Fenati and Vinales Make it a 1-2 for KTM in Mugello
OutdoorHub 06.02.14
Italian Romano Fenati made it a special day for the Italian fans at Mugello on Sunday when he pulled off victory in the tightest and most fiercely contested Moto3 race so far this season. Isaac Vinales of Spain was declared second in a photo finish with Alex Rins, making it a 1-2 for KTM.
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Jack Milleron the RC250GP bike crashed out in the final lap but still leads the championship by five points. Miller and Fenati, also 1-2 in the standings, have between them won all six races so far held in the 2014 World Championship, delivering a perfect scorecard for KTM so far this season.
Five laps before the finish it was clear that the race was wide open with a group of 13 riders challenging at every corner and the lead constantly changing back and forth between the top riders.
Miller was in the lead with two laps ago and it looked like his well-known late braking was going to serve him well. Then in one quick move, the order had completely changed. Miller was down in turn 12 and had to retire.
Fenati, racing in the colors of the Italian flag seized the initiative and the race was his while behind him there was a battle of attrition for the minor place, finally only decided by a photo.
It was a good day out for Red Bull KTM Ajo’s rookie Karel Hanika of Czech Republic who recovered from some early race difficulty to finish in a strong tenth place for six more championship points.
Hanika: ” I made a pretty good start, but on the first corner someone touched me and I lost six or seven positions. I got another knock at the exit of Turn 3. From then on the race pace was very good, and I stuck with the first group.”
Hanika said he made a mistake on the corner of the final lap and lost touch with the leaders.
Jack Miller said he wanted to learn from the experience and come back stronger in the next round, the GP of Catalunya.
Miller: “There was a moment in which I was in third and fighting for second on the last lap. Masbou overtook me on the corner and I had to pass him on the straight. It was hard to close off the line on the first corner, because there were so many people behind me. I tried to regain some places on the final lap, but when I went into Turn 12 but Oliveira blocked me off. I touched his rear wheel and had to pick the bike up. Then Marquez clipped me from behind. It was completely my mistake -a rookie mistake.”
Moto GP of Italy – Mugello Circuit – Round 6
Moto3 Results
1, Romano Fenati, ITA, KTM, 39:46.256
2, Isaac Viñales, ESP, KTM, 39:46.266
3, Alex Rins, ESP, Honda, 39:46.267
4, Miguel Oliveira, POR, Mahindra, 39:46.377
5, Niklas Ajo, FIN, Husqvarna, 39:46.516
6, Alexis Masbou, FRA, Honda, 39:46.615
7, Alessandro Tonucci, ITA, Mahindra, 39:46.853
8, Juanfran Guevara, ESP, Kalex KTM, 39:51.486
9, Brad Binder, RSA, Mahindra, 39:51.609
10, Karel Hanika, CZE, KTM, 39:51.651
Other KTM
23, Eric Granado, BRA, KTM, 40:25.338
DNF, Jack Miller, AUS, KTM, 37:46.731
DNF, Enea Bastianini, ITA, KTM, 37:46.743
DNF, Jakub Kornfeil, CZE, KTM, 28:21.624
DNF, Francesco Bagnaia, ITA, KTM, 17:56.397
DNF, Niccolo Antonelli, ITA, KTM, 8:02.502
DNF, Hafiq Azmi, MAL, KTM, 4:07.723
Moto3 Standings after Round 6
1, Miller, 104
2, Fenati, 99
3, Rins, 87
4, Vazquez, 76
5, Viñales, 64
6, Marquez, 60
7, Masbou, 45
8, Kornfeil, 37
9, Bagnaia, 36
10, Oliveira, 33
Other KTM
13, Bastianini, 25
17, Hanika, 14
21, Antonelli, 7
Moto3 Manufacturers Standings after Round 6
1, KTM, 150
2, Honda, 112
3, Husqvarna, 39
