Fenati scores first GP victory since returning to Honda

Moto3 star Romano Fenati (Marinelli Rivacold Snipers Honda NSF250RW) today scored his first Grand Prix victory since returning to Honda, dominating the stopped and restarted Moto3 race. During the early laps of the restart he fought with pole-starter Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Honda NSF250RW), putting the 17-year-old Spaniard under pressure, until he crashed out.

That put Fenati in the lead and the 21-year-old Italian was never headed, crossing the finish line 4.5 seconds ahead of an eight-rider battle for second place, which at the final corner went the way of Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Racing Moto3 Honda NSF250RW), who achieved his third successive podium. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Del Conca Gresini Racing Moto3 Honda NSF250RW) was third, just two hundredths of a second behind his team-mate to complete the third all-Honda Moto3 podium in as many races. Indeed NSF250RW riders monopolised the top four finishing positions and filled six of the first eight positions.

After three of 18 races, Honda fill the top four places in the points chase.

Nineteen-year old Italian Enea Bastianini (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Honda NSF250RW) was in the thick of the second group today, chasing Di Giannantonio over the line. Juanfran Guevara (KTM), John McPhee (British Team Honda NSF250RW) were next, with World Championship leader Joan Mir (Leopard Racing Honda NSF250RW) taking an eighth-place after winning the first two races of the season.

Jules Danilo (Marinelli Rivacold Snipers Honda NSF250RW) and Livio Loi (Leopard Racing Honda NSF250RW) also scored points in 13^th and 15^th.

The MotoGP circus now returns to Europe – after 2017 season-openers in Qatar, Argentina and Texas – with the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez on May 7^th.

Romano Fenati

“At the first start Canet took immediately a great advantage and I thought I was only able to fight just for second or third place. Then the red flag came out and the restart. We decided to fit a new ‘M’ tyre at the front and this helped me to push more and that was fundamental. I gave my maximum after the second start to stay with Canet. I worked hard to overtake him and it was the right strategy. I started crying some laps before the end, once I understood I am once again competitive. I am really happy and I want to thank all the people who believed in me, my family, my friends and the team, everyone helped me a lot. I dedicate this victory to all of them and to my country.”

Jorge Martin

“I was feeling good, maybe a bit less in the restart, because the bike was sliding a bit more and that led to some moments that I had to save. I felt I could race at the front, I was fast although I was still not 100 percent under braking. We take this second place and the win will come soon, but right now it’s important to be consistent. When Canet crashed I thought I could catch Fenati, but he had an incredible pace. I say it again: the win will come.”

Fabio Di Giannantonio

“This podium is what I needed after the difficult start of the season. In Qatar I was far from the top positions while Argentina it was a disaster for me, so here the goal was to push 100 percent and get a great result. I was really riding at the limit and beyond, and in the end I tried to pass my team-mate for second place but it was a little too late for that. It was really important to get this result not just for me, but also for the guys and all the team.”