Tatsuki Suzuki defeated John McPhee and Tony Arbolino to secure his maiden Moto3 victory at Misano from pole position.
The SIC58 ace led most of the 22 lap race, at times looking as if he could make a break from his pursuers, but had to fight for supremacy as the leading group increased throughout the encounter.
The Japanese looked escape the rest along with Arbolino and Max Racing Team’s Aron Canet early on, though Canet was soon out of the race as his KTM lightweight machine suffered a terminal mechanical issue that eliminated him from the race just a few laps in.
Championship leader Lorenzo Dalla Porta, Worldwide Racing pair Andrea Migno and Jaume Masia as well as Ai Ogura and Petronas SRT’s McPhee all joined the leading pair as the race ran into its closing stages.
Suzuki made the crucial move as he snatched the lead from Arbolino with just over a lap to go, building a small advantage that was just enough to keep him ahead by the time he reached the end of the long back straight.
He was forced to go defensive as Arbolino looked to move ahead, but the Snipers man instead was relegated to third by McPhee as they approached Turn 10.
This allowed Suzuki enough of a gap to hold it to the line to secure his first ever lightweight win ahead of McPhee and Arbolino.
Masia came out on top of his battle with Dalla Porta for fourth, although the Italian now increases his points lead to 25 with the retirement of closest rival Canet.
Ogura and Migno crashed out on the final lap as the Worldwide Racing man lost the front of his KTM, leaving the Honda Team Asia pilot nowhere to go and collecting him on the way down.
This gifted sixth to VR46’s Dennis Foggia, while Gabriel Rodrigo came home seventh on his return just ahead of Marcos Ramirez.
Filip Salac took his best ever Moto3 result in ninth, while Stefano Nepa also achieved his personal best by rounding out the top ten on his Avintia-run Honda.
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