Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 departed the cool, grey climes of Silverstone and a noteworthy British Grand Prix with Pedro Acosta earning a top ten result. The crew took part in a strategic and intense tenth round of the season that also marked the 75th anniversary of the FIM MotoGP series and saw the field adopt retro liveries in commemoration. Augusto Fernandez rode his special, white GASGAS RC16 to 17th.
- Acosta gets back on the gas after the MotoGP summer break with sharp speed and a combative performance to take 9th position at the historic English circuit
- Fernandez tackles the long 18-cornered 5.9km layout and manages 17th by the end of the 20-lap affair
- Moto3™ kudos to Daniel Holgado who formed part of a dramatically close fight for the Grand Prix win and for sealing 4th place: 0.333 of a second from P1!
The MotoGP grid swapped-out GASGAS ‘red’ for the British Grand Prix today but the Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 crew still brought the skills and the thrills to the first fixture after the summer break. Silverstone was notable for the dedications to the sport’s 75th ‘birthday’ both in the pit boxes and away from the asphalt and at a circuit that first hosted a GP in 1977.
Sporting their fetching new celebratory white color scheme, Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernandez started the Grand Prix from 9th and 17th on the grid. Acosta forced his way into contention through the opening laps as Fernandez looked for track space in points-scoring slots. Both Spaniards had to nurse their rear tires and with an eye for maximum performance and potential all the way to the checkered flag.
Acosta made some moves and circulated just inside the top ten, where he was able to classify 9th. Fernandez was roaming the top fifteen and looking for grand prix points but was suffering with rear grip by the end of the race and took P17.
Pedro is 6th in the world championship standings. With 15 points Augusto sits 17th as 2024 MotoGP has now logged half a season of the current calendar. Up next is another dance with history and the spectacular setting of the Red Bull Ring and the Austrian Grand Prix in two weeks.
Pedro Acosta, 9th: “Better than we expected. I think we could have approached the weekend in a better way abut I think we saved it. P9 is not what we want but we knew we could suffer here and we made the best of the situation. Let’s see if we can improve next time in Austria.”
Augusto Fernandez, 17th: “One of the hardest races. The tire drop arrived and I felt it every corner! I could see other bikes struggling but it was very, very tough to make it to the end. I’d been struggling with rear grip all weekend. I hope better tracks will come. Austria is completely different, we’ll see there.”
Nicolas Goyon, GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 Team Manager: “A tricky weekend in England. We had some hope after the Sprint but the truth is that as soon as our riders lost rear grip performance then it was hard for them both. Pedro explored some options and somehow managed to keep a decent pace and P9 was probably all he could do. Augusto struggled with the same problems. Clearly, we need to improve the package for the future and everyone is focused on this target. We will do all we can for the next Grand Prix.”
Results MotoGP British Grand Prix
1. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Ducati 39:51.879
2. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati +1.931
3. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati +5.866
9. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 +16.386
12. Jack Miller (AUS) KTM +25.767
17. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 +37.605
DNF. Brad Binder (RSA) KTM
World Championship standings MotoGP
1. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati, 241
2. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati, 238 points
3. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Ducati, 192
6. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3, 122
7. Brad Binder (RSA) KTM, 114
16. Jack Miller (AUS) KTM, 42
17. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3, 15
Moto3
Red Bull KTM Tech3 started the British Grand Prix on the front foot. Jacob Roulstone instantly felt a connection with the long Silverstone course in his debut GP appearance in the UK. The Australian was 6th fastest in qualification and just two spots ahead of teammate Daniel Holgado. Moto3 sped around the flat site for 15 laps and the pack splintered into groups that could handle the fast sequence of corners as well as the slipstreaming demands to remain in view of podium potential. Holgado powered to the lead in the opening five minutes and then had ten other rivals for the three rostrum trophies. On the final charge, the Spaniard tried to muscle into the top three through the chicane Vale complex but just missed out on a fifth Prosecco spray of the season by a tenth of a second. Roulstone’s momentary misjudgment on the opening lap sent him off the track and he had to complete a Long Lap penalty, eventually taking 17th place.
Dani remains near the peak of the championship standings, he is 3rd and 13 points from P2. Jacob is 14th and the second-best rookie in the series at the halfway point.
Daniel Holgado, 4th: “An amazing race today and I’m very happy. My feeling is back. Thanks to the team for the amazing job this weekend. They are working a lot and we need to keep this going for the races to come.”
Jacob Roulstone, 17th: “I had a horrendous start and it was stressful, so apologies to [David] Muñoz and his team for sliding in. It was unlucky and I had the Long Lap to do. I then tried to get my head done and salvage some points but couldn’t manage it. Apart from the race the weekend has been very good. I need to match a good qualifying to a good race! Put them both together. I’m still learning with that. We’ll try again in two weeks’ time.”
Results Moto3 British Grand Prix
1. Ivan Ortola (ESP) KTM 32:42.328
2. David Alonso (COL) GASGAS +0.123
3. Collin Veijer (NED) Husqvarna +0.226
4. Daniel Holgado (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 +0.333
9. Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP) KTM +1.431
10. Tatsuki Suzuki (JPN) Husqvarna +1.537
13. Joel Esteban (ESP) CFMOTO +12.642
17. Jacob Roulstone (AUS) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 +23.059
DNF. Xabi Zurutuza (ESP) KTM
World Championship standings Moto3
1. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO, 199 points
2. Ivan Ortola (ESP) KTM, 146
3. Daniel Holgado (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3, 133
4. Collin Veijer (NED) Husqvarna, 131
8. Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP), KTM, 65
13. Tatsuki Suzuki (JPN) Husqvarna, 44
14. Jacob Roulstone (AUS) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3, 44
15. Joel Esteban (ESP) CFMOTO, 41
22. Xabi Zurutuza (ESP) KTM, 3