Silverstone spectacle sees Sasaki in P2 & Veijer in P9
In a race that is sure to be talked about for a long time to come, LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP riders Ayumu Sasaki and rookie Collin Veijer rode to a second and ninth-place finish in brilliant fashion, showing their world-class over 15 spectacular laps.
No words can do justice to the action in the Moto3 race at the British Grand Prix at the Silverstone Circuit. Slipstream battles, riding on the last edge, and terrific lead work - Ayumu Sasaki once again showed his title potential as he went into battle from grid position seven. After just a few corners, the Japanese rider found himself already in fourth position and from there it was only onwards to the front. The 22-year-old moved into the lead, but the pressure in the fifteen-strong leading group was enormous and it was almost impossible to keep up with the countless position changes. On the final sprint, Sasaki placed himself in the lead, but the slipstream he offered his pursuers was enough for them to squeeze past with a few corners to go. The experienced Moto3 rider still managed to cross the line in second place, taking his fifth consecutive podium and fourth-second place this season. This puts Sasaki just 22 points behind current World Championship leader Daniel Holgado.
Collin Veijer has undoubtedly arrived in the motorbike world championship. The rookie started from 23rd on the grid after a tricky qualifying session, gave himself a few laps to find his rhythm, and started a catch-up race that was well worth seeing. Two fastest race laps (2'12.869s) and incredible overtaking maneuvers followed, catapulting the 18-year-old from P16 to P6 within just one lap. But that was far from enough for the eager Dutchman. By lap nine, Veijer was battling right behind his teammate in P5 and, in hair-raising scenes, even briefly moved into second position with two laps to go. A near crash then dropped him back to P16, but Collin Veijer wouldn't be himself if he hadn't kept pushing his Husqvarna. With 9th place, he collected another seven World Championship points and thus finished in the points in six of the nine races so far. A remarkable achievement.
Both Sasaki and Veijer are making great strides towards their dream of their first win of the season and their first world championship podium respectively. The LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GPteam climbs up to second place in the team standings after this renewed success. In just 14 days' time, from the 18th - the 20th of August, the German racing team will once again give everything at the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring.
Results
Race
1. David ALONSO/ COL/ GASGAS
2. Ayumu SASAKI/ JAP/ HUSQVARNA – (+0.152)
3. Daniel HOLGADO/ SPA/ KTM – (+0.203)
9. Collin VEIJER/ NED/ HUSQVARNA – (+0.941)
World Championship
1. Daniel HOLGADO/ SPA - 141
2. Ayumu SASAKI/ JAP – 119
3. Jaume MASIA/ SPA/ – 109
15. Collin VEIJER/ NED – 34
Team Classification
1. RED BULL KTM AJO – 159
2. ANGELUSS MTA TEAM – 157
3. LIQUI MOLY HUSQVARNA INTACT GP – 153
