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Tag: Angel Piqueras

  • Barcelona brilliance: Piqueras wins the battle, Rueda saves the day

    Barcelona brilliance: Piqueras wins the battle, Rueda saves the day

    Ángel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) produced a brilliant ride at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to take his fourth win of the season, beating José Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in a nail-biting finish. The victory trims the Spaniard’s title deficit by five points, (-64 points now) while Rueda recovered from an early Long Lap penalty (collected for riding slow on line in practice – 2nd offence) to snatch P2 in the final corner. Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) completed the podium after another classy ride, marking his second rostrum of 2025.

    Photo Credit: Pirelli Press Office

    Starting from his maiden pole, David Almansa (Le0pard Racing) made the holeshot stick, but the action exploded behind him. Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar) rocketed through from ninth to P4 on the opening lap, while Piqueras slipped down the order to P6. Title leader Rueda immediately served his Long Lap penalty on Lap 3, tumbling from fifth to 15th – but the #99 was far from done.

    By Lap 4, Piqueras had bulldozed his way up to third, with Rueda already slicing back into the top 10. The lead group was a freight train, Almansa still heading the charge with Quiles, Muñoz, and Piqueras all in close quarters. On Lap 9, Hungarian GP winner Quiles surged into P1, only to be quickly countered by Almansa and Piqueras. Disaster struck for Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) who suffered yet another technical issue forcing him out of the race. Kiwi Cormac Buchanan (Denssi Racing – BOE) also crashed out on lap 9.

    The relentless shuffle continued until Lap 11, when Rueda finally hit the front for the first time. He tried to break clear with four laps to go, opening half a second over the pack, but the chasers refused to let him escape. Almansa, Piqueras, and Furusato dragged him back into range.

    Photo Credit: Pirelli Press Office

    The final lap was pure chaos. Piqueras made a bold lunge at Turn 1 to seize the lead. Rueda slipped back to fourth behind Furusato and Almansa, but the championship leader wasn’t finished – throwing his KTM up the inside at the last corner to snatch second. Piqueras, however, held firm for a crucial victory that could shape the title battle.

    Behind them, Furusato sealed a deserved podium in third, while Almansa and teammate Adrián Fernández (Le0pard Racing) rounded out the top five, a good result for the pair of Hondas however Furusato in P3 wasn’t enough to keep Honda in the constructors fight with KTM taking home the constructors championship this weekend. Guido Pini claimed sixth, ahead of Joel Kelso (Levelup MTA) who was beaten up in the early laps and unable to recover, David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) and Ryusei Yamanaka (Frinsa – MT Helmets – MSI) who had an impressive charge through the field after a back of the grid (collected for for slow riding in qualifying – 2nd offence) picked up nineth place and Valentín Perrone brought it home in tenth place.

    Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) lead the next group of riders across the line in eleventh place, despite the impressive start Quiles crossed the line in twelfth place ahead of fellow rookie Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power) and Marcos Uriarte rounded out the point scoring places with 14th and 15th respectfully.

    🏁 Moto3 Barcelona GP – Race Results

    Pos Rider Team Time/Gap
    1 Ángel Piqueras 🇪🇸 FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI 32:40.243
    2 José Antonio Rueda 🇪🇸 Red Bull KTM Ajo +0.081
    3 Taiyo Furusato 🇯🇵 Honda Team Asia +0.156
    4 David Almansa 🇪🇸 Leopard Racing +0.229
    5 Adrián Fernández 🇪🇸 Leopard Racing +0.542
    6 Guido Pini 🇮🇹 LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP +0.587
    7 Joel Kelso 🇦🇺 LEVELUP-MTA +0.773
    8 David Muñoz 🇪🇸 LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP +1.216
    9 Ryusei Yamanaka 🇯🇵 FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI +1.240
    10 Valentín Perrone 🇦🇷 Red Bull KTM Tech3 +1.289
    11 Luca Lunetta 🇮🇹 SIC58 Squadra Corse +4.973
    12 Maximo Quiles 🇪🇸 CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team +5.005
    13 Álvaro Carpe 🇪🇸 Red Bull KTM Ajo +5.067
    14 Scott Ogden 🇬🇧 CIP Green Power +8.197
    15 Marcos Uriarte 🇪🇸 LEVELUP-MTA +17.124
    16 Riccardo Rossi 🇮🇹 Rivacold Snipers Team +18.135
    17 Marco Morelli 🇦🇷 GRYD – Mlav Racing +18.167
    18 Ruche Moodley 🇿🇦 DENSSI Racing – BOE +19.079
    19 Dennis Foggia 🇮🇹 CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team +19.505
    20 Nicola Carraro 🇮🇹 Rivacold Snipers Team +20.330
    21 Noah Dettwiler 🇨🇭 CIP Green Power +24.386
    22 Eddie O’Shea 🇬🇧 GRYD – Mlav Racing +27.245
    23 Stefano Nepa 🇮🇹 SIC58 Squadra Corse +31.955
    24 Arbi Aditama 🇮🇩 Honda Team Asia +58.381
    NC Cormac Buchanan 🇳🇿 DENSSI Racing – BOE 9 Laps
    NC Jacob Roulstone 🇦🇺 Red Bull KTM Tech3 9 Laps
  • Moto3: Alonso Annihilation In Austin!

    Moto3: Alonso Annihilation In Austin!

    Total dominance from the Colombian teenage sensation David Alonso (CFMOTO Aspar Team) this weekend in Austin, Texas. Quickest in practice, pole position and an easy race with Alonso leading every lap of it.

    Alonso would have been unaware of the chaos and drama behind him, especially the terrific fight for the remaining podium places. Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) and Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) finished the Grand Prix with a photo finish. Holgado finished 2nd and Piqueras just a bike wheel behind in 3rd. 

    Holgado continued his great run of form and hasn’t finished outside of the top 3 so far this season. The championship lead cut down to just 2 points to Alonso as we head to Jerez in two week’s time.

    Image Credit: @AsparTeam on X
    Image Credit: @AsparTeam on X

    AS IT HAPPENED

    Unfortunately due to illness, Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was unable to compete in today’s race despite the excellent qualifying session yesterday. This promoted everyone up the grid one slot and Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) up onto the front row.

    After the antics in yesterday’s sessions, most of the field had a long lap penalty and some a triple long lap penalty to take during the Grand Prix.

    A great start from pole position from Alonso and Filippo Farioli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) went down on the first corner with several riders taking evasive action to avoid any collision. Farioli far too late on the brakes went into the back of Veijer and Veijer lucky to stay on the bike past turn 1.

    Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) collided with Holgado into turn 8, luckily both riders stayed on their bikes. Alonso with the chaos behind him gained a half a second lead at the front on the opening lap.

    Holgado into turn 12 went up the inside of Veijer and back up into 3rd. Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) and Stefano Nepa ( LEVELUP – MTA) crashed out with Ortola too keen to get by. Ortola confused in the melee almost re-joined the race on the wrong bike. Holgado after the incident with Kelso got by Matteo Bertelle (Rivacold Snipers Team) and back up to 2nd place as we headed into lap 2.

     

    Into lap 2 and Alonso pulled away at the front with Piqueras, Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and Veijer all getting by and swapping places with Holgado.

    With all of the field fighting behind, Alonso started lap 3 over 2 seconds clear at the front. Piqueras lead the chasing pack with Holgado 3rd and Furusato in 4th.

    Yellow flags waved in sector 1 as Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) crashed out with 11 laps to go. Lunetta able to re-join but would end up finishing in last place. Alonso now had a 3.5 seconds lead at the front. The chasing pack of 6 riders lead by Holgado but Holgado was unable to break away from Piqueras and co. behind.

    Holgado, Piqueras, Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) and Veijer all in a fantastic fight for the 2nd and 3rd podium places here in Austin. At the half way point of the race, it was Alonso’s to lose with a huge advantage of 4 seconds at the front. Kelso caught up to the chasing pack and now a group of 5 emerged to fight it out for the podium places.

    5 laps to go and Holgado set the fastest lap of the race, reducing the gap to 3 seconds to Alonso ahead in the lead. Kelso crashed out at turn 1 to remount and was still in the top 10 as Kelso re-joined in 8th place.

    Alonso’s gap shrunk by over a couple of seconds as Veijer went down in sector 1 through the fast twisty section with Yamanaka and Holgado narrowly missing Veijer and his bike. The crash handed breathing room for Piqueras and was on target for his first ever podium for Leopard Racing.

    3 laps to go, Alonso lead with Piqueras 2nd and Yamanaka in 3rd. Holgado and  Yamanaka fought it out through the twisty section for 3rd place. Veijer retired on lap 12 after a more than eventful Grand Prix for the young dutchman. Hit multiple times from other rider’s before a high speed crash himself. Through turn 12 and up the inside of Yamanaka, Holgado moved back up into 3rd place.

    2 laps to go and Holgado moved ahead of Piqueras into 2nd place late on the brakes up the hill into turn 1. Yamanaka and Piqueras both fighting for their first ever podiums in Moto3. Piqueras up the inside of Yamanaka and started the last lap of the race in 3rd place hunting down Holgado.

    Onto the last lap and Piqueras was on the back wheel of Holgado and looked to take 2nd place away from the Red Bull GasGas rider. Down the long straight, Piqueras went up the inside of Holgado into 2nd. Holgado though patiently waited to attack and into turn 19 Holgado made his move. Up the inside of Piqueras and we had a photo finish on the line between the pair of them.  Holgado took 2nd place by just a bike wheel ahead of Piqueras who finished in 3rd.

    Image Credit: MotoGP
    Image Credit: MotoGP

    With all of the carnage behind him, David Alonso kept his cool and cruised to victory in Austin. Alonso capped off a fantastic weekend today and was dominant in every session.

    Race Classification 

    Image Credit: MotoGP
    Image Credit: MotoGP

    Championship Standings

    Image Credit: MotoGP
    Image Credit: MotoGP