Estrella Galicia 0,0 Moto3 riders Sergio Garcia Dols and Alonso Lopez rounded off the 2019 season with the final race of the year on Sunday at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
Garcia Dols won a race shortened from 23 to 15 laps due to a red flag shortly after the first start. Lopez would cross the line six laps behind, having become involved in a crash.
The warmup took place under clear skies and low temperatures, dropping to 13ºC on track when the race got underway.
The Estrella Galicia 0,0 Moto3 Team will return to the track on November 25th and 26th for post-season testing.
ALONSO LÓPEZ – “I would have liked a different ending”
The Spanish rider was set to start from 15th on the grid, thanks to a 1:39.748 time set in Q2 on Saturday, but finally moved up a place due to a penalty for another rider.
After making a great start, he slotted into 9th and remained in the Top 10, until an incident with three other riders at Turn 4 took him out.
Losing six laps as his team repaired his bike in the pits, Lopez went out to try to take the chequered flag as a matter of pride. He would be the last rider to complete the contest, and would not be officially counted as a finisher. Lopez ends the season 17th overall, with 71 points.
“I started quite well, both times. On the second start we began to gain places very quickly, but I wasn’t able to avoid the crash. The team repaired my motorcycle very fast, but when I got back out on track there was no chance for me. At least I was able to make it so that I didn’t retire after the crash, although I would have liked a different ending. In my time on this team they have helped me a lot to grow as a person and as a rider. I want to express my gratitude to the entire Monlau Repsol Technical School structure for the work they have been doing with me since 2015.”
SERGIO GARCÍA – “I fought until the last corner and I managed to win”
Sergio Garcia Dols started fifth on the grid, courtesy of his qualifying time of 1:39.141.
The Spaniard was sixth at the end of the opening lap, moving up to third two laps later. He remained in a group of eight riders at the front, and would take the lead on Lap 7.
He kept in the battle and was in contention for the win on the final lap, making a move on the last corner to claim his first Grand Prix victory. Garcia Dols thus ends his rookie season 15th overall, with 76 points.
“I can’t describe how I feel after winning my first race. This year we have gained great experience in the World Championship and I have reached a great level of camaraderie with my crew. It was a strange day, and afterwards the first thing I wanted to know was if Foggia was OK after his crash. After the red flag, we had a shorter race. As on the first start, I tried to give everything from the get-go and see what we could achieve. The wind had picked up, but the bike worked very well for the whole race. I was comfortable from the start, fought until the last corner and I managed to win. Because of how we did in Malaysia, I knew I could be at the front, but I didn’t expect to win. The last lap was us pushing to the fullest, trying to maintain the position to take first on the last corner.”
