Masia triumphant in chaotic last-lap Moto3™ masterclass

The Motul TT Assen delivered incredible lightweight action as always. Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) flew off the line to take a hard-fought victory from the fourth row. It was action from start to finish in Assen as the podium fight remained completely unpredictable right until the chequered flag. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) came out on top of that battle with high drama on the final lap between David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) and Romano Fenati (Rivacold Snipers Team) causing a big reshuffle in the final sector. 

David Muñoz started from pole position for the first time in his career and took the holeshot into turn one despite attacks from Joel Kelso (CFMOTO PrustelGP). Kelso took the lead later on in the lap and led across the line with Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse) sat comfortably in the top 3 after a front-row start. 

One lap in and we already had title drama on our hands as the Championship leader Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) crashed out after being given the mammoth task of starting from the back of the grid. It was a Dutch GP to forget for the Spaniard as he lost crucial Championship points to title rival Masia with just 16 points now between the two at the top.  

Masia found himself right into the mix after making six positions to 2nd place after just three laps.  

The group began to form as the laps ticked away and it was a ten-bike battle for victory in Assen. Positions continued to swap with Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), Deniz Öncü, Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team), Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo), and Colin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) joining Masia, Muñoz, Kelso, and Rossi in the fight at the front.  

The intensity continued at half-race distance as it was Angeluss MTA Team riders of Nepa and Ortola who led the way. Ortola had already served his long lap penalty and was looking strong whilst locked in battle with Nepa, Muñoz, Masia, and Sasaki with Romano Fenati (Rivacold Snipers Team) watching on at arm's length. 

It wasn't long before Fenati began to put himself into podium contention with Deniz Öncü equally as eager to taste the champagne. Fenati took the lead from Nepa with five laps remaining but the young prospect pushed his way straight back past the Moto3™ veteran.  

Four laps remaining and Masia made a beautiful move through the fast final sector to slingshot himself from 4th to 1st with a big reshuffle seeing Öncü move up to P2 ahead of Nepa, Muñoz, and Sasaki.  

It was anyone's to win with three laps to go as it was time for the gloves to come off at the TT Circuit Assen. Positions were changing faster than the eye can blink as it was Masia, Ortola, Öncü, Sasaki, and Fenati as they barrelled into the last lap.  

Ortola ran wide at the turn one as he dropped down to P6 behind his teammate. This left Masia to defend the lead from Sasaki and Fenati in the final sector. Sasaki snatched the lead with a brave move at the Ramshoek but Spaniard bit straight back at the Gert Timmer chicane in an incredible last-lap performance to consolidate the Motul TT Assen victory.  

Fenati was pushed off the circuit at the Ramshoek by a charging David Muñoz which saw both riders run wide with Deniz Öncü needing no 2nd invitation as he flew past the scrapping duo to defend 3rd place from Ivan Ortola in a dramatic drag to the line. 

Following the last lap drama, Muñoz dropped down to P5 ahead of the rookie Jose Antonio Rueda. Just behind Rueda was the other rookie Colin Veijer who had timed it perfectly on his home circuit to put himself into the mix in the closing laps, and consolidated 7th place following the last-lap chaos.  

Fenati was pushed down to P8 after the last-lap come together with Muñoz, with Joel Kelso in P9 and Stefano Nepa rounding out the top 10.  

The attention now turns to the summer break before Moto3™ heads to the Silverstone. Make sure not to miss any of the action from the Monster Energy British Grand Prix which will take place from the 4th to the 6th of August. 

Top 10:

1. Jaume Masia - (Leopard Racing)  
2. Ayumu Sasaki - (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) + 0.081
3. Deniz Öncü - (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.276
4. Ivan Ortola - (Angeluss MTA Team) + 0.324
5. David Muñoz - (BOE Motorsports) + 0.401
6. Jose Antonio Rueda - (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.507
7. Collin Veijer - (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) + 0.819
8. Romano Fenati - (Rivacold Snipers Team) + 1.056
9. Joel Kelso - (CFMoto Racing Pruestel GP) + 1.341
10. Stefano Nepa - (Angeluss MTA Team) + 2.024