Sasaki & Veijer finish Portimao overtaking spectacle in P6 and P12

A strong start to the season for the LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Moto3 team after pole-sitter Ayumu Sasaki finished the Portimao Grand Prix in sixth position with ten points and world championship rookie Collin Veijer scored four points with a fantastic twelfth place at his first world championship round.

The Moto3 Grand Prix of Portimao was unsurpassed in terms of excitement and overtaking maneuvers and right in the middle of the leading battle was 22-year-old Ayumu Sasaki, who started the 19-lap race from pole but found himself in a close and heated company within just a few corners. According to the Japanese rider, the conditions were not comparable to qualifying Saturday, which made it harder to keep up in the myriad of position battles that lasted until the final corner of the last lap. In the end, Sasaki crossed the finish line in sixth position.



Collin Veijer finished his first race on the world championship stage with bravery. The 18-year-old was on course for points right from the start but struggled with a lack of feeling on the front wheel at times. The Dutchman held his own against the countless attacks of his opponents and celebrated his first success with P12, which was also his first four points of the season. 

In just one week's time, the season will continue in Argentina, where the Gran Premio Michelin de la República Argentina will be held from 31 March to 2 April 2023. The two LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Moto3 team riders are already eager to continue their work and improve on their results from Portimao.

Results
1.   Daniel HOLGADO/ SPA/ KTM 
2.   David MUÑOZ/ SPA/ KTM – (+0.160)
3.   Diogo MOREIRA/ BRA/ KTM – (+0.175)
6.   Ayumu SASAKI/ JPN/ HUSQVARNA – (+1.090)
12. Collin VEIJER/ NED/ HUSQVARNA – (+6.904)

Standings
1.   Daniel HOLGADO/ SPA – 25 
2.   David MUÑOZ/ SPA – 20
3.   Diogo MOREIRA/ BRA – 16
6.   Ayumu SASAKI/ JPN – 10
12. Collin VEIJER/ NED – 4

Team Calssification
1. RED BULL KTM TECH3 – 25
2. BOE MOTORSPORTS – 20
3. RED BULL KTM AJO – 19
6. LIQUI MOLY HUSQVARNA INTACT GP – 14