Short Read – Albert Arenas’ 2020 step up

Coming into the Misano doubleheader, Albert Arenas is the clear championship leader in Moto3 for the Aspar Team.

At the end of the 2019 season, Arenas had featured at the front of many Moto3 races, but made a habit of crashing out when the chips were down, causing his title charge to fail before it had really started. Granted, he missed two of the opening three rounds due to a pre-season cycling accident that robbed him of much-needed seat time and fitness, he was always playing catch up due to this. He took 3 podiums and stood on every step with one 1st, one 2nd and one 3rd. Each were late in the season, with the win coming in Thailand, and was followed up by 2nd in Japan and 3rd in Australia.

2020 so far has been a different story. He leads the championship after 7 rounds and is brimming with confidence so far, even after a horror crash at the second of the Jerez rounds, of which the effects are still noticeable. He has taken 3 wins and a 2nd so far and looks to have made a real step mentally, being unflappable even when in the pack to methodically pick his way to the front in most races. There seems to be a real grit about him this year on top form, looking like he could potentially have the tools to take the title all the way, a Moto2 seat with the Aspar Team must surely be the goal. He did blot his copybook at the first of two consecutive Misano races, crashing out after contact with another rider.

At 23, Arenas is one of the elder statesmen of the Moto3 class, but the flip side is the experience of many years in the class. The long game has started to pay off for the man from Girona, and he would be a worthy World Champion if he can maintain this form.

Featured image – www.motogp.com