Moto3 Sunday Misano Round 13

Double Long Lap to debut win: Piqueras claims phenomenal victory in Misano

Angel Piqueras Overcomes Double Long Lap Penalties to Win San Marino GP in Thrilling Finish

Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) defied the odds at the San Marino GP, overcoming double Long Lap penalties to secure his first Grand Prix victory by just 0.035 seconds. The Leopard Racing rookie produced a stunning comeback to beat Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) in a nail-biting finish, while Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) clinched the final podium spot after a last-lap overtake on David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team).

The race was packed with drama from the start, with a crash at Turn 2 involving Aragon winner Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo), David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports), and Riccardo Rossi (CIP Green Power). Piqueras seized an early lead, followed closely by Ortola and Holgado, while polesitter Alonso dropped to P4.

Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse), who had achieved a career-best grid position, and Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) were both handed double Long Lap penalties for jumping the start. Piqueras, facing the same penalty, served his first on Lap 3, dropping from the top three to P12, and after completing the second lap later, he found himself in P17.

Meanwhile, Ortola and Holgado were pulling away at the front, building a 1.5-second lead over Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) by Lap 5. Furusato, along with Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) and Alonso, quickly bridged the gap, setting the stage for a fierce battle among the top five.

With six laps remaining, Furusato briefly took the lead, only to be overtaken by Ortola and Holgado, who relegated the Japanese rider to P3. Alonso soon joined the fray, taking the lead at Tramonto with four laps to go. As the race entered its final stages, Holgado reclaimed P1, with Alonso, Furusato, and Ortola close behind, while Piqueras, in a remarkable recovery, moved up to P3.

The final lap was a spectacle, with Holgado leading into Turn 1 before Piqueras aggressively moved past Alonso into P2 and then took the lead at Turn 8. Ortola’s daring move at Turn 10 saw him snatch P3 from Alonso, who lost crucial ground after contact. Despite Holgado’s relentless pursuit, Piqueras held his nerve to clinch victory by the narrowest of margins.

Holgado secured his second podium in three races, finishing just 0.035 seconds behind Piqueras, while Ortola completed the podium, only 0.2 seconds off the win. Furusato had to settle for P4 after a strong performance, with Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) grabbing P5 on the final lap. Alonso, who exceeded track limits on the last lap, was demoted to P7, handing P6 to Kelso.

Alonso’s seventh-place finish slightly reduced his Championship lead to 70 points ahead of Round 14, with Holgado moving up to P2. Tatsuki Suzuki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), Lunetta, and Filippo Farioli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) rounded out the top 10, giving SIC58 a double top 10 finish on home soil.

Now, it’s time to reset and prepare for the Emilia-Romagna GP, where another 25 points will be up for grabs at Misano.

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