In the opening Moto3 race of the season held in Qatar, Honda achieved a first-race rostrum lock-out with Alexis Masbou taking a close fought win.
Honda powered machines also took out fourth and fifth places and 7 of the top ten position in a dominating display for the marque that powered Alex Marquez to the title last year.
The was a typical Moto3 brawl, with a lead pack of a dozen swelling in the closing laps, so that the top 15 crossed the line within just over five seconds. The rostrum top three, swapping positions to the end, were covered by 0.14 of a second.
Alexis Masbou (SaxoPrint RTG Honda NSF250RW), started from pole position, Italy‰Ûªs Enea Bastianini (Junior Team Gresini Moto3 Honda NSF250RW) second; and Danny Kent (Leopard Racing Honda NSF250RW) third, all tkaing turns in the lead, as had fourth-placed Efren Vazquez (Leopard Racing Honda NSF250RW), and both Fabio Quartararo (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Honda NSF250RW).
‰ÛÏI started from the pole position and was first into the first corner, and I rode in front for the first laps." Masbou reflected. "The race was quite difficult because there were a lot of riders fighting.
"I wanted to save my tires for the end of the race. For the five last laps I was trying to go back to the front to keep my chance of victory. Finally I made a very fast lap and could pass all the other riders. It is perfect.‰Û
