Estrella Galicia 0,0 Moto3 riders Aron Canet and Alonso Lopez closed the 2018 season at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo on Sunday, on a rainy morning with cold temperatures.
Canet had set the seventh best time in a wet warmup, and in the race itself he was among the frontrunners, only to get caught up in a crash that involved fellow riders Tatsuki Suzuki and Lorenzo Dalla Porta and be eliminated from the race. This result leaves Canet sixth overall in the World Championship with 128 points.
Lopez had suffered a crash in the warmup at Turn 8, after clocking the eighth fastest time of the session. Having dislocated his shoulder, it was put back in place for him to take the start from eleventh on the grid. Up into fifth during the first lap, he would crash again, suffering another crash when he remounted. This result leaves him twenty-third in the final standings with 31 points.
The Qatar Grand Prix, the first round of the 2019 Moto3 World Championship, will be held on March 8-10th.
EMILIO ALZAMORA – “It was a shame about the difficult track conditions”
“It was a shame about the difficult track conditions, since the rain ruined a promising race for Aron and Alonso. Aron couldn’t avoid a crash from another rider. We would have loved to have finished the season with a great result, but sometimes the circumstances turn out like this. All that remains is to thank Aron for these three World Championship seasons and wish him the best for the future.
As for Alonso, his crash in the morning during the warmup meant he lined up without being in the best of shape. However, he made a good start and was doing well on the first laps until he crashed again at Turn 6. In the last few races he has taken a great step forward with his performance and this is work that we will continue with for next year.”
ARÓN CANET – “I was knocked down at Turn 4, which was a shame”
“It was a pity about the crash. I was knocked down at Turn 4, which was a shame because I was feeling strong for this race. My pace in the warmup would have allowed me to fight for the victory. Without a doubt, I would have preferred a better result to end the season and my collaboration with the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Moto3 team, but I’ll take away all the positives from this season.”
ALONSO LÓPEZ – “I had gained six positions and was comfortable in fifth”
“The track condition was critical from the warmup, but I was feeling comfortable and very confident. My shoulder was dislocated in my crash in the warmup, but I was fine for the race. At the start I gained six positions and was comfortable in fifth, but I crashed at Turn 6. That put me in last place, and at Turn 9 I fell again. I’m going to take away what I’ve learned from today’s race; in situations like this, you have to be a bit more conservative on the opening laps.”
