Kelso denied maiden Moto3 win in final corner dust up

Rueda capitalises on Munoz dive-bomb for victory in France as Kelso takes back to back podiums

At a tricky Bugatti Circuit that began with lingering damp patches delivered Moto3 drama, fierce battles, and a stunning ride by Australia’s Joel Kelso. Though the race was declared dry, lap times remained nearly three seconds off the full-dry pace early on, evidence of just how precarious the conditions were for the lightweight class.

Pole-sitter rookie Quillas initially got the holeshot, but Kelso wasted no time, using a clean run through the first complex to seize the lead before the Dunlop chicane. From there, the Australian began to dictate the pace. Quillas, however, quickly faded down the order, struggling with confidence and losing positions to the likes of Piqueras, Munoz, and fellow rookie Pini.

Lap by lap, Kelso maintained a slender advantage, though the drying track made tire management and line choices crucial. Piqueras showed strong early pace with the fastest lap on Lap 3, attempting to close down Kelso. By Lap 4, Munoz had joined the lead fight in third, with Rueda climbing into fifth after a move at Turn 13.

By Lap 6, tension rose as Kelso ran wide into the chicane but held onto the lead. Piqueras, balked in the aftermath, dropped back to fifth, allowing Pini to slot into second. However, on the next lap, Kelso again went deep into the Dunlop chicane and this time Pini capitalised to take the lead, only for Kelso to strike back into Garage Vert.

With nine laps remaining, Kelso delivered his fastest lap of the race, clearly shifting to another gear. Behind him, Rueda surged into second through the flowing Turns 11 and 12, an ominous sign for the leader. A lap later, Munoz responded by breaking the race lap record as he attacked Rueda again—an intense duel forming that would shape the closing laps.

Disaster struck Piqueras on Lap 10, as a highside out of Turn 10 ended his challenge and highlighted the still-treacherous conditions off the racing line. Meanwhile, Kelso continued to ride with a combination of aggression and control, resisting consistent pressure from the chasers while creating brief breathing space each time his rivals fought each other for position.

Pini’s hopes came undone on Lap 14 with a lowside crash at Turn 8, a cruel twist after running in podium contention. Kelso, unfazed, continued to nail the chicane at Turn 2 with surgical precision, preventing Munoz from attacking.

The drama peaked in the final two laps. Rueda and Munoz swapped positions multiple times through the technical sections, allowing Kelso a crucial advantage coming onto the straight on the final lap. But the gap would evaporate as Munoz clawed his way back up to the leader, setting up a fierce final-corner showdown.

In a frantic final turn, Munoz aggressively dived up the inside of Kelso, only to carry them both wide and off track, gifting Rueda a clean path to victory. Though Munoz crossed the line second, stewards penalised him one position for irresponsible riding. Kelso was visibly furious, though the pair still shook hands on the cool down lap.

Despite the controversial finish, it was a superb display by Kelso, who came within a corner of becoming the first Australian winner in Moto3 since Jack Miller 11 years ago. Ultimately, it was title leader Rueda who prevailed, extending his championship advantage with a perfectly timed and patient ride. Kelso is now just 10 points from second in the title standings thanks to Piqueras’ fall, and has announced himself as a regular Moto3 frontrunner and potential title challenger with that extremely strong ride, leading from start to finish until the final corner.

Le Mans Moto3 race

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