Repsol rider battles for victory until the final lap, eventually finishing seventh. Aron Canet claims first point on his Grand Prix debut.
The 2016 Moto3 World Championship kicked off on Sunday night, and the racing action was as tight as ever in the lower cylinder class. Seven riders fought to take a spot on the first podium of the season, right up until the final corner. Jorge Navarro was among the candidates for the rostrum, but was taken out of contention on the last corner of the last lap, after contact with another rider. The Spaniard placed seventh, set the sixth fastest race lap and added 9 points to his tally.
There was a good Grand Prix debut for Aron Canet, who experienced riding in the leading group during the initial laps of the Qatar GP and left the Losail International Circuit with his first point. He finished the race fifteenth..
Jorge Navarro
“The race started as I had expected, although I thought the group would be even bigger. Binder pushed hard and that benefitted us, because he made the group smaller. During the race I tried to manage my tyes well and be in the right place at the right time. I think I was pretty sure of a podium, and I intended to pass Bagnaia off the slipstream on the last corner. But Bulega went up the inside, touched me and I was passed by those behind me. Nevertheless, I think we have to evaluate the weekend as very positive. We have collected a good number of points and the feeling was positive in the first race; In Argentina we will continue working hard.”
Aron Canet
“It was a difficult race. Everyone was very fast from the start, they got off the line very quickly −and that’s something that I have to learn. We always want a little more; I would have preferred to have been first in my group, but the truth is that fifteenth place is not bad for my first race. We have to keep learning and growing in Argentina.”
