Izan Guevara travelled to the other side of the globe to sit on top of the world when the 18-year-old from Majorca wrapped his – and GASGAS Motorcycles – first FIM Grand Prix world championship in road racing.
- Guevara stamps a sensational second season in Moto3™ with Aussie GP victory and the Moto3 title at Phillip Island
- The teenager grabs his sixth victory from eighteen rounds by just a few tenths of a second after a four-way slugfest for honors
- Guevara still has the chance to raise his season stats of 11 podium ‘walks’ and four Pole Positions in the final two rounds of the MotoGP™ series
- #28 says his hot mid-season streak of 6 trophies on the bounce was the key: “Six races in a row on the podium; that was the time when I thought ‘we can get this’.”
The superb GASGAS Aspar Team painted the 2022 Animoca Brands Australian Grand Prix red with Izan Guevara taking the flag – and the Moto3 crown for the year – and teammate Sergio Garcia grabbing 3rd place and rising to 2nd in the standings. The Spanish crew then toasted their spoils by painting Phillip Island crimson!
Both Guevara and Garcia – the rampant ‘G-G’ for GASGAS – have won and led the ’22 Moto3 standings during eighteen rounds and eight months of racing on at least four continents. It was Guevara though, the impressive rookie in 2021, that showed rapier raw speed and then added to his skill set with maturity and consistency this term, who pushed ahead and remained error-free, often delivering big results when the pressure cooker was turned up to ‘11’.
As if to prove his excellence, Guevara swept to another checkered flag in a tense tussle with Deniz Öncü, Garcia and Ayumu Sasaki on Australian soil. “Incredible! Winning the world championship here by taking the race; it’s something brutal!” he shouted afterwards. “It’s been an awesome season. It started in a tricky way but we regained ground and made it happened and right now I still can’t believe we did it.”
“Someone asked me what I was thinking about when I crossed the finish line and I cannot say!” he smiled. “It was a mental ‘explosion’. I was screaming on the bike. It was a big release and very cool to celebrate with my ‘double’ Nico [Terol, 2023 Team Manager and current coach]. It’s been a lot of work and sacrifice from numerous people to get here.”
“Izan and Sergio have been great in helping us towards a record-breaking year,” said Team Principal Jorge ‘Aspar’ Martinez. “Izan started a little slowly with a Long Lap penalty and then a technical issue in Argentina but then started to accumulate the wins and podiums, fighting hard with Sergio. Izan pushed himself. He surprised us with how strong he could be, even around circuits that he’d never seen before.”
1-2-3-1-1-3 in Spain, France, Italy, Catalunya, Germany and the Netherlands was the foundation of Guevara’s comeback to contention. “Six races in a row on the podium; that was the time when I thought ‘we can get this’,” he recalls. “I tried to stay focused all the time; through the low moments and the highs, and when I really had to learn from what was going on around me.”
“Izan could stand out from the group with a breath-taking talent,” says Aspar. “He has been special but we’re proud of both riders and they deserve a massive celebration after Valencia!”
Understandably, Guevara started the party a little earlier! The shackles of pressure have evaporated and the Spaniard can run free and run riot in Malaysia and Valencia during the next three weeks. “Now we achieved the title it’s time to really enjoy ourselves in these next two races but first it’s time to celebrate with the team!” Guevara smiled in Australia.” I also have to thank every single person that supported me and helped me get to this level; the family, the team and all my friends.”
The GASGAS Aspar Team had double cause for joy. They topped the ‘Teams’ standings to seal P1 for 2022 as a unit and are now looking for the full ‘triple’ with the Constructors title for GASGAS. “This teams’ world championship is recognition of the work we have done this season but also in the two seasons previously when we were close to the same goal,” states Aspar. “We were strong and balanced in 2022 and this allowed us to achieve this. When the lights go out then the rider is by himself but it is the team’s work and effort that allows them to be able to regularly fight for wins and the best results. Izan and Sergio allowed us many visits to the podium this year and we’ll certainly celebrate that.”
Guevara, GASGAS Aspar Team and GASGAS: got on the gas!