Quiles waits for the final corner
Twenty-one thousandths. That is what separated Maximo Quiles from David Almansa at Misano on Sunday morning, after Quiles went past at the very last corner of the Moto3 San Marino Grand Prix and held the line over the final ten metres.
Almansa had led for almost the entire race. The Spanish pole-sitter got the best launch ahead of Brian Uriarte, with Valentin Perrone third into the first corner. Quiles worked his way back up, first taking Joel Kelso for fourth, then Perrone at Turn 1 on lap four.
The championship leader even set a race lap quicker than Almansa’s pole time. He then got by Uriarte and went after the race lead.
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One mistake, three laps to claw it back
A front-end washout on his Aspar cost Quiles everything he had gained. He dropped back behind Uriarte. It took him three laps to get back ahead. The front three were running clear by then, miles ahead of the pack.
With five laps to go, Almansa and Quiles finally shook off Uriarte. Quiles sat on his compatriot’s tail and did nothing rash. He waited until the final lap. Almansa shut every door. One slightly wide exit was all it took.
102 points clear, and a rival on the floor
Uriarte completed the podium, more than a second behind the lead duo, but over 12 seconds ahead of the next group. Matteo Bertelle finished fourth after a tight scrap, Perrone fifth, Rico Salmela sixth and Joel Kelso seventh. Adrian Cruces charged from the back of the grid to eighth.
Alvaro Carpe, second in the championship before the race, had a miserable Sunday. Hit with a 12-place grid penalty after qualifying, he crashed while trying to fight back from 21st.
So Quiles has stretched his lead again. Almansa moves up to second in the standings, 102 points off the leader. Misano was round 14 of 22.
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