Pini scores in P12 & Uriarte finishes his first World Championship appearance in 19th place
In what was a stormy Moto3 race at the Phillip Island Circuit in Australia, Guido Pini and Muñoz's replacement Brian Uriarte fought hard in the second chasing group to get back into the points. LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP rider Pini ultimately finished twelfth, while the reigning Red Bull Rookies Cup champion made a strong debut in his very first ever World Championship race, finishing 19th.
The 4.45-kilometre track off the south coast of Australia provided a thrilling Moto3 LIQUI MOLY Australian Grand Prix on the 19th race Sunday of the season, despite difficult wind conditions.
Guido Pini got off to a solid start, but lost two positions in the first few metres, which he laboriously regained as the race progressed. Towards the middle of the race, the rookie increasingly struggled with his hard tyre choice, which cost him a few places, but the young Italian used his experience in the close Moto3 battle to fight his way back from outside the points to twelfth place. With four more World Championship points, the 17-year-old Intact GP rider moved up to 13th place overall.
Brian Uriarte was also on course for points at one stage. The Spaniard made his Moto3 World Championship debut on his new KTM machine and immediately got to grips with the Australian circuit, which was also new to him. The youngster, who made up four places on the first lap, was right in the points, but had to drop back in several battles during the race and finished his debut in a respectable 19th place – a result that will give him valuable experience for the future.
From 24th to 26th of October, the 20th race of the season will take place in Malaysia, which is also the last overseas race before the Moto3 World Championship returns to European soil.
Results
Race
1. Jose Antonio RUEDA/ SPA/ KTM
2. Joel KELSO/ AUS/ KTM – (+0.829)
3. Alvaro CARPE/ SPA/ KTM – (+12.638)
12. Guido PINI/ ITA/ KTM – (+25.716)
19. Brian URIARTE/ SPA/ KTM – (+33.823)
World Championship
1. RUEDA Jose Antonio/ SPA – 365
2. PIQUERAS Angel/ SPA – 231
3. QUILLES Maximo/ SPA – 228
4. MUÑOZ David/ SPA – 197
13. PINI Guido/ ITA – 97
Team Classification
1. RED BULL KTM AJO – 538
2. FRINSA - MT Helmets – 354
3. CF MOTO GAVIOTA ASPAR TEAM – 335
4. LIQUI MOLY DYNAVOLT INTACT GP – 294