KTM Ajo’s Jose Antonio Rueda delivered a masterclass performance at the Chang International Circuit, storming to victory in the opening race of the 2025 Moto3 season.
The Spanish rider asserted his dominance, crossing the finish line 7.276 seconds ahead of his teammate Alvaro Carpe, securing a stunning 1-2 finish for KTM Ajo.
Rueda got off to a blistering start, seizing the lead heading into Turn 1. However, polesitter Matteo Bertelle recovered quickly, reclaiming the position at Turn 3—only for Rueda to strike back before the lap ended.
Drama unfolded early as rookie Cormac Buchanan suffered a crash at the final corner, taking down Eddie O’Shea and marking the first major incident of the race. Meanwhile, the front pack quickly swelled to 15 riders, with David Muñoz muscling his way into second place.
As the race progressed, the leading group began to break away, leaving the top six to fight among themselves. Further back, Adrián Fernández and Dennis Foggia, making his return to Moto3, battled fiercely for seventh.
Bertelle briefly reclaimed second, but Rueda’s relentless pace kept him at bay. The intensity of the fight led to a crucial moment when Luca Lunetta made contact with Muñoz. In retaliation, the Spaniard clipped Lunetta, forcing the Italian off track and eliminating him from podium contention.
Shortly after, Ryusei Yamanaka crashed out from third, promoting Fernández into a podium position. Muñoz, despite being under investigation for his clash with Lunetta, continued to push Rueda for the lead.
However, race direction intervened, slapping Muñoz with a long-lap penalty. As he attempted to recover, the IntactGP rider crashed out of second, effectively ending his podium aspirations.
Further chaos ensued as Piqueras misjudged his braking and collided with Joel Kelso, knocking the Australian out of the race. Foggia, forced to take avoiding action, slipped to seventh.
Rueda Unstoppable, KTM Ajo Secures 1-2 Finish
With the competition crumbling behind him, Rueda controlled the remainder of the race, cruising to victory and reaffirming his status as a Moto3 title contender.
The final lap saw an intense battle for the remaining podium spots. Stefano Nepa initially fought for third, but a crucial mistake allowed Fernández and Carpe to slip through.
At the line, Carpe snatched second place, ensuring a KTM Ajo 1-2, while Fernández completed the podium in third. Nepa had to settle for fourth, while Bertelle rounded out the top five.
Returning Moto3 veteran Foggia finished sixth, just ahead of David Almansa, who made contact with Scott Ogden in the final corner—causing the Brit to crash out.
Riccardo Rossi secured eighth, followed by Joel Esteban in ninth, while Lunetta recovered from his earlier clash with Muñoz to claim tenth.
South African rookie Ruche Moodley impressed with an 11th-place finish, finishing ahead of Piqueras (12th), who managed to rejoin after his earlier incident.
Newcomer Marcos Uriarte took 13th on his debut for MLav Racing, while Adrián Cruces, a last-minute replacement rider, finished 14th. Buchanan, despite his early crash, salvaged a point in 15th.
Credit Photo : KTM
