That’s a wrap for our 2024 Japanese adventure as Red Bull GASGAS Tech3's Moto3™ squad will now head to a much-deserved week of break following an intense tripleheader Misano-Mandalika-Motegi. Another exciting race took place in the lightweight class on Sunday at the Mobility Resort Motegi, with Daniel Holgado claiming P4 of the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, while Jacob Roulstone finished in 17th. The class also saw its 2024 champion being crowned, in the name of David Alonso, after a tremendous season. The whole Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 team would like to congratulate both David Alonso and his team on an incredible season.

Qualifying was not amazing on Saturday, but not bad either, so that was a P9 start waiting for Daniel Holgado on Sunday morning. Conditions were good at 11:00, with no rain at sight. Lights out in Japan! From his 9th position on the grid, Daniel Holgado took a rocket start to power through his contenders up to P4 after the first corner, and to 2nd behind polesitter Ivan Ortola to exit that opening lap ahead of David Alonso, behind in P3. Rookie Angel Piqueras and teammate Adrian Fernandez were also in the battle for 1st from the early laps as a front four smoothly painted itself, but the rest was close, including Alonso. Fernandez increased his pace to dig a small gap on Holgado, while the rest of the chasing group had now closed the gap. With ten laps to go, Dani was in fourth, under Ryusei Yamanaka’s threat, and eventually the Japanese moved past Holgado, but quickly regained that position. With 8 laps remaining, we saw David Alonso emerge as usual, now pressuring Holgado at the doors of the top 4 with a new fastest race lap record, and soon he made a move on the #96, but Dani held his ground and gained that 4th place back. The next lap, Alonso increased his effort to move past Dani for good to immediately catch back on Ivan Ortola, while Dani was now in 4th, 0.4 seconds away from Alonso. On lap 12, Colin Veijer who was behind overtook Dani, and that was P5. 4 laps remained, we had a clear front 5, now led by no one else than David Alonso, on his way to clinch his first Moto3™ title. Yamanaka was more than one second behind, but he was coming back quickly on the leading group. In the final turns of lap 13, Holgado made a move on Veijer to regain his 4th place, but it was soon given back as the fight for 3rd became more and more intense. Eventually, the gap to third was too big for a final attack, and Daniel Holgado settled for a strong P4, allowing him to remain second in the world championship ahead of the next tripleheader.

Jacob Roulstone was starting the Japanese Grand Prix from the 21st position on the grid after a tricky weekend so far. With a lot of work done overnight with his team, the rookie headed to round 16 eager to finish this first tripleheader in the best way possible. At the start, the Australian took a really good start and gained positions in the first turn, but then he found himself a bit blocked a few corners later and was forced to go a bit wide. He lost a few positions, to exit lap one in P23 behind Scott Ogden. The rookie put his head down and focused into his race pace, and started to progressively gain positions. He remained for quite a long time behind the #19, until he finally passed through him in the final lap. That’s a P17 for Roulstone, who heads home with a positive feeling.

That’s it for that first tripleheader. The squad will now head home for a rest week, before another blockbuster tripleheader awaits us, starting with the Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix in Phillip Island, on October 18-20 2024.