Spaniard Masia got here to Qatar main the championship by 13 factors and wanted to outscore his rival Ayumu Sasaki by 12 factors to wrap up the title with a spherical to spare.
Masia has been one thing of a journeyman within the Moto3 class since making his debut in 2017.
It wouldn’t be till 2019 that Masia gained his first grand prix, taking victory from pole on the Argentina GP on his solution to ninth within the factors.
Transferring to Leopard Honda for 2020, Masia gained twice to complete sixth within the standings and was fourth within the championship with a single victory the next yr having moved to Moto3 class kingmaker Aki Ajo’s KTM squad.
Regardless of profitable twice in 2022, Masia may solely handle sixth within the championship and would return to Leopard Honda for 2023.
Coming from tenth on the grid in Qatar, Masia discovered himself concerned in a chaotic 16-lap grand prix.
On a number of events, Masia and Sasaki locked horns on observe. Twice did Masia come by aggressively, sitting up the Intact GP Husqvarna-mounted Sasaki. Masia was given a conduct warning for this.
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Jaume Masia, Leopard Racing
It began to go incorrect for Sasaki at the beginning of lap 13. Main into Flip 1, Masia launched his Leopard Honda up the within of the Japanese rider to regain first.
Sasaki then misplaced three extra spots into Flip 2 to drop to fifth, earlier than Masia’s team-mate Adrian Fernandez compelled Sasaki extensive at Flip 6 to dump him right down to eighth.
Fernandez would do the identical factor to Sasaki once more on the final nook to drop him to tenth as Masia led over the road.
Masia confronted stiff opposition for the win from the chasing David Alonso (Aspar), Ajo KTM’s Deniz Oncu – who served two lengthy lap penalties for leaping the beginning – and SIC58’s Riccardo Rossi.
Sasaki was capable of get again into the highest six on the ultimate lap, however a large second going by Flip 13 virtually led to him crashing out.
With Masia snatching a fourth win of the season on the run to the road by 0.068s, it will be sufficient for the Spaniard to wrap up the championship.
Masia’s championship marks the primary for Honda in Moto3 since Lorenzo Dalla Porta in 2019, when he secured the title for Leopard Racing.
For the 2024 season, Masia will step as much as the Moto2 class with the SAG Racing workforce.
Moto3 Qatar GP outcomes
Aldeguer wins third-straight Moto2 race as MotoGP rumours persist
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Fermin Aldeguer, Pace Up Racing
SpeedUp rider Fermin Aldeguer scored his third-successive Moto2 victory in dominant vogue in Qatar.
The Spaniard took the lead from Aron Canet with 10 laps to go within the grand prix and eased off into the gap in the direction of the chequered flag.
Aldeguer stays within the body for a MotoGP step in 2024 with VR46 Ducati, ought to Luca Marini signal for Honda to switch Marc Marquez.
The rostrum was accomplished by Manuel Gonzalez, who snatched second from Pons rider Canet on his Yamaha VR46 Grasp Camp-run bike by 0.009s.
Just lately-crowned Moto2 world champion Pedro Acosta was eighth.