Moto3 Germany Race Review

Oncu Puts Demons To Rest In Classic Duel

It was the usual suspects at the front of the grid this week in Moto3 with all the title contenders lining up on the front two rows, but it would be rookie Dutchman Collin Veijer who throw the cat amongst the pigeons by taking the holeshot into turn 1, no doubt surprising team mate Sasaki who would have been hoping to impose himself on the race as early as possible. It wouldn’t last long for the rookie however, as Sasaki would make his way into the lead a few corners later and ultimately it would end in disappointment for Veijer who’s race would finish in the gravel within a few laps.

The biggest mover in the early laps was David Munoz who’d managed to climb as high as 12th from last on the grid before serving a long lap penalty for indiscretions in earlier races. His recovery was impressive though as he would once again climb as high as 12th and that is where he would finish the race.

At the front Sasaki was trying to put this one to bed early, he had begun to open a gap to the chasing group and with Oncu running wide out of the penultimate corner and falling behind championship leader Daniel Holgado, the gap was only getting bigger. If Oncu was going to challenge at the front he would need to settle, get by Holgado, and set his sights on closing the gap. Thats exactly what he did, and with 12 laps to go the stage was set, Oncu had gapped the chasing group and closed to within 0.5 of a second to leader Sasaki.

And from there he waited, often criticised for a lack of race craft and tactical acumen in big moments, oncu showed the calm and patience of a man that’s done it all before. As the laps ticked down the opportunities continued to present themselves to the young Turk and time after time he turned them down, choosing to wait until the final moments rather than show Sasaki his hand. Even on the penultimate lap when it looked like he had enough to get in front and hold the lead still he wouldn’t flinch, it would be a final lap pass for Oncu, he had already decided. But had he given Sasaki upper hand? As the final lap went on Oncu couldn’t get the opportunity to present itself, it would have to be late in the lap, and it would be. A final corner pass up the inside of Sasaki from Oncu. From there the short drag to the line at Sachsenring meant he wouldn’t be denied, Deniz Oncu had laid to rest the demons of past failures with and expertly executed final corner pass. The young man had finally held his nerve in the crucial moment and won his first Grand Prix.