Triumph and tragedy in Mandalika: Pini celebrates debut podium, Muñoz crashes heavily
Bittersweet scenes in the final sprint of the Moto3 race at the Mandalika International Street Circuit: LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP rider David Muñoz was pushed out of the race while fighting in the leading group, seriously injuring the Spaniard. His teammate Guido Pini, on the other hand, was surprised with his first Moto3 podium after the race had been red flagged The 17-year-old was able to celebrate third place and his first World Championship podium after a turbulent race marked by penalties.
It is a Sunday that Guido Pini will not forget quite so soon. Starting from tenth on the grid, the young Italian initially lost two positions and fought for a long time just outside the top 10. But a chaotic race with numerous penalties and crashes brought the field closer together. When the race was stopped with two laps to go, Pini was initially in fourth place – before Maximo Quilles received a three-second penalty for a faulty long lap. This moved Pini up to third place and secured him his first podium in the Motorcycle World Championship.
At first, everything seemed to be going perfectly for David Muñoz. After a strong first half, the Spaniard took the lead on lap 18 until a costly manoeuvre by Fernandez caused him to crash. Muñoz was thrown violently from his KTM, forcing the race to be stopped immediately. Initial examinations at the medical centre revealed a fracture of the left femur. Further examinations will be necessary to assess the full extent of his injury.
The entire LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP Team wishes David Muñoz a speedy and complication-free recovery and congratulates Jose Antonio Rueda on winning the Moto3 World Championship title.
After the intense Japan-Indonesia double weekend, the German racing team is now taking a short break before the 19th race of the season takes place from 17th to 19th of October at the legendary Phillip Island circuit in Australia.
Results
Race
1. Jose Antonio RUEDA/ SPA/ KTM
2. Luca LUNETTA/ ITA/ HONDA – (+0.305)
3. Guido PINI/ ITA/ KTM – (+0.388)
DNF David MUÑOZ/ SPA/ KTM
World Championship
1. RUEDA Jose Antonio/ SPA – 340
2. PIQUERAS Angel/ SPA – 231
3. QUILLES Maximo/ SPA – 217
4. MUÑOZ David/ SPA – 197
14. PINI Guido/ ITA – 93
Team Classification
1. RED BULL KTM AJO – 497
2. FRINSA - MT Helmets – 354
3. CF MOTO GAVIOTA ASPAR TEAM – 311
4. LIQUI MOLY DYNAVOLT INTACT GP – 290
