Estrella Galicia 0,0 Moto3 riders Sergio Garcia Dols and Ryusei Yamanaka took part in their first race of 2020 on Sunday: The Qatar Grand Prix at the Losail International Circuit.
Garcia Dols was part of the front group from start to finish, although he would take the chequered flag in 11th position. Yamanaka finished 20th in a race won by Albert Arenas.
Although events are subject to change due to the travel restrictions, the next round of the Moto3 World Championship is scheduled to be the Grand Prix of The Americas from April 3rd-5th.
SERGIO GARCÍA DOLS – “We started riding at the same pace as the frontrunners”
Sergio Garcia Dols set a time of 2:06.995 (19th) in the warmup on Sunday, before starting the race from 14th. In qualifying on Saturday he had clocked a best time of 2:05.586.
In the race he gained places on the opening lap to join the front group. After a battle involving up to a dozen riders, the Spaniard was up into second with 6 laps remaining. However, he would lose ground towards the end, crossing the line in 11th place just a single second behind the race winner.
García Dols occupies 11th place in the overall standings of the Moto3 World Championship, with 5 points.
“It was a race in which I was quite far back on the grid. After the start I took it easy, but was still gaining positions. I continued to progress until I was second but, when there were only a few laps left, I couldn’t stop the riders in front of me from escaping. I was really pushing then and I couldn’t find my best pace on the last lap. I think I could have finished in a better position after having been fighting at the front of the race, but the positive thing is that we started riding at the same pace as the frontrunners and achieved our first points of the season.”
RYUSEI YAMANAKA – “It has been a positive experience, because of everything I’ve learned”
Ryusei Yamanaka started the day determined to make the most of the warmup session, in which he set a fastest time of 2:06.785 for 14th on the timesheet. In the race itself he began from 27th, courtesy of his 2:06.821 time in Q1 on Saturday.
He moved up several places off the line, breaking away and slotting into 23rd in a packed group. On Lap 6 he was as high as 20th, but as the riders gradually split up his progress was hindered, and he remained in that position at the end of the Qatar GP.
The Japanese rookie leaves Qatar with further experience under his belt, motivated to take points at the upcoming races.
“Despite the result in the race, I think we have started the season in a positive way because, above all, I finished the race and learned from it. After Saturday’s qualifying session we were very far back on the grid, and that influenced our result. I had a good pace during the race and I rode with a fast group. I’m not satisfied with 20th place, but for me this has been a positive experience, because of everything I’ve learned competing with the World Championship riders. Next time we will focus even more on qualifying well.”
