There are fewer more spectacular tracks in Grand Prix world championship racing than Mugello. Speed, precision, close battles and wonderful scenery: there is something elegant and typically Italian about the historic layout in the Tuscan hills. CFMOTO played their part in a rip-roaring Moto3 event that sadly saw the CFMOTO PruestelGP team leave round six of 20 in the 2023 series empty handed.
There are fewer more spectacular tracks in Grand Prix world championship racing than Mugello. Speed, precision, close battles and wonderful scenery: there is something elegant and typically Italian about the historic layout in the Tuscan hills. CFMOTO played their part in a rip-roaring Moto3 event that sadly saw the CFMOTO PruestelGP team leave round six of 20 in the 2023 series empty-handed.
-Joel Kelso crashes out entering the final turn of the 15-corner Mugello course after setting the second fastest lap in qualifying and battling for championship points.
-Xavi Artigas’s race is wrecked early due to a tangle with another rider and the Spaniard rues a missed opportunity to improve his position in the Moto3 standings
-CFMOTO push to show their speed potential around one of the fastest circuits in MotoGP. The Moto3 bikes hit a top mark of almost 250kmph
– CFMOTO are 8th in the Teams standings and are poised 5th in the Constructors table with a quarter of the season now consigned to the page.
Since the mid-1970s Mugello has been a mecca for the pace and ‘dance’ of top flite motorcycle racing. The sweeping course opened the gates for its 37th Grand Prix and was once again the spiritual home for the bike-mad Italian nation. For just the second time, CFMOTO were part of this amazing annual testament to the technology, bravery and thrill of MotoGP, as the action twists around the 15-corner and 5.2km trajectory. Mugello is one of the fastest – and scariest – tests on the world championship slate!
Saturday provided a bounce of emotions. Joel Kelso had to qualify through Q1 but was brilliantly fast to not only make his way into the Q2 session but then find the 2nd-best lap-time of everyone and sit on the front row of the grid. Sadly, the joy was short-lived as Joel was one of a group of riders fined by the FIM Stewards Panel. The verdict dropped him back to 21st from where he’ll also have to serve a Long Lap penalty. Xavi Artigas was initially in the top ten – 8th quickest – but was also adjudged to have ridden too slowly and was dropped to 24th and the eighth row of the grid. The duo set off for the 17-lap race on Sunday knowing that an early attack was essential for any hopes of the top ten or better.
Under blue skies and in front of a decent partisan attendance, Moto3 rattled through some excruciatingly close and nervous action. The leading pack of five escaped but the main group flexed for front-running positions into the first corner on a lap-by-lap basis and as the pace varied. Artigas was sadly ruled out on the third lap due to a collision with Filippo Farioli.
Kelso served his Long Lap and was then mired on the outskirts of the top twenty but still only 7.5 seconds from the leader. Joel pushed and probed and finally was caught out into the fast entry of the long Turn 15. When the chequered flag dropped to bring an end to proceedings the points could then be tallied. CFMOTO PruestelGP hold 8th place in the Teams’ championship while Artigas is the 8th ranked rider and Kelso sits 19th. CFMOTO have 50 points to stand 5th in the Constructors table.
MotoGP now swaps outright speed and flow for the tight, anticlockwise confines of the Sachsenring. The historic German venue is not only the team’s home Grand Prix but will also welcome another sold-out attendance for MotoGP. The Liqui Moly Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland takes place next weekend as the middle ‘segment’ of a three-in-a-row stretch for the series.
Joel Kelso: “What a weekend. We managed to find speed but not much comfort with the front of the bike. The team worked great for us to get 2nd on Saturday but we were still missing something. We live-and-learn and we showed we have speed. The penalty hurt us and I don’t agree with it: I thought it was a bit harsh. It was always going to be difficult starting from the back but we got down to business catching up, and in the end I lost it in the final corner. It is what it is. We could have had some points if we stayed on but I think we will be stronger in Sachsenring. Our base setting will work well there. Thanks to the team. They have been really patient with me after the injury and in Germany I want to deliver a good result for them, not only in qualifying but also in the race.”
Xavier Artigas: “Very bad luck to end the weekend. We had to deal with the penalty but for the two laps of the race I managed I was feeling comfortable and was looking to regain ground before a rider crashed in front of me and there was nowhere to go. It was a fast crash but I’m OK. We made a step this weekend compared to last year and that’s important. I’m happy that I’m healthy and we’ll push 100% for the team next weekend and I really want to thank them for making everything so good and strong from Friday. I’m happy with how the bike felt and the rhythm we could make.”
Moto3 2023 Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley
1. Daniel Holgado (ESP) KTM 33:27.315
2. Deniz Öncü (TUR) KTM +0.051
3. Ayumu Sasaki (JPN) Husqvarna +0.056
DNF. Joel Kelso (AUS), CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP
DNF. Xavier Artigas (ESP), CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP
Moto3 2023 world championship standings after 6 of 20 rounds
1. Daniel Holgado (ESP) KTM, 109 points
2. Jaume Masia (ESP) Honda, 74
3. Ivan Ortola, (ESP) KTM, 68
8. Xavier Artigas (ESP) CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP, 50
19. Joel Kelso (AUS), CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP, 12