Guevara declared winner after double red-flagged race

Izan Guevara (Solunion GASGAS Aspar Team) was declared the Moto3™ race winner at the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas after a double red-flagged race. The reigning Junior World Champion was P1 when the initial red flags were shown eight laps into the lightweight class race, before a frightening multi-rider incident caused the red flags to be shown for a second time.

Thankfully, Jeremy Alocba (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3), Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) and World Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) were able to walk away from the crash, with podiums going the way of second in the Championship Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) and John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing).

The initial getaway

Xavier Artigas was the rider to get the holeshot from the second row, but it was for good reason – the Spaniard had jumped the start, meaning Leopard Racing rider was handed a double Long Lap Penalty. Polesitter Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) got away well, as did Guevara and Alocba. Foggia slipped down the pack on the opening lap but the Italian immediately climbed his way back up to P4, Acosta was making steady progress from 15th on the grid.

At the beginning of Lap 8 though, the red flags were then shown after Filip Salač (CarXpert PrüstelGP) crashed on the exit of Turn 11. The Czech rider was conscious, but Salač had to be stretchered away after a nasty highside. A quick restart procedure was confirmed, a new race distance of five laps were coming up with grid positions based on the standings as of Lap 7 – your front row was Guevara, Foggia and McPhee, with Acosta launching from P8.

The restart

Guevera made no mistake from P1 but Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) was getting busy on the opening lap. Darryn Binder and Petronas Sprinta Racing teammate McPhee were inside the top four before disaster struck for Guevara, a mechanical issue ended the Spaniard’s race halfway around Lap 2.

This left McPhee leading from Binder, Masia was now P3 with Foggia P4. Acosta was at the back of the lead group in P10. Then, an unbelievably scary incident occurred down the back straight. Contact between Öncü and Alcoba saw the latter go down. Unable to avoid Alcoba’s stricken Honda, Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Acosta crashed. Thankfully, we repeat, thankfully, Alcoba, Migno and Acosta were able to walk away from a terrifying incident. Immediately, the red flags were then shown.

The outcome

After lengthy discussions between Race Direction and team representatives, the decision was made to declare the final results taken at the time of the first red flag. This meant Guevara went from retiring to a maiden Grand Prix victory, Foggia was second to cut Acosta’s title lead down to 30 points, with McPhee taking his first podium since his 2019 Misano victory.

Masia, Öncü and Alcoba take home P4, P5 and P6 respectively, with Binder seventh. Acosta sees his advantage slashed in the Championship, but the Spaniard still holds a healthy advantage heading into the final three races. Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Mingo finish 9th and 10th respectively.

30 points in it, three races to go. Acosta heads back to Misano with Foggia hunting him down, as the Moto3™ title race begins to hot up.

Top 10:
1. Izan Guevara (Solunion GASGAS Aspar Team)
2. Deniss Foggia (Leopard Racing) + 0.385
3. John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) + 0.499
4. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.706
5. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) + 1.266
6. Jeremy Alcoba (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) + 1.271
7. Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing) + 1.391
8. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 1.543
9. Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) + 1.820
10. Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) + 2.480

FULL RESULTS!