Piqueras Strikes Back with Austria Masterclass

Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) returned to the top step of the podium with a perfectly judged ride at the Red Bull Ring, leading home a 1–2 for his team alongside Ryusei Yamanaka. David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) produced a stunning comeback from 14th on the grid to complete the podium as Moto3 once again delivered a chaotic final lap.

Piqueras wasted no time at the start, snatching the holeshot from polesitter Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) into Turn 1. Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar) soon moved to the front, trading blows with Yamanaka, Piqueras and Perrone in a fast-shifting lead group of four. Behind them, Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) and title leader José Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) tried to bridge the gap. Kiwi Cormac Buchanan (DENSSI Racing – BOE) added another crash to his tally after falling on the first lap.

By mid-race, Quiles and Piqueras were locked in a tense battle, with Perrone and Yamanaka in close pursuit. Perrone climbed into podium contention, leading the race for several laps, hoping to emulate his Assen success and perhaps claim Argentina’s first Moto3 win since 2004.

With six laps remaining, Fernandez cut the gap to under a second, setting up a potential five-rider fight for victory. But mistakes proved costly—Quiles ran wide at Turn 6, and Fernandez slipped back. That opened the door for Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and the charging Muñoz to latch onto the leaders, creating a six-rider showdown in the final laps.

The final tour was pure Moto3 mayhem. Muñoz muscled his way into second, while Quiles and Perrone were forced wide and tumbled down the order. Furusato briefly threatened the podium, but Yamanaka fought back into second place at Turn 9. Piqueras kept his nerve, defending perfectly to take his first victory since Lusail, with Yamanaka and Muñoz completing the rostrum.

Coming out on top of the hard fought battle was Piqueras picking up some very valuable championship points, second place went to Yamanaka and rounding out the podium was Muñoz. Quiles salvaged fourth ahead of Rueda, while Furusato had to settle for sixth. Perrone’s podium hopes faded in the closing corners as he crossed the line seventh. Dennis Foggia (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) did cross the finish line in sixth place but was relegated to 13th as he did not serve his long lap penalty for exceeding track limits. Rounding out the top 10 was Fernandez, Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) and Alvero Carpe

Austrian GP Moto3 – Race Classification

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