Rins back on top

Alex Rins took victory in the Moto3™ race at the Gran Premio TIM di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini, with Alex Marquez and Jack Miller joining him on the podium. Despite requiring a medical check after sustaining heavy contusions on both legs in a Warm Up crash, Rins (Estrella Galicia 0,0) produced an excellent ride to win for the second round in succession and strengthen his title credentials. For Marquez it was his sixth podium result of the year and his second successive second place, after he pushed his colleague Rins hard for the win and was outpaced by just 0.042s on the line. Standings leader Miller (Red Bull KTM Ajo) returned to the podium, but saw his championship lead reduced to nine points - to Marquez - with five races to go. The Australian crossed the line just over 3.4s behind race winner Rins. Miller’s advantage over third placed Rins in the table is now 20 points. Isaac Viñales (Calvo Team) finished a second off the podium with Enea Bastianini (Junior Team Go&FUN Moto3) close by in fifth. Brad Binder (Ambrogio Racing), Alexis Masbou (Ongetta-Rivacold), Andrea Migno (Mahindra Racing), Juanfran Guevara (Mapfre Aspar Team Moto3) and Efren Vazquez (SAXOPRINT RTG) rounded out the top ten. Matteo Ferrari (San Carlo Team Italia), Karel Hanika (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Nilkas Ajo (Avant Techno Husqvarna Ajo), Gabriel Rodrigo RBA Racing Team) and Scott Deroue (RW Racing GP) all crashed out of the race. Miguel Oliveira (Mahindra Racing) was up in third before a high side saw him crash and remount, finishing 22nd. Francesco Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46) and Andrea Locatelli (San Carlo Team Italia) were forced out with technical problems. All riders were not seriously hurt, though Hanika had a finger injury assessed in the medical centre.