Long Lap to victory: Alonso stuns for seventh win of 2024
David Alonso Triumphs at the Red Bull Ring Despite Long Lap Penalty
David Alonso of the CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team celebrated his seventh victory of the season at the Red Bull Ring, further cementing his position as the World Championship leader. The Colombian rider overcame a Long Lap penalty to clinch the win, narrowly defeating David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) by just 0.121 seconds. Muñoz edged out Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) for the final spot on the Moto3™ podium in Austria.
Drama unfolded early when polesitter Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) faced issues before the start, forcing him to begin the race from the pitlane. This setback put Ortola, Alonso’s main championship rival, 12 seconds off the lead by the end of the first lap.
Joel Kelso initially led the race, with BOE Motorsports teammate Muñoz, Alonso, and Holgado close behind. On Lap 2, Alonso served his Long Lap penalty, dropping to 10th place, 3.7 seconds behind the leader with 17 laps remaining. Meanwhile, Ortola set a series of fastest laps, climbing from P18 to P9 by Lap 14, but the lead group of eight riders was still 5.4 seconds ahead.
As the race progressed, Alonso made his way to the front, taking the lead on Lap 14. The Colombian held off intense pressure from Muñoz, Holgado, Veijer, and Piqueras in the final laps. On the last lap, Muñoz’s wide run at Turn 1 dropped him from P2 to P4, but he managed to recover and finish second, narrowly ahead of Holgado by just 0.005 seconds.
Angel Piqueras impressed with a P4 finish, followed by Veijer in P5. Fernandez, Rueda, and Kelso rounded out the top eight, while Ortola’s charge through the field earned him P9, though he lost crucial ground in the title fight.
The remaining points-paying positions went to Riccardo Rossi (CIP Green Power), Matteo Bertelle (Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team), Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI), Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), and Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia).
Alonso’s remarkable win, despite the Long Lap penalty, extends his championship lead to 71 points over Ortola as the series heads to Aragon. The question remains: Can anyone halt Alonso’s momentum at MotorLand?
RESULTS
| 1 | David Alonso | CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team | CFMOTO | – |
| 2 | David Munoz | BOE Motorsports | KTM | +0.121 |
| 3 | Dani Holgado | Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 | GasGas | +0.126 |
| 4 | Angel Piqueras | Leopard Racing | Honda | +0.211 |
| 5 | Colin Veijer | Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP | Husqvarna | +0.303 |
| 6 | Adrian Fernandez | Leopard Racing | Honda | +2.726 |
| 7 | Jose Antonio Rueda | Red Bull KTM Ajo | KTM | +2.790 |
| 8 | Joel Kelso | BOE Motorsports | KTM | +2.886 |
| 9 | Ivan Ortola | MT Helmets – MSi | KTM | +7.542 |
| 10 | Taiyo Furusato | Honda Team Asia | Honda | +7.842 |
| 11 | Riccardo Rossi | CIP Green Power | KTM | +7.964 |
| 12 | Matteo Bertelle | Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team | Honda | +8.384 |
| 13 | Tatsuki Suzuki | Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP | Husqvarna | +8.447 |
| 14 | Ryusei Yamanaka | MT Helmets – MSi | KTM | +11.633 |
| 15 | Jacob Roulstone | Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 | GasGas | +11.704 |
| 16 | Nicolo Carraro | LEVELUP – MTA | KTM | +19.177 |
| 17 | Luca Lunetta | SIC58 Squadra Corse | Honda | +19.213 |
| 18 | Xabi Zurutuza | Red Bull KTM Ajo | KTM | +19.272 |
| 19 | Scott Ogden | Fibre Tec Honda – MLav Racing | Honda | +20.621 |
| 20 | David Almansa | Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team | Honda | +20.768 |
| 21 | Tatchakron Buasri | Honda Team Asia | Honda | +24.093 |
| 22 | Jakob Rosenthaler | Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP | Husqvarna | +24.987 |
| 23 | Vincente Perez | Fibre Tec Honda – MLav Racing | Honda | +25.236 |
| 24 | Noah Dettwiler | CIP Green Power | KTM | +29.017 |
| 25 | Joel Esteban | CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team | CFMOTO | +30.457 |
| 26 | Filippo Farioli | SIC58 Squadra Corse | Honda | +45.527 |
| DNF | Stefano Nepa | LEVELUP – MTA | KTM |
Official MotoGP Press Release
