Albert Arenas regains the championship lead with a podium in #FrenchGP

Gaviota Aspar Team rider Albert Arenas has regained the lead in the Moto3 category after taking the podium at the French Grand Prix. Arenas has completed a sensible race, with the leading group, but without unnecessary overtaking that could put his options at risk. Leader on the first lap after a brilliant start, Arenas has not dropped from fifth position despite contacts of some riders.

However, he could not opt for more on the last lap as both Celestino Vietti and Tony Arbolino were already slightly separated from him. With this podium, the fifth of the season for the Gaviota Aspar Team rider, Arenas regains the leadership of the small category and leads by six points over Ai Ogura, who has been ninth after fighting for much of the race to enter the points zone.

His teammate Stefano Nepa finished the race in France fifteenth, in the second group and, again, in the points zone. The Italian now has nine consecutive races in the top 15, the only rider in the category with Tony Arbolino to do so. For the Gaviota Aspar Team rider it was a difficult race, after recovering several positions from the twenty-fourth place on the grid from which he started. Midway through the race, Nepa began to suffer with the rear tyre and with the pain on his leg from the crash on Friday.

Despite everything, the Italian rider has finished just two seconds behind ninth position. The next appointment for the Moto3 riders will be next weekend, at the Aragon circuit.

3rd Albert Arenas (+0.198):
“I was going for the victory and I am not entirely satisfied with the podium because I was not able to compete on the last lap as we were all a bit separated. I was going a bit to the limit; I was not completely comfortable at the end of the race. Getting back on the podium, especially after the Misano and Barcelona races, is very good. We have been able to stay focused all weekend.”

15th Stefano Nepa (+17.743):
“It was a difficult Sunday, I started well, but in the first corners I lost positions due to problems with the grip on the rear end, the tyre did not warm up quite well. Those in front were three or four tenths faster and I was in the second group. From the middle of the race I have started to notice a drop in the performance of the tyre and my leg bothered me a bit when changing gears. I have tried to grit my teeth to be with the group. We have to understand well what has not worked for us, because until yesterday we were quite fast and competitive. I want to thank the team, my family and my sponsors.”