The Moto3™ field faced a day of high drama and emotion at the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia, as Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) claimed his maiden Grand Prix victory in sweltering Sepang conditions — a race that began under difficult circumstances following a serious incident during the sighting lap.
Pre-Race Delay After Sighting Lap Incident
Originally scheduled to start earlier in the afternoon, the Moto3 race was delayed after a frightening collision on the sighting lap involving Noah Dettwiler (CIP Green Power) and José Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo). Both riders went down heavily, prompting immediate red flags and medical intervention.
Due to the severity of the crash, the medical helicopter was required to transport both riders to hospital, forcing officials to postpone the Grand Prix start until the helicopter safely returned to the circuit — a mandatory safety requirement for all MotoGP-class races.
Thankfully, initial reports brought some relief. Rueda was confirmed conscious and responsive, though he suffered multiple contusions and a suspected fracture in his hand. Dettwiler’s team, CIP Green Power, later released a statement describing the Swiss rider’s condition as serious but stable:
“This morning, during the sighting lap at Sepang, our rider Noah Dettwiler was involved in a serious accident. He was taken to hospital in Kuala Lumpur and will need to undergo multiple surgeries. He is in good hands, and we kindly ask everyone to respect his privacy at this time. Noah is a true fighter, and the entire CIP Green Power team stands firmly behind him.”
With the medical team cleared and track conditions stable, the race eventually got underway — shortened to 10 lapsdue to the delay.
Furusato Dominates Early, Almansa and Quiles Give Chase
From lights out, Taiyo Furusato nailed the launch, seizing the holeshot and leading the field through Turn 1. Pole-sitter David Almansa (Leopard Racing) tucked in behind, with a lightning start from Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team) immediately making him a threat for the podium.
By the end of Lap 3, Almansa briefly snatched the lead from Furusato, but the Japanese rider — calm and collected — hit back with precision on Lap 4 to reclaim P1. Behind them, a thrilling midfield brawl unfolded. Guido Pini (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) surged into contention, passing Quiles at Turn 4 before the Spaniard retaliated just five corners later at Turn 9.
Meanwhile, Adrián Fernández (Leopard Racing) was carving his way through the pack from the fourth row. By Lap 5, he was inside the top four, demonstrating the pace that would ultimately carry him to the podium. On Lap 6, Quiles had a heart-stopping front-end slide at Turn 2, miraculously saving it to stay in the race — a moment that had the entire Aspar pit holding its breath.
Honda Lockout and Late Drama
At mid-distance, it was a Honda 1-2-3, with Furusato leading from Fernández and Almansa. The Japanese manufacturer’s dominance was clear, but chaos soon returned. Almansa was shuffled back to fifth after fierce exchanges with Pini and Ángel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI). Piqueras then made a decisive move at Turn 9 to climb into fourth, while Pini briefly elevated himself to second place.
The constant trading of positions among the chasing pack allowed Furusato to stretch his lead to over one second with three laps to go. But just as he seemed unchallenged, attrition hit hard. Almansa had a near crash at the final corner on Lap 8, running wide and dropping to P6, while Pini’s hopes evaporated on Lap 9 after he lost the front at Turn 15 while attempting a pass on Fernández.
Furusato Flies to Victory
Heading into the final lap, Furusato was in a league of his own. The fight for second was fierce between Piqueras and Fernández, but a massive slide for the Leopard rider at Turn 9 settled it — Piqueras slipped through cleanly to secure P2.
Across the line, Taiyo Furusato raised his arms in celebration, crossing nearly two seconds clear to claim his first-ever Moto3™ Grand Prix win and Honda’s first victory of the 2025 season.
Behind him, Piqueras claimed a brilliant second for MT Helmets – MSI, with Fernández rounding out the podium for Leopard Racing. Almansa recovered to fourth, making it three Hondas inside the top four, while Ryusei Yamanaka(FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) completed the top five ahead of Álvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo).
Quiles Crowned Rookie of the Year
Maximo Quiles crossed the line seventh, securing enough points to clinch the 2025 Moto3™ Rookie of the Year title — a fitting reward after a superb debut season. Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power) made a strong comeback from 15th on the grid to ninth, marking his first top ten since Assen.
Behind them, Brian Uriarte (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) took ninth after being forced wide by Quiles on the final lap at Turn 7, while Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) rounded out the top ten.
There was heartbreak for Malaysian wildcard Hakim Danish (AEON CREDIT SIC Racing MSI) — the local favorite lit up the crowd by setting the fastest lap of the race, only for a technical problem to end his run prematurely.
Final Word
In a day marked by tension, resilience, and redemption, Taiyo Furusato’s first win will be remembered not only as a personal triumph but as a morale-lifting moment for Honda. His composure under pressure and near-flawless execution proved decisive in a race that began with heartbreak but ended with celebration.
As the Moto3™ paddock now sends its best wishes to Dettwiler and Rueda for a full recovery, Furusato’s victory stands as the emotional centerpiece of a dramatic weekend in Sepang.
