Moto3 Sunday Race Malaysia

Alonso continues record-breaking run with 13th win 

David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) delivered a historic performance at the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia, notching an astonishing 13th victory this season and his sixth win in a row. However, Alonso had to earn every bit of his triumph, with Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) coming in just 0.088 seconds behind him in a thrilling finish. Known for his impressive comebacks, Furusato made a strong push, ultimately taking second place after a hard-fought battle. Meanwhile, Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) claimed third, marking his first podium since the Aragon round.

The race started with Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) seizing the holeshot at Turn 1 after a lightning-fast launch, quickly positioning himself in P1. Following close behind was David Almansa (Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team), who surged from ninth to second, setting up an early contest for the lead.

Drama struck early for Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), whose crash not only ended his podium pursuit but also dropped Alonso outside the top 10. Leopard Racing’s Adrian Fernandez and Angel Piqueras also faced heartbreak as mechanical issues forced them to retire.

As the race unfolded, Furusato briefly took the lead, but Alonso and Ortola quickly capitalized on an opening at Turn 14, reclaiming the top positions. Furusato didn’t back down, though, slipping past Ortola to regain P2.

The battle for the podium intensified, with Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) charging to contend for third, but he faced fierce competition from Rueda. The Spaniard’s strong late-race pace allowed him to edge out Veijer, keeping his podium hopes alive.

On the final lap, Furusato pressed hard, seeking to make his own mark at Sepang, but Alonso held steady to secure an impressive 13th victory. Alonso crossed the line ahead of Furusato, while Rueda managed to widen his lead over Ortola to finish nearly a second ahead. Ortola wrapped up the race in fourth, missing the win by less than a second but finishing ahead of Veijer, who rounded out the top five. The Dutchman’s fifth-place finish leaves him tied with Holgado for P3 in the Championship.

Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) claimed sixth place, followed closely by Ryusei Yamanaka, capping off a strong day for MT Helmets – MSI. Stefano Nepa took eighth, with Matteo Bertelle (Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team) and Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) rounding out the top 10. Almansa finished 11th, trailing the leader by 10 seconds, while Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), Filippo Farioli (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Xabi Zurutuza (Red Bull KTM Ajo), and Tatchakorn Buasri (Honda Team Asia) took the remaining points.

With just one race left, Alonso has solidified his status as the 2024 World Champion. Stay tuned for all the action and final updates as the season comes to a close, and as we send support to the racing community in Valencia.

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