The Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 riders took part in the third Moto3 race of the 2017 season this weekend, at the Circuit of The Americas. After strong showings in practice, Enea Bastianini and Aron Canet came into the race optimistic of success; The Italian had found his best pace since the start of the season, and the Spaniard was on pole position for the contest. However, a red flag interrupted the race before the completion of three laps, leading to a restart -reduced to 12 laps.
Enea Bastianini left behind any difficulties to place third after the initial start, but a crash between a compact group led to the red flag being shown and his good work being cancelled out. On the restart he was up into seventh, at the back of a group trailing leaders Canet and Fenati. On the following laps he gained a position due to his teammate’s crash, but began to lose contact with those ahead of him at the halfway point.
However, in the final stages of the race Bastianini went on the attack again, and fought until the last corner for a place on the podium. He crossed the line in fourth, less than 2 tenths off third place and claiming his first points of the season.
Arón Canet once again topped the timesheets on Sunday morning, this time with the best lap in the warmup. In the first part of the race he pushed hard and had escaped from the rest of the field, but all that effort was neutralised when the race was red flagged. In the second running of the race, the Spaniard continued to push, and even set a new circuit record when trying to break away from Fenati. However, he crashed at Turn 19 in his attempts to extend the gap to the Italian. It was a bittersweet weekend for Canet, who showed he was the fastest rider on track but leaves Austin without further World Championship points.
EMILIO ALZAMORA
“A lack of experience led to Aron Canet’s mistake”
“Enea Bastianini and his crew are doing a great job. We are helping him to improve more in practice, and that is reflected in the races. We are achieving a good dynamic in our work, and if we continue in this way I believe podiums and victories will come. Today a lack of experience led to Aron Canet’s mistake. Maybe he felt too strong in practice and afterwards in the race he wasn’t able to manage the second start better. In Moto3 you have to be able to deal with veterans like Fenati.”
ENEA BASTIANINI
“I’m satisfied because I managed to be in the group at the front”
“I’m satisfied because I managed to be in the group at the front. I rode the whole race at the limit, and it was entertaining for me fighting with [John] McPhee in that group. I was even able to reach [Jorge] Martin. I knew that the last sector was where I was finding it a little hard but, even so, I tried with all my effort to pass him -eventually going wide. However, I am happy, it was a nice race and I hope we continue in the same way.”
ARÓN CANET
“I made a mistake that I have to learn from”
“We had managed to escape in the first part of the race; I already a 1 second advantage and was riding quite comfortably. Then they showed the red flag. When we began the race again, [Roman] Fenati tried to stop me getting away, but it was difficult for him because I had a much faster pace. I pushed a little more, looking to get a gap of a few metres. At Turn 19 I accelerated a little earlier than usual, and it was there that I made the mistake. I crashed out, and now I only hope that things go better in Jerez. We have to take away how strong we have been this weekend. The behaviour of the bike has been perfect and I made a mistake that I have to learn from.”
