Fast finish by Mir for podium at the Italian Grand Prix

Fast finish by Mir for podium at the Italian Grand Prix

Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider Joan Mir takes a  second consecutive podium, Alex Marquez finishes fifth at Mugello.

With a perfectly timed charge over the final three laps Mir finished in third place just 0.3s behind the winner Miguel Oliveira in a thrilling finish to the 21 lap race.

It was the second race in row Mir was on the podium following his third place in the French GP.

Mir, 20, was exhausted with the physical effort to fight back from ninth on the gird on a hot and sunny day at the Mugello Circuit.

With three laps to go Mir was fourth and 1.1s off the lead before staging a brilliant performance to challenge for the victory on the final lap.

Marquez made a lightning start from the front row of the grid to lead the opening lap in a close early battle with Oliveira and Francesco Bagnaia.

After being bumped wide on lap eight Marquez lost ground but recovered to finish fifth despite front-end chatter.

Marquez has consolidated fourth place in the standings with 78 points.

Mir has 64 points for fifth place in Moto3 World Championship after six races.

Joan Mir: 3rd

“I am really, really tired after this race, maybe the hardest race of my life physically with the heat, you have ride at 100% every lap in Moto2. Thanks for the work by the team to be on the podium, it is almost like a victory for me. The rear tyre dropped down at the half way point but we had a good set-up and I was able to pass Bagnaia on the final lap and get the podium.”

Alex Marquez: 5th

“It was a difficult race and I am not completely satisfied but also not so sad. The positive is that I took important points for the championship. I tried 110% but I had problems with a lot of chattering on the front so it was a shame not be able to fight for the podium. We will take the experience from this to the next race in Barcelona which is a track I like a lot.”