David Munoz takes the win in tricky conditions, as the championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda extends his lead at the top of the standings.

Antoni Jose Rueda was on pole for the Moto3 Japanese Grand Prix, joining Jose on the front row of the grid was Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Valentin Perrone and Joel Kelso.

Lights out at the Motegi circuit as Rueda got the holeshot into turn one. The first few corners were tight for the Moto3 riders.

Joel Kelso was running in second place, just in front of David Munoz. Max Quiles made progress in the first lap getting into fifth place.

Kelso made his move to lead the race, Munoz took advantage of the move and went into second place, demoting Rueda to third place. Spots of rain started to fall in parts of the Motegi circuit!

The top 11 riders made a break from the rest of the field with 14 laps to go, from Kelso to Ryusei Yamanaka.

Quiles made a late move to take the lead and made it stick. Championship leader Rueda was getting beat up by his fellow Moto3 riders, the KTM Ajo rider was now in sixth place. Valentin Perrone went on to take a turn leading the race from Quiles. The rain flags were still been shown in various parts of the circuit.

Kelso lost momentum over a few laps and was running in 11th place. Munoz took charge of the race on lap seven, conditions were getting tricky as the lap times were decreasing on every lap. Taiyo Furusato was in second place, Perrone was running in third place.

Furusato crashed out in sector one trying to bridge the gap to Munoz. The Liqui Moly Dynavolt rider now had over a second lead at the front. The weather conditions got better as the sun came out with five laps to go.

With just three laps to go Quiles and Perrone were battling for second place, Rueda was putting the hammer down and chasing a podium finish in fourth place. Munoz had a two second lead at the front of the field.

David Almansa and Britain’s Scott Ogden both crashed out with two laps remaining in the race. Rueda made his move and passed Quiles and Perrone for second place, Quiles put the pressure on but Rueda wasn’t folding!

Munoz crossed the finish line to take the victory, Rueda was second, Quiles took the third placed podium spot, Perrone was fourth with Adria Fernandez finishing in fifth place.

Featured Image: David Munoz Official.