The GASGAS Aspar Team rider finishes 0.068 off victory and takes his seventh podium of the year

Jaume Masià has become world champion after winning the Qatar Grand Prix. The Spanish rider has taken the title with one race to go and has consolidated himself as the best rider in the category six years after his debut. Masià has had to battle for the lead with Ayumu Sasaki, who did not want to lose his chances of winning the championship. Several overtakes at the limit and some touches between them have made the Japanese rider to lose several places and he has had to come back. On his way to the front, the Japanese rider has been involved in a battle with Masià's teammate, Adrián Fernández, and he has not been able to reach the leading group again. In the end, Sasaki has crossed the finish line in sixth position and has not been able to prevent Masià from being crowned champion. GASGAS Aspar Team rider David Alonso, who has finished 0.068 off victory, and Deniz Öncü, who has had to come back after serving a penalty due to a jump start, have completed the podium today.

GASGAS Aspar Team rider David Alonso has taken a podium finish at the Qatar battle. The Colombian has crossed the finish line in second place and has ended just a few thousandths off victory in his debut at the Losail track. Alonso has made a great start from twelfth on the grid and on the third lap he was already leading the race. After fighting with the championship contenders and his direct rivals for third place, Alonso has achieved his seventh podium of the year, second at an unknown track for him, and he will arrive at last round of the season in Valencia with options to be runner-up. His teammate Ryusei Yamanaka has had a more complicated race. The Japanese rider started from 24th on the grid and has not been able to complete the comeback he had expected. In the end, the Japanese rider has finished twenty-first and out of the points. Yamanaka will try to forget this weekend in order to arrive with strength to the last race of the year in Valencia.

2nd David Alonso (+0.068): “I’m happy to be on the podium at another new track for me; it’s also good for all the team. After the crash in Malaysia it’s nice to be up here again and I wanted another trophy before the end of the season. It was important for the team and feels extra nice for me because this track was tricky for my style. I learned a lot and the result tastes a bit sweeter because of this.”

21st Ryusei Yamanaka (+8.140): “We have improved the bike set-up and I was feeling comfortable in the race. We have missed a bit of pace to move up, so I have stayed at the back of the group. I have also made some mistakes and this has prevented me from gaining more positions.”