Dalla Porta: Moto3™’s unluckiest man?

He’s been 0.188 behind the winner in his three second-place finishes of 2019, plus his bike broke down whilst leading the Catalan GP

Leopard Racing’s Lorenzo Dalla Porta is somehow still waiting for his first victory of the Moto3™ season. The gritty lightweight class rider currently sits 23 points behind Sterilgarda Max Racing Team’s Aron Canet in the world title chase, but despite being second after seven rounds, he hasn’t had the best of luck.

The Italian has so far in 2019 finished second to Honda Team Asia’s Kaito Toba in Qatar, after missing out by 0.053 on the last lap at the opening round. Then, in Le Mans, he finished second to Petronas Sprinta Racing’s John McPhee in France by just 0.106, again losing out on the last lap.

At his home round in Mugello, he ended up second for a third time, on this occasion missing out by the smallest margin yet, just 0.029 of a second, after VNE Snipers’ Tony Arbolino drafted past him on the final lap. To rub salt into his wounds, at the Catalan GP, the 21-year-old was forced to retire after his Honda Moto3™ machine undercame some technical problems whilst he was leading.

“We had a technical problem in the electrics,” said Dalla Porta, whilst speaking exclusively to motogp.com during a visit to our Barcelona offices. “I’m not sure what exactly the issue was but it stopped the power. There was nothing I could do, I just had to go back to the box.” 

However, despite the misfortune he’s had so far in his Moto3™ title bid, the plucky Italian is confident of standing on the top step of the podium next weekend at the Dutch TT: “I like Assen, I think we can do a good job there because we have a very, very good bike. At every circuit we have more or less the same setup and this is so important, I think. I will do the same as the other races and try ride alone to get a rhythm. In the race, I will try my best.”

Ever since taking his debut Moto3™ win in San Marino last year, Dalla Porta has had six second place finishes, five of which have been within less than two tenths of the winner. So, can he finally convert his red-hot pace into a second career win at the Motul TT Assen?

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