Jasper Iwema grabbed up his first 3 points of the 2013 season in the opening race in Qatar. Under the floodlights of the Losail Circuit the Dutch rider for RW Racing GP finished 13th in a hard fought battle. His team mate Jakub Kornfeil was less happy. Hampered by electronic problems the Czech dropped back from 10th position to 22 in the last two laps of the race.
The first Moto3 race of the season had two faces for RW Racing GP, with a happy Jasper Iwema and a disappointed Jakub Kornfeil.
Kornfeil lost a few places at the start and dropped back to 10. He was dueling with Niklas Ajo for place 9 when, in lap 10, he ran wide in Turn 13. The Czech came back on track in 13th place and fought his way back to 10 in lap 14. But in lap 17, the penultimate lap, his bike started to slow down.
Kornfeil dropped back to 17th, fought himself to 14th – just behind his team mate Iwema – but dropped back to 22nd in the final lap, leaving him empty handed and frustrated.
Iwema on the other hand had a good race. Iwema was in the medical center until half an hour before the race due to food poisoning. Nevertheless he won a few places at the start and entered the first corner in 15th position. Alexis Masbou cut off the connection with Danny Webb, leaving Iwema fighting for 14th position. In a hard fought battle with John McPhee, Jack Miller, Romano Fenati and Masbou, Iwema came out the strongest. After his team mate Kornfeil fell back Iwema moved up to 13th and was able to hold off the others in an intense last lap fight.
Jasper Iwema (13):
"I ate something wrong yesterday night and was very sick this morning. I went to the Clinica Mobile and they gave me salted water and ice to cool down the fever. I had a good start but I had to find my rhythm in the first two laps. When the adrenaline came in, Masbou was in my way and I lost the connection to the group in front of me. It was a hard battle and I am really happy I could stay in front. It feels so good to be back in the fight for points."
Jakub Kornfeil (22):
"There is not much to say. I am very disappointed and frustrated. I was fighting so hard for top 10 and then this electronic problem came up all of a sudden. There was nothing I could do."
RW Racing Press Release
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