Down to the final chicane: Dalla Porta looks to strike back

The Italian lost out in Barcelona through no fault of his own – now he’ll be pushing to cut down the gap to Canet

Moto3™ made more history at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) taking his first Grand Prix win to make it seven different winners in the first seven races and 12 different winners in a row. Despite that record though, it was an expensive day for one man in particular – Ramirez’ teammate Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing). A mechanical problem took him out the race, and Aron Canet’s (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) second place means the Spaniard now has a 23-point lead. The mission for Dalla Porta will be simple: hit back quick and score big.

The Netherlands is a good place to do just that. The classic TT Circuit Assen’s final chicane rewards bravery and tactics, two things Dalla Porta has shown already in 2019. Canet has too, but the Italian’s motivation on the back foot will be hard to match.

It’s not a two-horse race though. Despite a grid penalty that compounded a tough qualifying for Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse), the Italian kept himself in touch and is just five points off compatriot Dalla Porta in the standings. Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) impressed to take yet another podium in his first full season and he’s not far behind either – and then there’s earlier Championship leader Jaume Masia (Bester Capital Dubai), who crashed out and will want to move forward…

Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers), now a race winner after his Mugello stunner, was another man out of the reckoning in Barcelona after a mechanical as well, and the likes of John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) are looking to recover from their last lap shenanigans at Catalunya. The field is deep, and Canet will have a fight on his hands to defend his lead and attack to try and increase it.

Last year the Sterilgarda Max Racing Team rider was in the fight right to the end against eventual winner – and now Moto2™ rider – Jorge Martin, so he knows he has pace at Assen. Now, he just has to go one better and make that tough decision, like the likes of Dalla Porta, where exactly he wants to be going into that final chicane on that final lap.

The word classic can be overused but it’s the only word for the TT Circuit Assen. Tune in for another Moto3™ melee on Sunday 30th June.