RACE PREVIEW # SolidarityGP
Moto3™ consistently provided great racing throughout 2023 , as well as an epic championship battle between Jaume Masia and Ayumu Sasaki , which was decided at a dramatic penultimate race .
With both men now racing in Moto2™ , a host of riders have fought it out to fill the power vacuum at the front of the class . Aspar CFMOTO entrant David Alonso , who is his second season at world level , has been the pick of the bunch . After the Colombian teenager was the revelation of 2023 , he started this season brilliantly , scoring an epic last gasp win in Qatar before backing them up with a fabulous run of further victories to seal the title in Japan with four races to spare . He even equalled Valentino Rossi ’ s record for eleven wins in a single season of the lightweight class in Australia . In Thailand , Alonso won his twelfth of 2024 !
That ’ s not to say he ’ s had it all his own way . GASGAS Tech3 ’ s Dani Holgado was one of Alonso ’ s chief assailants through the year . The Spaniard has shown he gained experience and scored a brilliant victory at Round 2 , and scored a hatful of podiums to remain in the fight for second .
LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Inact GP ’ s Collin Veijer was another consistent challenger at the front most of the year . The
tall Dutchman scored a brilliant victory at Jerez and has been a consistent podium threat . He ’ ll be keen to end his final Moto3™ race in style before stepping up to Moto2™ in 2025 .
Ivan Ortola has switched to the MT HELMETS – MSI squad for 2024 and has enjoyed his best season to date . Despite getting tangled up in a crash in race one , the Spaniard took epic victories at Assen and Silverstone to be one of the fastest names in the class .
As ever , there are a host of exciting rookies that will be eager to grab international attention . Leopard Racing ’ s Angel Piqueras is the most eye-catching after he won his first GP in epic fashion at Misano . SIC58 Honda ’ s Luca Lunetta is another name to keep an eye on .
Like Moto2™ , the junior category has switched tyres for this year , with Pirelli coming in as the sole supplier . Expect to see lap records broken through the second half of the season , with the 26 entrants switching riding style to get the best out of the Italian rubber .
Ten KTMs , ten Hondas and two Husqvarnas , GASGAS and CFMOTO machines apiece with 26 riders making up the 2024 grid .
Motul Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona | 91