Fantastic Foggia Keeps Honda’s Title Hopes Alive
Misano World Circuit Marco SimoncelliDennis Foggia (Leopard Racing Honda NSF250RW) rode another fantastic race at Misano today, fighting his way through from 14th on the grid to win his fifth victory of the year and close to within striking distance of championship leader Pedro Acosta (KTM).
The 20-year-old and his NSF250RW have been in sensational form during the last six races, finishing third, third, first, first, second and first. Following August’s Styrian GP Foggia was 97 points behind Acosta, now the gap is just 21 points, with two races remaining and a maximum of 50 points up for grabs. Today also completed a full-house of Italian-race victories this year – at Mugello in May and at Misano last month and today.
Foggia’s phenomenal form has also given Honda a great chance of securing the 2021 Moto3 Constructors World Championship. Honda is now just 13 points off the lead, with two races to go.
After two days of wet and damp practice, Foggia was a delight to watch today as he kept his cool and made some superb passing manoeuvres, squeezing past one rider after another, which is never easy in Moto3.
Sixteenth at the end of the first lap and up to sixth by half-distance he snatched the lead on lap 14 and stayed there, despite massive pressure, to take the chequered flag 0.292 seconds ahead of Jaume Masia (KTM).
Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing Honda NSF250RW) also had a great ride. The 23-year-old South African worked his way into the lead group, chasing his first podium since the start of the season, and looked safe in third place until he lost the slipstream of the lead group and was passed in the final lap, finishing fourth, only a tenth of a second off the podium.
Foggia’s team-mate Xavier Artigas (Leopard Racing Honda NSF250RW) finished ninth, just over two second away from the podium.
Andi Farid Izdihar (Honda Team Asia Honda NSF250RW) was delighted with his first World Championship points score since August’s Austrian GP. The 24-year-old Indonesian crossed the line in 15th, just behind Jeremy Alcoba (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3 Honda NSF250RW) and less than two seconds off the 12th-place finisher.
World Championship first-time Mario Suryo Aji (Honda Team Asia) finished 21st, an encouraging result considering the fact that Friday and Saturday were wet, while all his rivals could use their settings, data and knowhow from last month’s San Marino at Misano. The 17-year-old Indonesian usually competes in the Moto3 Junior World Championship with the Astra Honda Racing Team.
Yesterday Yuki Kunii (Honda Team Asia Honda NSF250RW) achieved his best-ever grid position, taking 13th in qualifying. The 18-year-old from Setagaya fought hard for a top-20 finish but crashed out with three laps to go.
The Moto3 World Championship concludes with next month’s season-ending Algarve and Valencia rounds.
It's been an amazing day, the victory was our goal and I was really determined to take it. I've won the three Italian races of 2021 and that's more than I expected. We are now 21 points from Acosta and we'll give our best in Portimao and in Valencia to get the maximum. Let's see what happens! Many thanks to my team, to my family, to my sponsors, and everybody supporting us.
This weekend in Misano, until the warm-up, we were using wet tyres. In the race we went directly to use slick tyres. We needed time to adapt, but finally, everything was positive for me. We were there, and I scored a new point. To go directly to Q2 yesterday was a good help because it allowed me to start more in front. In the beginning I pushed so hard, riding in the point positions. At five laps to go I started to have problems with rear tire grip but I scored one point, and I'm so happy for that.
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We have got a lot of experience this weekend, especially about the working system. The result is not the best, but we gave our best. The most important thing is that I learned a lot about this race, for sure it will be useful for the next race. I'm just looking forward to another chance of learning in Portimao.
Today we found a different day compared to the rest of the weekend, with a full dry asphalt. At the start of the race, I was with the group but I didn't have a good feeling on the front. Despite that I continued pushing, but with three laps to go I lost the front at Turn Eight. I struggled with this change from wet to dry; I didn't have confidence. I need to manage that situation better for the future.
