The Repsol Moto3 rider started penultimate and would lead the race, but made contact with a rival rider and was sanctioned. Sergio García crashes mid-race
Alonso López made a great start from 30th, moving into 21st on the opening lap.
Eleventh after 11 laps, he would grab the lead 3 laps later, until he hit another rider on Lap 18 when part of the first group.
When serving a ‘long lap’ penalty, he had to repeat the sanction due to touching the green painted zone, and finally finished thirteenth.
Sergio García also made a good start to the race, completing the first lap in sixteenth place and putting himself into the Top10 two laps later.
However, after a mistake that made him lose several positions, on Lap 14 he lost front grip and crashed out.
ALONSO LÓPEZ | 13th
“Yesterday I had a crash in qualifying, and that meant I started second-from-last. I had a good pace and was able to start passing other riders to go into first. I moved up 29 places, and I’m very happy with that, and also with the pace I managed to run in the race. In the final stages I had an incident with another rider, whom I knocked down inadvertently and to whom I have already gone to apologise. The penalty was deserved, but then I had to repeat it, because I went onto the green zone. I’ll take away the comeback I had and the pace I had in the warmup and the race. I feel very comfortable with the bike and Malaysia is a circuit that I like very much.”
SERGIO GARCÍA | DNF
“My start was good and I gained several positions, but I had to risk a lot to get to the front on the first few laps and, as a result, my tyres were very worn out. It was hard for me to stay on the track, so it was difficult to overtake. Then I made a mistake that made me lose several places. I tried to fight back, but I couldn’t avoid a crash at Turn 6. Overall, it was a positive Grand Prix; now it’s time to think about the next race, in Malaysia, where we will continue to improve.”
