Rueda Back on Top After Assen Moto3 Mayhem

Argentine Valentin Perrone makes historic podium as drama unfolds in the Netherlands

Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) returned to the top step of the podium with a masterful victory in an action-packed Moto3 race at Assen, navigating chaos, collisions, and a late red flag to take a well-earned win. The Spaniard’s performance not only marked his comeback to winning form but also extended his lead in the championship standings. Right behind him, David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) snatched second place, while third went to a delighted Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Ajo), giving Argentina its first Moto3 podium since 2021.

The race was a classic Dutch thriller — unpredictable, intense, and decided in the closing moments.

Carpe Claims Early Lead Amid Grid Drama

The lights went out on a packed grid, and it was Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) who launched best, claiming the holeshot into Turn 1. He led teammate and championship leader Rueda into the early corners. However, drama unfolded almost immediately behind them when Guido Pini (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP), starting from seventh, stalled on the grid. Thankfully, the rest of the field avoided him, but Pini’s Dutch GP ended before it truly began.

Up front, Rueda quickly made his move, overtaking Carpe and settling into the race lead. But it wasn’t long before chaos reigned. On Lap 2, David Almansa (Leopard Racing) made an aggressive move at Turn 8 in an attempt to pass Rueda, but collided with the #99. The contact disrupted Rueda’s momentum and forced Carpe off his line — dropping the early leader back to 15th as a result.

Lap 4 brought more carnage, this time at the final chicane. Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) tangled in tight quarters, both losing positions though staying upright and still within striking range of the leaders.

Lead Swaps and Rising Tension Through the Pack

Rueda controlled the pace until Lap 9, when Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) surged past him at Turn 12, taking the lead with a bold move that momentarily disrupted Rueda’s flow. Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) and Almansa capitalized on the shuffle, briefly pushing Rueda down to fourth.

With momentum building, Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) also pounced — leapfrogging his teammate and Rueda to enter the podium fight. The Spaniard’s challenge forced Rueda even further back, and by the end of Lap 11, the #99 had slipped to seventh, with Perrone now just behind and quietly moving up the order.

High Stakes and Heavy Contact in the Final Laps

As the laps ticked down, the race became a true free-for-all. On Lap 15, Almansa muscled his way into the lead for a moment before Quiles retaliated at Turn 9. Just one lap later, Carpe — who had clawed his way back from 15th — completed a stunning recovery by jumping from third to first in a matter of corners. A gritty duel with Almansa at Turn 10 saw the pair rub fairings, but Carpe held firm and claimed the lead.

Meanwhile, Rueda was back in the mix, rejoining the top three as the front group reshuffled almost by the corner. Furusato, too, was climbing again, running in eighth and threatening to make a late charge.

With three laps to go, the race reached a boiling point. Quiles, having pushed back to the front group, crashed out at Turn 10 while Almansa was forced wide by a firm move from Perrone at Turn 15 — dropping him from podium contention to 13th in the blink of an eye.

Suddenly, Rueda and Carpe were back at the sharp end, with Muñoz stalking silently just behind. The stage was set for a thrilling final lap.

Red Flag Ends Race Early — Rueda Declared Winner

But the final act never truly played out. Just as the leaders began the last lap, disaster struck behind. A multi-rider crash involving Furusato, Adrian Fernandez, and Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) forced race officials to throw the red flag before the pack reached the affected section again.

Due to the timing of the incident, the results were rolled back to the standings at the beginning of Lap 19 — effectively freezing the race order as it had stood just before the final shuffle.

That timing worked in Rueda’s favor. He was declared the winner, having timed his return to the front with perfect precision. Muñoz took second place — a valuable result in the title hunt — while Perrone held on for third, earning his first career Moto3 podium and Argentina’s first top-three finish since Gabriel Rodrigo’s Mugello podium in 2021.

Recovery Rides and Career Highs in the Midfield

Despite narrowly missing the podium, Carpe’s comeback from deep in the field to fourth was one of the day’s standout performances. Piqueras crossed the line fifth after climbing from 16th on the grid, showing impressive racecraft under pressure.

Almansa, despite being shuffled down in the closing stages, recovered for sixth, just ahead of Scott Ogden, who achieved his best result of the season with a hard-fought seventh.

Dennis Foggia (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) and Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) followed in eighth and ninth, while Marcos Uriarte rounded out the top ten — a personal milestone for the Spaniard as he claimed his first-ever top ten finish in the class.

Rueda Strengthens Title Grip as Chaos Defines Dutch Classic

In a race packed with overtakes, crashes, comebacks, and controversies, it was Rueda who kept his cool and delivered the result that matters most. With his second win of the season, he now holds firm control of the championship standings — but with Muñoz and a growing list of challengers in hot pursuit, the Moto3 title race remains wide open.

The Dutch GP once again proved why Assen is known as “The Cathedral” of motorcycle racing — a place where anything can happen, and often does.

Official MotoGP Press Release