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.

Moto3: Piqueras takes top spot in Argentina

A group of motorcycle riders come towards a corner on a race track

A stunning last lap battle that came down to the last sector saw Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) pick up his first win of the 2025 season. He clinched the top spot in a race that saw many different leaders and some stunning overtakes. Second spot was secured in that same final sector by Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) with last lap leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) taking the final spot on the podium.

Ruedas teammate rookie Alvaro Carpe was the leader at the end of the first lap, however after some fierce battling he crashed out. David Almansa (Leopard Racing) and Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) also had turns leading the race, a lead group of 11 riders saw some fierce battles with Yamanaka coming home in P9 and Almansa in P6.

Polesitter Matteo Bertelle (LEVELUP MTA Team) looked strong throughout the race, leading for part of it but was unable to turn pole into a victory and had to settle for P4 which he clinched after Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) exceeded track limits on the last lap demoting himself from P4 to P5.

Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) came home in P7 after an uneventful race, he came in ahead of Joel Kelso (LEVELUP – MTA Team) in P8 whos performance is impressive when his ride included two trips through the long lap penalty loop after some irresponsible riding.

The top 10 was rounded off with Stefano Nepa (SIC58 Squadra Corse) in what was a cracking weekend of Moto3 action.

Feature Image Credit: Pirelli

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