Izan does it in style
Guevara takes advice from Marquez to clinch the 2022 title
Izan Guevara left no one in doubt that he is the class of the 2022 Moto3 field on Sunday by clinching the title in the most convincing fashion. Like recent contests at Aragon and Motegi, the 17-year old was peerless on the final lap to ease clear of three contenders to win at a track he had never seen before Friday.
And all when it appeared as though nerves were beginning to take hold. The Spaniard had a massive spill at Lukey Heights on Friday morning, a prang that appeared to spook him.
And he admitted to feeling the nerves on his way to qualifying seventh. But he put the preevent advice of Marc Marquez, when the pair met by chance in a local restaurant, to good use on Sunday. “I asked him why he was so nervous in Thailand,” said Marquez. “He’s fast – he just needs to follow his instincts.”
The weekend capped a campaign in which he’s shown
brilliant consistency (finishing no lower than eighth, with just two DNFs, neither of his doing) as well as an ability to stretch the tight Moto3 field in a way that is reminiscent of Jorge Lorenzo. Guevara’s times in the races he’s won make for impressive reading. He was under the race record by 12s when he scored a lights-to-flag victory at the Sachsenring, while at Aragon he was 24s quicker than the race time from the previous year.
Through the year, his team have marvelled at his ability to be fast, no matter what changes they’ve made to setup. At times though, they’ve noted how he has been unaware of setup adjustments beneath him, something that shows his technical feedback still needs some work. Evidence of this came at Motegi, when he won on a chassis that was bent from a massive warm-up spill.
“The chassis was really bent,” said team boss Gino Borsoi. “But when your mind is strong, you can do anything. This should show all other riders that when the bike isn’t 100% you can still an amazing race.”
Stepping up to Aspar’s Moto2 team next season, his future teammate Jake Dixon added: “He’s had an incredible season, winning in his second year. He has so much potential.”
‘He’s fast but needs to follow his instincts’