Image: Russell Colvin.

Gaviota GasGas Aspar rider Izan Guevara claimed the 2022 Moto3 World Championship in the most convincing fashion, taking victory in a thrilling Phillip Island lightweight class encounter.

An eight-rider battle broke away at the front of the race in the early stages, including home hero Joel Kelso (CIP Green Power) who charged forwards from the fifth row.

With 15 laps to go Guevara and teammate Sergio Garcia began to stretch away, but Deniz Oncu (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and pole-setter Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) were able to claw them back in, making it a four-rider battle for the lead.

The leading quartet swapped places multiple times in the remaining laps, but Guevara returned to the front early in the final lap and maintained to take the chequered flag ahead of Oncu, and Garcia, with Sasaki in P4.

Coming out best in the second group was Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team) ahead of John McPhee (Sterilgarda Husqvarna), Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) and Kelso in a career-best P8, as Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) and Riccardo Rossi completed the top 10.

Detailed results