DIGGIA INCHES AWAY FROM FIRST WIN AT ARAGON AS MARTIN IS “ONLY” FOURTH
Team Del Conca Gresini Moto3 scored another podium finish in the 2017 Moto3 World Championship – the 11th this year – courtesy of Fabio Di Giannantonio, who from 14th place on the grid was able to make his way up to the front and challenge for the win up to the finish line.
With the race distance being reduced to 13 laps – from the 20 originally scheduled – due to some thick early-morning fog, the rider #21 got a great launch off row five and was aggressive enough early on to get back to the front within only a few laps. The strategy to enter the last part of the lap in second place might not have paid off, but it was racing at the very limit throughout the whole race – and especially in the very last sector. Twenty points are nevertheless a boost of confidence for the Italian, who is now three points ahead of his team mate in the standings.
It was a difficult race for Jorge Martin, whose performance might been affected by a not perfectly-performing tyre. The Spaniard could not join the battle for the win in the latter stages of the race and had to ride defensively to maintain his fourth place – even though he was only four tenths away from the winner at the flag.
Both Del Conca Gresini Moto3 riders will enjoy a two-week break before leaving to Japan for the first of three fly-away races. The goal will be to keep challenging for third place in the standings – which is now 36 points away from Di Giannantonio.
2nd – FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #21
“I had a great race. I started from 14th position and I was able to make up so many places in so little time. I wanted the win and I did what I had to do: I was second at the last turn to try and win on the last straight: I think Mir did a bit of a dangerous move, because it takes nothing to get hurt at 250km/h. In any case it’s a great second place, it’s my second podium in a row and it’ll be important to keep the momentum going in the flyaway races.”
4th – JORGE MARTIN #88
“I got a great launch and tried to push, but Enea (Bastianini) was able to challenge me but I have to be honest: I didn’t have the right feeling, surely not the right one to be able to pull away. I didn’t have a good feeling with the rear tyre right from the start, so I think it wasn’t possible to do any better than fourth. Now we will try to find out what happened with the tyres but we’re still up there near the front, so that’s the most important thing.”
