Mario Suryo Aji Fights For Victory In Barcelona
Circuit Barcelona-CatalunyaThe Asia Talent Team rider places sixth in Race 1 and crashes out in Race 2, after mistakes from rival riders. Matsuyama takes away a DNF and a seventh place, with Buasri 12th in Race 1.
Mario Suryo Aji fought for victory in both races held at the third round of the FIM Moto3™ Junior World Championship season, at the Circuit de Barcelona - Catalunya on Sunday. However, a knock from another rider on the last lap relegated him to sixth place in the first race, and a crash prevented him from finishing Race 2. Takuma Matsuyama crashed out of the first race when riding in the front group, but came back to finish less than a second behind the winner in the second contest. Tatchakorn Buasri made two great fightbacks: He was twelfth in Race 1 and was riding inside the points when he crashed in Race 2.
The Asia Talent Team riders had qualified well, with Aji taking pole position and Matsuyama also on the front row, in third. In the first race, Aji showed a great performance, leading the way until the last lap, four corners from the end, when contact from another rider dropped him down to sixth. Matsuyama, who was also in the first group, crashed at Turn 10 of the sixth lap, while Buasri, who started 27th, finished twelfth despite having to serve a long lap penalty.
In Race 2, Aji and Matsuyama were again in the front group. The Indonesian rider was always ridden among the fastest on track, until a mistake by a rival three laps from the end took him down at Turn 5. Matsuyama finally crossed the line in seventh position, just 0.690 behind the winner. Buasri made another positive climb from 27th position on the grid, reaching the points midway through the contest but losing the front end at Turn 5 of Lap 11 and crashing out.
The next round of the season takes place in three weeks' time, from July 1st to 4th, at the Portimao circuit in Portugal.
I felt that I was the strongest rider in both races. Although the result was not what we expected, I had my two best races so far this weekend. I was unlucky, because I was the fastest all weekend, I took pole position with an incredible time and I was always in the front positions. I hope to get on the podium at the next race, because I have a very good feeling with the bike and I feel very confident.
I had a good feeling on the bike all weekend and I qualified on the front row, so I was able to get into the front group. However, I made a mistake and I crashed. I hit my head hard and that hindered me in the second race, because I was not feeling great, but I will rest up and try to reset for the next round.
Overall, I'm happy with both races today, although it was a difficult day. I didn't have good qualifying sessions and I also had a long lap penalty for the first race, but I started well and managed to climb positions. I served the penalty and kept pushing until I reached twelfth place, so I'm very happy. In the second race, I was also able to overtake a lot of riders and get to the front group, so I'm happy about that. But I lost my concentration after a rider touched me and I made a mistake a few corners later.
