The 2025 Valencia Moto3 season finale kicked off with a bang on Friday, and one rider dominated the day in a way that left everyone else chasing shadows. David Almansa, fresh off his stellar performance in Portugal, once again proved why he’s a force to be reckoned with. Leading the pack for most of the session, Almansa didn’t just top the charts—he shattered the Valencia track record with a blistering lap time of 1m 37.333s. But here’s where it gets controversial: despite his teammate Adrian Fernandez coming in a close second, the Leopard Racing team finds itself in an unusual position—winless on the eve of the final race of the season. Could this be a sign of shifting dynamics within the team, or just a fluke? Let’s dive in.
Almansa’s performance was nothing short of masterful. Every time a competitor threatened to close the gap, he responded with an even faster lap, leaving them in the dust. Fernandez, just 0.310s behind, showed impressive form, but it wasn’t enough to dethrone his teammate. Rookie Valentin Perrone secured third place for Red Bull KTM Tech 3, chipping away at his time with determination. Another rookie, Guido Pini, claimed fourth, though he struggled to match Almansa’s pace, finishing over half a second behind.
And this is the part most people miss: Taiyo Furusato’s strategic use of slipstreaming to secure fifth place. Teaming up with Honda Team Asia teammate Zen Mitani, Furusato capitalized on the draft to leapfrog up the order, a move that sparked debates about teamwork versus individual skill. Meanwhile, Alvaro Carpe, who led earlier in the day, settled for sixth, followed by replacement rider Jesus Rios, whose performance was nothing short of impressive given his last-minute role.
Further down the order, Portugal race winner Maximo Quiles took eighth for Aspar, while Angel Piqueras and Joel Kelso rounded out the top ten. Notably, Kelso was the first rider over a second behind Almansa’s record-breaking time, highlighting just how dominant the leader was. Adrian Cruces and Casey O’Gorman secured Q2 spots, with Jacob Roulstone making a commendable return from injury in 15th place, though his future remains uncertain for 2026.
Track conditions improved significantly from the morning session, which saw several run-offs and falls. Speaking of which, Guido Pini’s crash in FP1 was a stark reminder of the challenges riders face, especially at tricky turns like number six. Cormac Buchanan’s 35th crash of the season underscored just how demanding the track can be.
Now, let’s talk controversy: With Leopard Racing winless this late in the season, is this a temporary slump or a sign of deeper issues? And what does Almansa’s dominance mean for the rest of the field? Is he simply on another level, or are his competitors falling short? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is a discussion you won’t want to miss!
