Öncü defeats Sasaki at the final corner for debut win

He’s done it! After agonisingly missing out on a debut victory at Mugello last time out, Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) is finally a Moto3™ race winner after a mesmerising battle plays out between the Turk and polesitter Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) at the Liqui Moly Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland. World Championship leader Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) earned a hard-fought third to extend his advantage in the overall standings.

Four becomes two

It was lights out for Grand Prix Sunday and from P4 on the grid Collin Veijer grabbed the holeshot ahead of polesitter and teammate Sasaki. Öncü made a two-for-one move under the aforementioned duo at Turn 3, but it was a manoeuvre that allowed Sasaki to take the lead. Holgado made a fast start, the title leader was up to P3 as we then saw Veijer then unfortunately crash out of contention on Lap 2 at Turn 12 – rider ok.

By Lap 3, a top four of Sasaki, Holgado, Öncü and Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) were two seconds clear of the chasing pack. Sasaki had his head down though and as they started Lap 6 of 23, the Japanese rider’s lead was up to a second.

Sasaki quickly stretched his advantage to 1.4s but once Öncü had dispatched Holgado for P2, the Turk cut that gap to 0.9s in a couple of laps. Öncü had cleared off from Holgado and Ortola and had his sights firmly set on Sasaki – it was now a two-horse race for Moto3™ German GP victory. 0.9s became 0.7s, then it was 0.5s. Öncü was coming, however on Lap 13 the #53 looked like he was beginning to have some issues with his left leg. Cramp has affected Öncü all weekend at the Sachsenring, but it wasn’t slowing him down too much – with nine laps left, the gap was down to 0.2s.

With five laps to go, Sasaki vs Öncü was on. The duo were 10 seconds clear of Holgado and Ortola and were operating in a league of their own in Germany. It was as you were with three laps to go. And with two to go. Then, it was last ap time.

Sasaki led over the line as Öncü chose to not go for a move at Turn 1. Öncü was crawling all over the back of Sasaki through the first two sectors but there was no way through. Turn 7 and 8 passed by as a crucial climb up the hill came. Öncü was right there but nothing came at Turn 12 as it all came down to the final corner. Diving up the inside, Öncü made his move – and timed it to perfection. Öncü crossed the line 0.095s ahead of Sasaki to win his first Grand Prix race and join his brother Can Öncü as Turkey’s only Grand Prix winners, with Sasaki forced to settle for P2. Holgado held onto P3 by 0.1s over Ortola. That’s a huge 16 points for the Spaniard.

The points scorers

David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar M3) won the battle for P5 as Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) loses ground in the Championship chase with a P6. Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI), Ryusei Yamanaka (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar M3), Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team) and Taiyo Furusatio (Honda Team Asia) rounded out the top 10.

Xavier Artigas (CFMOTO Racing PrüstelGP), David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports), Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Kaito Toba (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Andrea Migno (CIP Green Power) completed the points scorers in the German GP.

Assen is up next for the Moto3™ riders, and whatever happens at The Cathedral, Holgado will take a lead into the summer break. The question is, how big will it be?

Top 10:
1. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo)
2. Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) + 0.095
3. Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) + 12.074
4. Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) + 12.196
5. David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar M3) + 17.158
6. Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) + 17.328
7. Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) + 17.468
8. Ryusei Yamanaka (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar M3) + 17.468
9. Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team) + 17.548
10. Taiyo Furusatio (Honda Team Asia) + 18.132

FULL RESULTS!