Category: Moto3

Elbows Out: Quiles claims Moto3 Victory by 0.018

Hungary’s return to the MotoGP calendar delivered a last lap thriller, as Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) edged Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) by just 0.018s in an elbows-out sprint to the line at Balaton Park. David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) joined them on the podium, continuing his stunning run of form.

Race Recap
A clean start saw polesitter Quiles get the holeshot ahead of Perrone and Austria winner Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI). The pace was fierce from the start, with Perrone briefly taking the lead on Lap 3 before Quiles struck straight back. The fight allowed the chasing group to close, with Muñoz and Piqueras both challenging for podium spots. Championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) sat in the chase group.

Maximo Quiles competes during Stop 14 of the Moto3 World Championship at the Balaton Park Circuit in Balatonfokajar, Hungary on August 24, 2025. — Gold & Goose / Red Bull Content Pool

While the majority of the race was mild for Moto3 – drama struck on Lap 6 when Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power) crashed, forcing Ryusei Yamanaka (Frinsa – MT Helmets – MSI) and Marcos Uriarte (Levelup – MTA) into the gravel. At mid-distance, Quiles controlled the pace until a mistake on Lap 10 dropped him to fourth, handing Perrone the advantage.

The closing stages saw Perrone, Muñoz, Quiles, and Piqueras locked together, with Rueda bridging across to make it a five-rider group. Guido Pini’s (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) strong ride ended with a crash, while Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) also fell in the chasing pack.

The final lap produced fireworks: Quiles struck at Turn 5 but Perrone countered into the final corner, seemingly stealing victory. However, Quiles dug deep, banging bars after an aggressive move from Perrone – the Argentine pushed on and edged ahead by inches at the line.

Perrone’s runner-up is his best result yet, while Muñoz extended his podium streak to five consecutive races. Piqueras grabbed P4 ahead of Rueda, trimming three points from the title lead.

Alvaro Carpe competes during Stop 14 of the Moto3 World Championship at the Balaton Park Circuit in Balatonfokajar, Hungary on August 24, 2025. — Gold & Goose / Red Bull Content Pool

Pos	Rider	Team	Time/Gap	Points
1	Maximo Quiles (ESP)	CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team	35:31.839	25
2	Valentin Perrone (ARG)	Red Bull KTM Tech3	+0.018	20
3	David Muñoz (ESP)	LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP	+0.858	16
4	Angel Piqueras (ESP)	FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI	+0.952	13
5	Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP)	Red Bull KTM Ajo	+1.362	11
6	Adrian Fernandez (ESP)	Leopard Racing	+6.159	10
7	David Almansa (ESP)	Leopard Racing	+9.546	9
8	Joel Kelso (AUS)	LEVELUP-MTA	+10.025	8
9	Alvaro Carpe (ESP)	Red Bull KTM Ajo	+11.696	7
10	Jacob Roulstone (AUS)	Red Bull KTM Tech3	+20.109	6
11	Dennis Foggia (ITA)	CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team	+24.862	5
12	Nicola Carraro (ITA)	Rivacold Snipers Team	+26.871	4
13	Casey O’Gorman (IRL)	SIC58 Squadra Corse	+32.279	3
14	Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN)	FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI	+36.636	2
15	Marcos Uriarte (ESP)	LEVELUP-MTA	+37.394	1
16	Ruche Moodley (RSA)	DENSSI Racing – BOE	+40.701
17	Stefano Nepa (ITA)	SIC58 Squadra Corse	+41.674
18	Noah Dettwiler (SUI)	CIP Green Power	+44.069
19	Riccardo Rossi (ITA)	Rivacold Snipers Team	+45.803
20	Arbi Aditama (IDN)	Honda Team Asia	+53.120
21	Leonardo Abruzzo (ITA)	GRYD – Mlav Racing	+60.634
NC	Scott Ogden (GBR)	CIP Green Power	Crash (Lap 6)	–
NC	Taiyo Furusato (JPN)	Honda Team Asia	Crash (Lap 16)	–
NC	Guido Pini (ITA)	LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP	Crash (Lap 14)	–
NC	Cormac Buchanan (NZL)	DENSSI Racing – BOE	Crash (Lap 12)	–
NC	Eddie O’Shea (GBR)	GRYD – Mlav Racing	Crash (Lap 4)	–

25th August 2025

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.

Photo Credit: Gold & Goose / Red Bull Content Pool

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

Pos	Rider	Team	Time/Gap
1	Angel Piqueras (ESP)	FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI	33:36.516
2	Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN)	FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI	+0.096
3	David Muñoz (ESP)	LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP	+0.171
4	Maximo Quiles (ESP)	CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team	+0.250
5	Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP)	Red Bull KTM Ajo	+0.541
6	Taiyo Furusato (JPN)	Honda Team Asia	+0.625
7	Valentin Perrone (ARG)	Red Bull KTM Tech3	+1.851
8	Adrian Fernandez (ESP)	Leopard Racing	+2.141
9	Guido Pini (ITA)	LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP	+2.194
10	Alvaro Carpe (ESP)	Red Bull KTM Ajo	+4.181
11	Joel Kelso (AUS)	LEVELUP-MTA	+4.204
12	David Almansa (ESP)	Leopard Racing	+4.256
13	Dennis Foggia (ITA)	CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team	+4.691
14	Jacob Roulstone (AUS)	Red Bull KTM Tech3	+5.331
15	Scott Ogden (GBR)	CIP Green Power	+9.374
16	Marcos Uriarte (ESP)	LEVELUP-MTA	+21.633
17	Ruche Moodley (RSA)	DENSSI Racing – BOE	+21.745
18	Casey O’Gorman (IRL)	SIC58 Squadra Corse	+21.874
19	Riccardo Rossi (ITA)	Rivacold Snipers Team	+24.331
20	Nicola Carraro (ITA)	Rivacold Snipers Team	+27.288
21	Eddie O’Shea (GBR)	GRYD – Mlav Racing	+35.518
22	Arbi Aditama (IDN)	Honda Team Asia	+35.571
23	Noah Dettwiler (SUI)	CIP Green Power	+35.642
24	Stefano Nepa (ITA)	SIC58 Squadra Corse	+43.591
NC	Vicente Perez (ESP)	GRYD – Mlav Racing	4 Laps
DNF	Cormac Buchanan (NZL)	DENSSI Racing – BOE	1st Lap

Title Photo Credit: Gold & Goose / Red Bull Content Pool

18th August 2025

Rueda Rules Again as Muñoz Charges from the Back

Championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) made a lightning start from the front row to grab the holeshot into Turn 1, edging out polesitter Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) and fellow front-row starter David Almansa (Leopard Racing). Behind them, David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) launched a stunning start from the very back of the grid, surging into the points by the end of the first lap.

By Lap 3, the Aragon and Germany GP winner was already inside the top ten. Meanwhile, rookie standout Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) had climbed to second, with Dennis Foggia (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) pushing into the podium places, starting a battle between the team mates that would see them trade places frequently.

Rueda began to stretch his lead by mid-race as Quiles, Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI), and Foggia scrapped for second. The infighting allowed Rueda to escape by nearly two seconds. Back-to-back fastest laps from the #99 made clear he was intent on sealing his seventh win of the season.

With five laps to go, focus shifted to the fierce podium battle behind. Quiles, Piqueras, Muñoz, Foggia, Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), and Almansa all jockeyed for position. Muñoz forced his way into third at Turn 6 on the final lap, then dived past Piqueras for second at Turn 10. But a final attack from Quiles into Turn 13 and in the race to the line saw him snatch second at the flag.

Rueda took a dominant win, over 3 seconds clear of the rest of the field, extending his title lead, while Quiles and Muñoz completed the podium – the latter’s incredible last-to-third comeback marking his fourth podium in five races.

Piqueras had to settle for fourth, just ahead of Foggia and Fernandez, who earned his first points since Le Mans. Almansa finished seventh, edging closer to top Honda honours in the standings, while Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) worked his way into eighth.

Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) and early leader Pini rounded out the top ten. Further back, Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) fought up to 11th before a double Long Lap Penalty for causing a collision dropped him out of the points. That promoted Marco Morelli (DENSSI Racing – BOE) to 13th in an impressive debut.

Feature image credit: Pirelli Press Office

🏁 Moto3 Sachsenring GP – Race Results

Pos	Pts	Rider	Nat	Team	Time/Gap
1	25	Jose Antonio Rueda	🇪🇸	Red Bull KTM Ajo	33:40.677
2	20	Maximo Quiles	🇪🇸	CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team	+3.471
3	16	David Muñoz	🇪🇸	LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP	+3.495
4	13	Angel Piqueras	🇪🇸	FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI	+3.559
5	11	Dennis Foggia	🇮🇹	CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team	+3.689
6	10	Adrian Fernandez	🇪🇸	Leopard Racing	+3.867
7	9	David Almansa	🇪🇸	Leopard Racing	+4.420
8	8	Valentin Perrone	🇦🇷	Red Bull KTM Tech3	+5.579
9	7	Ryusei Yamanaka	🇯🇵	FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI	+5.597
10	6	Guido Pini	🇮🇹	LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP	+5.985
11	5	Marcos Uriarte	🇪🇸	LEVELUP-MTA	+6.459
12	4	Alvaro Carpe	🇪🇸	Red Bull KTM Ajo	+10.711
13	3	Marco Morelli	🇦🇷	DENSSI Racing – BOE	+10.779
14	2	Jacob Roulstone	🇦🇺	Red Bull KTM Tech3	+10.817
15	1	Scott Ogden	🇬🇧	CIP Green Power	+10.866
16	—	Taiyo Furusato	🇯🇵	Honda Team Asia	+12.088
17	—	Stefano Nepa	🇮🇹	SIC58 Squadra Corse	+27.274
18	—	Eddie O’Shea	🇬🇧	GRYD – Mlav Racing	+27.275
19	—	Noah Dettwiler	🇨🇭	CIP Green Power	+27.281
20	—	Leonardo Abruzzo	🇮🇹	GRYD – Mlav Racing	+53.032

20th July 2025

Moto3 Mayhem: Rueda Victorious, Perrone Shines

In a race defined by chaos, comebacks and crashing contenders, Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) kept his cool to claim victory at the Dutch Grand Prix. The Championship leader outlasted the madness to finish ahead of David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) and Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Ajo), with the Argentine making history by taking his first Moto3™ podium — and the first for Argentina since Gabriel Rodrigo at Mugello in 2021.

Early drama strikes the grid
It was Rueda’s teammate Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who grabbed the holeshot from pole, while Rueda slotted into second. Behind, trouble brewed immediately as Guido Pini (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) stalled from seventh. He was thankfully avoided but retired from of the race.

Lap 2 brought even more chaos. David Almansa (Leopard Racing) lunged at Rueda at Turn 8 and collided with him, while Carpe, caught in the aftermath, lost momentum and tumbled to 15th. Then, on Lap 4, Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) made contact at the final chicane, both losing ground but continuing.

The race explodes at half distance
Rueda led until Lap 9 before being passed by a charging Maximo Quiles, whose aggression shook up the lead group. Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) and Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) joined the front pack as Rueda briefly slipped to seventh, regrouping just ahead of Perrone.

Lap 15 saw full elbows-out racing. Almansa muscled into the lead but Quiles hit back at Turn 9. A lap later, Carpe’s stunning recovery peaked as he surged to the front after diving past Almansa at Turn 10.

Final laps deliver fireworks
With three laps to go, everything unravelled. Quiles crashed out at Turn 10. Moments later, Perrone barged Almansa wide at Turn 15, sending the Leopard rider back to 13th. As the group fractured, Rueda and Carpe were back in the fight at the perfect moment.

But even more carnage followed — a big crash involving Furusato, Fernandez, and Luca Lunetta (Sic58 Squadra Corse) at the end of Lap 18 brought out the red flag. With results taken back to the last completed lap, Rueda was declared the winner, just ahead of Muñoz and a jubilant Perrone. Injury update: At the time of writing it is understood that Lunetta has multiple leg fractures which he sustained when Fernandez clipped him while on the ground.

The rest of the top ten
Carpe came home fourth after a rollercoaster ride, while Piqueras fought back to fifth from P16 on the grid. Despite being pushed wide late in the race, Almansa recovered to sixth. Scott Ogden secured a season-best seventh place, ahead of Dennis Foggia (CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team), Joel Kelso (LevelUp-MTA), and Marcos Uriarte (LevelUp-MTA), who celebrated a first top ten finish.

🇳🇱 Moto3™ – Dutch GP: Final Classification (Top 15)

TT Circuit Assen | Red flag – results taken at end of Lap 18

Pos	Rider	Team	Time/Gap	Points
1	Jose Antonio Rueda	Red Bull KTM Ajo	32:12.319	25
2	David Muñoz	LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP	+0.144	20
3	Valentin Perrone	Red Bull KTM Tech3	+0.245	16
4	Alvaro Carpe	Red Bull KTM Ajo	+1.087	13
5	Angel Piqueras	FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI	+1.296	11
6	David Almansa	Leopard Racing	+2.083	10
7	Scott Ogden	CIP Green Power	+2.234	9
8	Dennis Foggia	CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team	+5.034	8
9	Joel Kelso	LEVELUP-MTA	+5.755	7
10	Marcos Uriarte	LEVELUP-MTA	+6.318	6
11	Ryusei Yamanaka	FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI	+7.002	5
12	Jacob Roulstone	Red Bull KTM Tech3	+8.555	4
13	Stefano Nepa	SIC58 Squadra Corse	+12.395	3
14	Riccardo Rossi	Rivacold Snipers Team	+12.675	2
15	Maximo Quiles	CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team	+24.394	1

Title photo credit: Pirelli Press office

29th June 2025

Maximo Quiles wins a Mugello classic to claim first Moto3™ victory

Rookie sensation Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team) delivered a final-corner masterclass at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, storming to his first Grand Prix victory in a Moto3™ thriller. The 17-year-old battled from the third row to lead home a rookie 1-2, fending off Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in a drag to the line, while Dennis Foggia (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team) returned to the podium in front of his home crowd for the first time since 2022.

Photo credit: Pirelli Press Office

The early chaos and charge
Polesitter Carpe grabbed the holeshot and kept things tidy early, with front-row starters briefly forming the top three. Behind them, it was action immediately, as Jose Antonio Rueda and Scott Ogden rubbed elbows on Lap 1. On Lap 2, drama struck as Vicente Perez, Riccardo Rossi, and Ruche Moodley all crashed exiting Turn 5. Then on Lap 3, David Almansa was eliminated in contact with Ogden, ending another promising charge early.

While Carpe and Rueda duked it out with Quiles at the front, Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) put on a sensational show, slicing from 20th to P4 by Lap 6 and battling for the podium on home turf. Also on a flyer was Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3), joining the lead group after starting from the back of the grid.

But it wouldn’t last. Lap 7 saw more heartbreak for the home fans as Adrian Fernandez and Luca Lunetta crashed out at Turn 1. A few corners later, the dream run for Pini ended after contact with Joel Kelso sent him down at Turn 12.

Photo credit: Pirelli Press Office

The final lap showdown
The final lap was a Mugello classic. Foggia led into Turn 1, but as the group blasted through Arrabbiata 1 and 2, the top three went full attack mode. Carpe and Foggia swapped positions, allowing Quiles to slide back into P2 by Turn 12. Into Bucine, the last corner, Quiles hit the front—and despite Carpe’s late lunge in the slipstream, the #28 held his nerve to cross the line just ahead.

“That was chaos—but incredible,” said Quiles. “I didn’t expect the win to come this soon, especially here. Mugello is special. I can’t believe it.”

Carpe took his third podium of the year in P2, while Foggia celebrated an emotional return with a home podium in P3.

Title implications
Championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda finished fourth after briefly dropping to 15th mid-race, salvaging valuable points in a wild one. David Muñoz crossed the line fifth, just ahead of Taiyo Furusato, who was shuffled back late in the lap.

Angel Piqueras fought to P7, narrowly ahead of Perrone in P8, with Joel Kelso and Ryusei Yamanaka completing the top ten—just 0.9s from victory. Nicola Carraro was 11th in a photo finish.

Main Photo credit: Pirelli Press Office

23rd June 2025
David Muñoz wins final corner thriller at Aragon
A thrilling last corner overtake reminds us how close the racing is in Moto3™ . David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) finally broke through for his first Grand Prix victory at the GoPro Grand Prix of Aragon, pulling off a perfectly judged final-corner move on rookie star Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Viel Aspar Team) to clinch the win by just 0.050 seconds.

Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completed the podium, continuing his quietly impressive rookie campaign with a strong late-race charge. But it was a race to forget for his teammate and current points leader Jose Antonio Rueda, who had led for much of the contest before a costly last-lap error dropped him to P8 at the flag.

Photo Credit: Rob Gray (Polarity Photo)

Rueda nailed the holeshot and led through the opening sector, while Quiles rocketed through from the second row to slot into second by Turn 3. The duo quickly broke clear with Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and David Almansa (Leopard Racing) giving chase, forming an early lead group. But Moto3™ being what it is, the pack soon swelled again. Unfortunately, the field was down a rider early on as Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) retired with a mechanical issue, and Vicente Perez (LEVELUP-MTA) took out Stefano Nepa (SIC58) at Turn 9.

By Lap 12, the tide began to turn. Lunetta and Muñoz both made aggressive moves on Rueda, shuffling the #99 back to sixth. Almansa capitalized to hit the front with five laps remaining, his weekend pace finally converting into race-leading form. Behind him, Carpe, Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI), Ryusei Yamanaka, and Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) kept the fight for the podium wide open.

Quiles reclaimed the lead with two laps to go, looking composed as the front group of ten barreled toward the finale. Muñoz hit back on the penultimate lap, but it was all to play for. Then came the mistake—Rueda ran deep into Turn 1 on the final lap, undoing all his earlier work and tumbling down the order.

Photo Credit: Gold & Goose / Red Bull Content Pool

Down the long back straight and into the final corner, Quiles held the advantage. But Muñoz, calm and calculating, made a clean, clinical move to dive up the inside. Quiles tried to retaliate with a final drag to the line but fell heartbreakingly short—just 0.050s the margin between victory and a continued wait for that first win.

David Almansa claimed a career-best P4, narrowly missing the podium but showing clear upward momentum. Lunetta and Piqueras followed in fifth and sixth, the latter closing the gap slightly in the Championship standings. Kelso crossed the line in seventh ahead of Rueda, whose P8 result leaves him with a bitter taste after leading so much of the race.

Ryusei Yamanaka and Cormac Buchanan completed the top ten, the New Zealander earning his best-ever result in Moto3™ after an assured ride. Taiyo Furusato, after his best-ever qualifying, just missed the top ten and had to settle for P11.

Photo credit: Gold & Goose / Red Bull Content Pool

Jose Antonio Rueda may have had a rough ride to P8 in Aragon, but his early-season dominance means he still holds a commanding 52-point lead in the Moto3™ World Championship. With 149 points, he remains the clear favourite—but that margin is beginning to look more manageable for the chasing pack.

Angel Piqueras sits second on 97 points. The Spaniard hasn’t had the cleanest run of late, but consistent top-ten finishes and flashes of pace suggest he’s still the most likely challenger. A big result at the next round could really tighten things up.

Just behind, a cluster of riders are separated by less than a race win:

Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) – 86 pts

Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – 85 pts

Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) – 67 pts

Kelso has been in the mix regularly but still seeks a win. Carpe, meanwhile, is quietly having one of the best rookie seasons on the grid, now just 1 point off P3 in the standings. Furusato rounds out the top five and remains a wildcard threat—especially on Sundays.

Feature image credit: Gold & Goose / Red Bull Content Pool
9th June 2025
Rueda storms from the back to win at Silverstone

Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) delivered a masterclass in comeback racing at the Tissot Grand Prix of the United Kingdom, charging from the back of the grid to claim his third consecutive victory — and one of the most impressive of his career. The Spaniard, who had taken pole before being penalized for riding significantly more slowly on the racing line, joined an elite club of riders to win from last, standing alongside the likes of Marc Marquez (Valencia 2012, Moto2™), Brad Binder (Jerez 2016, Moto3™), and David Alonso (Silverstone 2023, Moto3™).

Gold & Goose / Red Bull Content Pool

What followed was a clinical ride through the chaos of a classic Moto3™ lead group. Rueda got a solid launch and was already picking off riders into Turn 1, while teammate Alvaro Carpe grabbed the holeshot. By Lap 3, the #99 was leading the second group, and by Lap 4 he’d bridged the gap and joined the freight train at the front. With five laps to go, Rueda had cracked the top five—and not long after, he was at the head of the pack.

Still, he had to fight for the win. Rookie Maximo Quiles (CFMoto Valresa Aspar Team) impressed when he refused to back down, making it a thrilling final-lap showdown. The two went side-by-side through the final sector, with Quiles slightly wide at the final chicane. Rueda didn’t hesitate—diving up the inside and powering out of the last corner to snatch victory in a photo finish.

“I took making the comeback calmly because I knew the front group wasn’t going to break away, and we also had good pace, so we were able to be patient and attack at the right time” – Jose Antonio Rueda

Quiles, despite losing out by the narrowest of margins, still secured a stunning maiden podium in just his rookie season.

Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) completed the podium in third, bouncing back impressively from a Long Lap penalty for contact with David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) earlier in the race.

Rob Gray (Polarity Photo)

Just off the podium, Alvaro Carpe finished fourth ahead of fellow rookie Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3), with David Almansa (Leopard Racing), Guido Pini (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) fifth and sixth respectfully. Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI), Vicente Perez (LEVELUP-MTA), and Nicola Carraro (Rivacold Snipers Team) rounding out the top ten.

A late incident involving Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) saw Piqueras crash out and Furusato hit with a Long Lap-equivalent 3 second time penalty. That moved home hero Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power) up to P11, followed by Furusato in P12. Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Cormac Buchanan (DENSSI Racing – BOE), and Riccardo Rossi (Rivacold Snipers Team) all picked up points in the race.

Title photo credit: Rob Gray (Polarity Photo)

27th May 2025
Jose Antonio Rueda backflips to French GP glory

Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) channeled his inner Johann Zarco and gave us a backflip backflip in Le Mans after a sensational last-lap victory in the Michelin Grand Prix of France.

The #99 played it smart throughout the race, gradually moving through the lead group to sit third as the final lap began—just in time for chaos to erupt ahead of him.

Photo Credit: Gold & Goose / Red Bull Content Pool

David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Intact GP) launched a bold late attack on race leader Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA), the two colliding and running wide in the final corner complex. Rueda seized the moment, sweeping past both to snatch a dramatic win.

“I saw them go wide and just went for it,” he said. “You never know what can happen on the last lap in Moto3, so I stayed patient and it paid off. Winning at Le Mans like this feels incredible—this one is special.” – Jose Antonio Rueda

Muñoz was later penalized for the incident and dropped to third, promoting Kelso to second. It was a significant result for Rueda in the title fight too, as key championship rival Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) crashed out mid-race.

At lights out, rookie polesitter Max Quiles (CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team) got the best launch, battling Kelso for early supremacy. The Australian eventually took control by the end of the opening lap and set the pace from the front, as the typical Moto3™ slipstream shuffle played out behind.

Photo Credit: Gold & Goose / Red Bull Content Pool

The lead group eventually narrowed to Kelso, Muñoz, rookie Guido Pini (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP), and Rueda after Piqueras’ exit. Pini’s hopes ended in a sudden crash, leaving a three-way fight for the win, with Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in pursuit but just out of reach.

Kelso kept things tidy up front and seemed on course for victory—until Muñoz launched his final-corner lunge. The resulting contact pushed both riders wide, and Rueda needed no second invitation to sweep into the lead and take the flag.

Carpe came home fourth, narrowly missing out on the podium after the late drama, while David Almansa (Leopard Racing) led the second group to round out the top five. He was followed by Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), a fading Quiles, Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse), and Argentine rookie Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3), who secured a strong P10 finish for the French squad.

Just outside the top ten were Dennis Foggia (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) and Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power), with Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Cormac Buchanan (DENSSI Racing – BOE), and Nicola Carraro (Rivacold Snipers Team) all picking up points. Pini remounted to finish 17th, missing out on points but leaving France with plenty of attention after a standout qualifying and race showing.

Feature image photo credit: Gold & Goose / Red Bull Content Pool

12th May 2025
Spanish Delight: Rueda Dominates for Home Victory at Jerez

Winning at Jerez is the dream for every Spanish rider. This year, Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) turned that dream into reality, making the leap from passionate spectator to home hero. Dominating the Moto3™ race from start to finish, Rueda delivered an emotional victory in front of a raucous Andalusian crowd that was no doubt packed with his family, friends, and fans.

Starting from pole, Rueda wasted no time seizing the holeshot, leading the field into Turn 1 with the determination of a rider racing not just for points, but for pride. Early chaos, however, unfolded behind him: at Turn 6 on the opening lap, Ruche Moodley (DENSII Racing – BOE) clashed with David Almansa (Leopard Racing) and David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP), two separate incidents converging into one messy moment. Muñoz, already facing a back-of-the-grid penalty for riding slowly on the racing line during qualifying, remounted and rejoined but was left with a mountain to climb.

Image Credit: PirelliMoto press release

The drama didn’t stop there. Lap 2 saw more casualties as Riccardo Rossi (Rivacold Snipers Team), Vicente Perez (LEVELUP-MTA), and Cormac Buchanan (DENSII Racing – BOE) all crashed out separately — underlining just how dirty the track was offline. Buchanan was able to remount and continue, but the early attrition was already reshaping the race.

Out front, Rueda was untouchable. Setting a relentless pace, he began to edge away from the chasing duo of Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) and Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI), the three riders creating a clear gap back to Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) and Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), who rode lonely races in fourth and fifth.

Just past the halfway mark, Rueda fired in the fastest lap of the race, daring his rivals to keep up. Piqueras responded, launching a move on Kelso into Turn 1 on Lap 13. However, in his haste to close the gap to the leader, the #36 ran wide, handing second place straight back to Kelso and allowing Rueda to extend his lead to over 1.5 seconds.

Image Credit: PirelliMoto Press release

From there, the race was Rueda’s to lose — and he showed no signs of cracking. Calm and composed, he ticked off the final laps and crossed the line to achieve a lifelong dream: a dominant, emotional victory on home soil at Jerez.

The battle for second wasn’t over, though. On the final lap, Piqueras made another attempt, attacking Kelso at Turns 5 and 6. This time he made it stick, securing a Spanish 1-2 and sending the home crowd into celebration. The pair enjoyed a special moment together on their slow-down lap, saluting the fans at Turns 9 and 10.

Kelso claimed third — his second podium of the season — while Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) produced a strong second half of the race to snatch fourth from Yamanaka. Furusato finished a solid sixth, followed by a career-best result for rookie Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) in seventh. Fellow JuniorGP™ graduate Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) finished eighth, while Jacob Roulstone and Valentin Perrone (both Red Bull KTM Tech3) completed the top ten, overcoming Long Lap penalties received for qualifying infractions.

Feature Image Credit: PirelliMoto Press release

27th April 2025
Moto3: Piqueras pinches the win

Angel Piqueras pinched the win across the line in a last lap thriller that sees him clinch the lead of the Moto3 world championship.

Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) takes the lead of the Moto3 Championship after edging out Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) in a nail-biting drag to the line in Doha, winning by just 0.009 seconds. Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) completed the podium from a maiden pole position. Meanwhile, drama struck late for Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who dropped out of the lead battle due to a mechanical issue with only a couple of laps remaining, turning the championship on its head heading to Jerez.

Two penalties were handed out pre race: Alvero Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) had received a double long lap penalty for riding slow online and causing a crash (Scott Ogden, CIP Green Power) during qualifying. Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) was handed a Long Lap penalty for causing a crash in practice.

Image Credit: Gold & Goose / Red Bull Content Pool

Yamanaka grabbed the holeshot and led the early charge as the usual Moto3 freight train formed almost instantly. Then came the first major shake-up — Dennis Foggia (CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team) tangled with David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP), ending Foggia’s day early and knocking Muñoz out of the leading group.

Up front, a leading quartet of Yamanaka, Joel Kelso (LEVELUP – MTA), Rueda, and Piqueras began to break away, with a small gap back to David Almansa (Leopard Racing) in fifth. As the laps wound down, the group bunched up again before Almansa crashed out (later rejoining), and Riccardo Rossi (Rivacold Snipers Team) faded from contention—leaving five riders in the fight.

Image Credit: Pirelli press release

The pivotal moment came just before the final lap when Rueda abruptly sat up, smoke seen coming out of his machine – a mechanical problem ending his podium and victory hopes . That left Piqueras, Furusato, Yamanaka, and Kelso in a last-lap brawl for the win.

In classic Lusail fashion, it came down to the final stages of the race – across the line, as final as you can get. Furusato made his move at Turn 14 and led onto the straight, defending tightly on the inside. But Piqueras timed his run to perfection, using the slipstream to snatch victory by the narrowest of margins—0.009 seconds—denying Furusato a first Grand Prix win. Piqueras’ triumph sees him top Rueda and the lead in the standings.

Yamanaka held off Kelso to secure third, celebrating a strong weekend from pole to podium. Kelso had to settle for fourth, followed by Rossi, and a spirited recovery from Muñoz—who clawed his way back after being forced wide in the early chaos. He edged out SIC58 Squadra Corse teammates Luca Lunetta and Stefano Nepa, while Nicola Carraro (Rivacold Snipers Team) just beat top Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP) to ninth.

14th April 2025