Magnificent Alonso takes the spoils and the Championship lead

It was fireworks at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya with David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) storming to victory after a magnificent performance in Barcelona to take the Championship lead. The #80 put together a perfect race from sixth on the grid, beating Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) by just 0.242s at the line in a grandstand finish. Joining Alonso and Ortola on the podium was Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who stole a podium finish on the final lap after the #99 showed brilliant late-race pace.

The Colombian stuck to a strategy throughout the entire race which he said was inspired by Izan Guevara, with Alonso spending most of the Grand Prix inside the top five, waiting for the perfect opportunity to push and steal the race lead which he magnificently pulled off in the closing laps.

Once the lights went out, polesitter Ortola led the way after a perfect start, leaving the rest of the field to battle for every inch of the tarmac and even the grass behind. Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) showed incredible bravery on the opening lap to charge from fifth to second by lap two of the race, before eventually stealing the race lead.

David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) and Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) were fast early on but had their own LLPs to serve with Furusato forced to take two long laps. These penalties dropped both riders outside of the top 10, leaving them with plenty of work to do.

The first crasher of the race came the way of David Almansa (Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team), crashing at turn 5 early on. Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) had a crash of his own on lap six, before Furusato on the same lap at turn 4. The next heartbreak came the way of CIP Green Power’s Riccardo Rossi, who after receiving a long lap, crashed at turn 13.

Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), Ortola, and Veijer shared first place in the first half of the Grand Prix, with the battle beginning to intensify. However, one rider who was slowly carving through the field was Alonso, who eventually took the race lead on lap 12 and began to put the hammer down.

It all came down to a thrilling four way fight on the final lap with Alonso leading Ortola, and the #80 putting together a perfect lap. This allowed Alonso to storm to victory, after yet another impressive ride from the Colombian. The battle for the final spot was decided when Rueda pounced on Veijer on the final lap at turn 4 and was able to hold off the Dutchman all the way to the line

Missing out on a podium by just 0.047s and crossing the line in fourth was Veijer who momentarily led the Catalan GP before finishing ahead of Muñoz after a thrilling 18 laps. Muñoz rounded out the top five who completed an eventful race with solid Championship points on the board. Holgado took sixth, finishing ahead of the top Honda of Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse), with the Italian continuing to impress. Rookie Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) took eighth after qualifying down in 16^th on the grid. Meanwhile, the final positions inside the top 10 went the way of SIC58 Squadra Corse’s Filippo Farioli and Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing).

Now the focus turns to the Gran Premio d’Italia Brembo in one week, where we will see if anyone can catch the #80. So, make sure you don’t miss any of the action and keep up to date with all the news on motogp.com!

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