Catalunya Moto3: Salom makes it back to back wins

Luis Salom has taken back to back wins in the Moto3 class, winning a hard fought race at the Barcelona circuit by only 0.21 seconds from Alex Rins and Maverick Vinales.

The battle for the win was at points a seven-horse race, with a group including Alex Marquez, Efren Vazquez, Miguel Olivera and Jack Miller, with the Australian running as high as third on the overmatched FTR Honda.

However, Salom when made it past early leader Rins to the front, a series of laps dipping into the 1’51s soon split the group, leaving a clear podium group of Salom, Rins and Vinales.

The real battle of the race, however, was the battle for eighth, with an eight rider group fighting for the remaining points. Alexis Masbou was the eventual winner, taking eighth spot ahead of Zulfahmi Khairuddin and Arther Sissis.

Brit Danny Webb was also involved in the battle, taking points in 14th, while John McPhee was 19th.

Salom said afterwards: “There were so many riders in that group who were capable of being on the podium this year but haven’t, and have the ability to as well! I got to the front of the group and was able to drop into the 1’51s, which allowed me to break the group. That and my tyres, which look like new, allowed me to take the win.”

1 39 Luis SALOM SPA Red Bull KTM Ajo KTM 41’15.331
2 20 42 Alex RINS SPA Estrella Galicia 0,0 KTM +0.211
3 25 Maverick VIÑALES SPA Team Calvo KTM +0.634
4 12 Alex MARQUEZ SPA Estrella Galicia 0,0 KTM +3.993
5 7 Efren VAZQUEZ SPA Mahindra Racing Mahindra +6.243
6 44 Miguel OLIVEIRA POR Mahindra Racing Mahindra +9.295
7 8 Jack MILLER AUS Caretta Technology – RTG FTR Honda +13.164
8 10 Alexis MASBOU FRA Ongetta-Rivacold FTR Honda +21.174
9 63 Zulfahmi KHAIRUDDIN MAL Red Bull KTM Ajo KTM +21.240
10 61 Arthur SISSIS AUS Red Bull KTM Ajo KTM +21.598
14 99 Danny WEBB GBR Ambrogio Racing Suter Honda +21.879
19 17 John McPHEE GBR Caretta Technology – RTG FTR Honda +34.948