Ortola fends off Alonso and Veijer for vital victory

Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) claimed a phenomenal Monster Energy British Grand Prix victory as a fierce lightweight class battle plays out at Silverstone. David Alonso (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team) grabbed P2 as the fight for the win went down to the wire, with Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) rounding out a podium trio that was split by 0.103s at the chequered flag.

Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) pinched the holeshot from the front row as a Moto3™ freight train formed at the front. Unfortunately for the home crowd, Scott Ogden’s (Fibre Tec Honda – MLav Racing) British GP ended prematurely as the #19 couldn’t avoid Angel Piqueras’ stricken Leopard Racing Honda at Turn 18 on Lap 2.

Back at the front, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) was one rider who had a turn at leading the race before heading into the final six laps, Ortola threatened to break clear. 0.4s was the #48’s gap, but after two laps, the chasers reeled the Spaniard back in.

What followed was a frantic scrap for positions in the closing two laps. It was elbows out and Moto3™ racing at its finest. On the last lap, Veijer held the P1 baton, with former race leader Alonso shoved to P4. The Colombian bagged a two-for-one deal at Brooklands on the final lap to pounce up to P2 though, before Ortola bit back at Copse.

From leading the race at the start of the lap, Veijer was P3 heading into the final sector as the race down the Hangar Straight saw Ortola just about hold onto P1, as he shut the door on title rival Alonso down at Stowe. The latter then expertly lunged up the inside of Veijer at Vale to pinch P2 off the Dutchman, with Ortola holding onto the race win despite running wide at Turn 16.

Holgado settled for P4, 0.107s away from the win, as Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA) closed out the top five to secure his best finish of 2024. Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) in sixth and Kelso in seventh were also less than a second away from the win, as Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Tatsuki Suzuki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) were the riders to claim top 10s at Silverstone.

A spellbinding Silverstone outing sees Alonso head to the Red Bull Ring 53 points clear of Ortola in the Championship chase. What will unfold when we land in Austria?

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