The curtain has lifted on the Aragon Grand Prix weekend, and right from the first turn of the wheel in Free Practice 1, José Antonio Rueda reaffirmed why he’s the man to beat in the 2025 Moto3 season. With five wins in seven rounds and riding high on three consecutive victories, the KTM Ajo phenom is carving his name into the championship narrative with surgical precision.
His fiercest rival, Angel Piqueras—the only rider to have halted Rueda’s dominance this season, and twice at that—enters this weekend trailing by 54 points. Close on their heels is Joel Kelso, already a three-time podium finisher this year, narrowly missing a win at Le Mans. All eyes were locked on the trio as FP1 began under clear Aragon skies.
Early Momentum and Changing Order
Joel Kelso wasted no time, laying down an early marker of 2:00.500, establishing a rhythm on a track far more forgiving than the slick surfaces of Le Mans and Silverstone in recent weeks. But it wasn’t long before the pace began to escalate.
David Muñoz, ever the dark horse, lit up the timesheets by becoming the first rider to breach the 2-minute barrier with a 1:59.943. That lap echoed the level set by David Alonso in last year’s Friday session, who had managed a 1:59.683. Muñoz wasn’t done, trimming his time further and keeping the session tense.
With 15 minutes left, the top five—featuring Alvaro Carpe, Valentin Perrone, and Luca Lunetta—were covered by just three tenths. A tightly packed peloton, pushing every apex to its limit.
Also Read: MotoGP Aragon 2025 Odds and Top Contenders
Late-Session Fireworks
As the clock dipped under the 10-minute mark, Guido Pini brought new energy into the garage with a swift 1:59.497. Yet his stint at the top was short-lived, as Maximo Quiles, the sharp-edged talent from Team Aspar, uncorked a stunning 1:59.242 to snatch control.
The pace intensified with the whole field hunting lap-time gold. Rueda, biding his time, launched his final assault with precision. His machine screamed across the line at 1:58.014—a lap that not only redefined the session but left his closest competitor, Pini, trailing by more than nine tenths.
Though the all-time record of 1:57.052 by David Alonso still stands, Rueda’s blistering lap sends a clear message: he’s here to rewrite records, not just win races.
Moto3 Aragon Grand Prix FP2025 Results
Final Standings and What’s Next
Final Standings and What’s Next
FP1 wrapped with Guido Pini and David Almansa rounding out the top three, but both over a second adrift of the leader. Maximo Quiles and Adrian Fernandez also ended among the top contenders, sharpening the drama for what’s to come.
The Moto3 grid returns to the track at 13:15 local time for the pivotal Practice session, where only the 14 fastest riders will punch their ticket directly to Q2. With the bar already raised sky-high, expect fireworks as the field pushes for perfection.