The worst weather forecasts came true and the Phillip Island circuit woke up completely flooded on Sunday, with cold and a wind that picked up strongly and put the celebration of Sunday’s day at risk. To try to circumvent the worst conditions that were expected as the day progressed, all races were brought forward one hour; and three ten-minute training sessions were also scheduled for the three categories, so that the drivers could get a feel for the circuit.
Already from the formation lap, some were able to see how delicate the Phillip Island asphalt was because several drivers crashed, including one of the title candidates, Dani Holgado. Despite everything, he arrived at the grid with a gap in his eyebrow and the bike was very damaged, but they were able to repair it right there and take part in the small displacement test.
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It was a survival race from start to finish. With an unexpected protagonist in the figure of Adrián Fernández, who until two grand prix ago was following the World Cup from his house. It had debuted in Indonesia, replacing the Japanese Suzuki and sharing a box with Jaume Masià. The driver from Madrid took the lead in the race and made the selection ahead, always maintaining a margin with the group and dreaming of what could be his big day in the championship. However, six laps from the end that dream disappeared, with a painful drop in morale. But he got up, rejoined the race and was able to finish fifth.
Sasaki inherited first position when Fernández crashed and the Japanese took the victory with Deniz Öncü and the Japanese Sasaki. The Turk waited until the last lap to attack, in an overtake that gave him his third victory of the year and in the process saved Jaume Masià’s lead, in the most difficult race of the year. The Valencian finished eighth and was very critical because in his opinion the race should not have been held in these conditions. Although he opened the gap in the classification with respect to Holgado, who with all the problems at the start could only be 13th, but he saw how now his main rival is Sasaki, who leaves Phillip Island just 4 points behind the lead.
2023-10-22 05:28:47
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