the opening lap, meaning he failed to score a point. Guevara's win brings him into title contention, the talented teen is now only 30 points adrift of his teammate as we head to Le Mans.

Moto3™ Top 10 in Jerez:
1. Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) – 22 laps
2. Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) + 0.061
3. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.208
4. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) + 0.319
5. Xavier Artigas (CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP) + 0.417
6. Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) + 0.847
7. Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power) + 3.787
8. Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets - MSI) + 3.982
9. Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 5.811
10. Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets - MSI) + 6.088