Jerez Moto3: Vinales takes victory in crash-strewn Moto3 race

Maverick Vinales was the winner of a crash-strewn first race at Jerez this morning as he became the third winner from three races in the Moto3 class.

Alex Rins initially led away from the line, and before long the battle at the front split into two groups, with Rins, Vinales, Salom and Folger battling for the lead, with fifth place being decided by a battle of Binder, Miller, Ajo and Antonelli.

Just before the half way mark, Vinales made it past Rins for the lead, although he was unable to make a break.

However, with track conditions degrading as it heated up, a series of crashes soon became the tale of the race, with first Rins, then Miller and Olivera hitting the ground, then soon followed by Antonelli.

This allowed Vinales and Salom to make a gap at the front, pulling away from Folger then Binder, relegated to a lonely third and fourth. Kornfeil, Ajo, Khairuddin, and Vasquez were the survivors of the battle for fifth.

However, the race was brought to a premature end on lap 17 of 23, when a heavy crash from Frenchman Alan Techer brought out the red flags. Techer, who crashed at the same turn that claimed Dani Pedrosa yesterday, was reported to be conscious trackside.

Scottish rider John McPhee was making steady progress from his 17th place on the grid, and with the crashes in front of him managed a career best 11th place. Fellow Brit Danny Webb rode a lonely race to 13th.

1 25 Maverick VIÑALES SPA Team Calvo KTM 26’57.338
2 39 Luis SALOM SPA Red Bull KTM Ajo KTM +0.263
3 94 Jonas FOLGER GER Mapfre Aspar Team Moto3 Kalex KTM +4.475
4 41 Brad BINDER RSA Ambrogio Racing Suter Honda +15.104
5 84 Jakub KORNFEIL CZE Redox RW Racing GP Kalex KTM +18.412
6 31 Niklas AJO FIN Avant Tecno KTM +19.064
7 63 Zulfahmi KHAIRUDDIN MAL Red Bull KTM Ajo KTM +19.204
8 7 Efren VAZQUEZ SPA Mahindra Racing Mahindra +19.680
9 5 Romano FENATI ITA San Carlo Team Italia FTR Honda +22.763
10 10 Alexis MASBOU FRA Ongetta-Rivacold FTR Honda +23.138
11 17 John McPHEE GBR Caretta Technology – RTG FTR Honda +23.189
13 99 Danny WEBB GBR Ambrogio Racing Suter Honda +27.897