Dominant Muñoz Wins in Japan, Rueda Edges Closer to Glory

David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) thrived in the chaos of Motegi, taking a commanding win at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan after mastering tricky conditions that caught many of his rivals out. Behind him, Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) put together a fierce comeback to grab second and keep his championship push firmly alive, while Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) edged out Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) in a last-lap duel to secure his eighth podium of the year.

When the lights went out, Rueda made the start he needed from pole, though Perrone was equally sharp off the line. Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) delighted his home crowd by slotting into third, but the order didn’t last long. Joel Kelso (LEVELUP – MTA) came flying through on Lap 2, barging past Rueda at Turn 5 to seize the lead. Muñoz was quick to follow, while Quiles and Perrone also dispatched the poleman a lap later, pushing Rueda back to fifth. Meanwhile, David Almansa (Leopard Racing), starting from the very back, wasted no time cutting through the pack with fastest laps to join the leaders.

Rain spots soon began to pepper parts of the circuit, injecting another layer of unpredictability into an already frantic contest. Quiles took his first turn at the front on Lap 4, but the lead group was in constant flux. Kelso’s charge faltered on Lap 6 after a brush with Almansa at Turn 10 forced the Australian wide and down the order. By Lap 8, Muñoz had broken clear by a second, leaving Furusato in second with the chasers strung out behind. Rueda and Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI), the top two in the standings, were mired in ninth and tenth, giving the championship leader a golden chance to stretch his advantage.

But the Japanese fans’ hopes were dashed soon after. Furusato, running second, suffered a vicious highside at Turn 2 on Lap 9. Though he remounted, he went down again at Turn 5 in the tunnel section, ending his chances of a dream home podium. Muñoz, now unchallenged at the front, continued to increase his advantage.

As the laps ticked down, the fight shifted to the podium. Perrone and Quiles scrapped hard, while Almansa, Fernandez, Rueda and Yamanaka formed a chasing pack. Piqueras’ race unravelled further with a crash at Turn 10, though he managed to rejoin in 11th. Almansa’s brilliant ride also ended in heartbreak just two laps from home, leaving Rueda to lock horns with Quiles and Perrone for the podium.

With two laps to go, Rueda pounced on Perrone for second at Turn 7 and dug in defensively. Perrone then tried to muscle past Quiles at Turn 13, but the rookie countered perfectly, holding the outside into Turn 14 to snatch back third place.

At the flag, Muñoz crossed the line almost two seconds clear, securing his third victory of the campaign with authority. Rueda’s determined ride to second keeps his title bid firmly on track, while Quiles continued his stellar rookie season with another rostrum finish.

Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) capped off his strong weekend with fifth place, just ahead of home hero Ryusei Yamanaka. Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) overcame a double Long Lap penalty to finish seventh, followed by Kelso in eighth, Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) in ninth, and Dennis Foggia (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) rounding out the top ten.

Despite his crash, Piqueras salvaged 11th to keep his fading championship hopes mathematically alive. Behind him came Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Matteo Bertelle (LEVELUP – MTA) on his return from injury, Carpe and Stefano Nepa (SIC58 Squadra Corse) to complete the points scorers.

Muñoz may have owned the day, but Rueda was the big winner in the title picture. With a 78-point cushion, the #99 now heads to Indonesia with a chance to wrap up the Moto3 crown early.

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