Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) is the 2025 Moto3 World Champion! The 99 has mixed domination with consistency to wrap up the crown with four races still to go this season, with his win in a dramatic Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia sealing the deal.
OFF TO A FLYING START
Rueda’s talent was clear all the way up the Road to MotoGP. In 2018 he began to make his mark in the European Talent Cup, winning and taking podiums in his two seasons there before moving up to JuniorGP for 2020. After a season of adaptation, he took podiums in 2021 to set himself up as a Championship challenger the following year – and he took the JuniorGP crown as well as winning the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in the same year, the first rider to do that.
ROOKIE IMPRESSIONS
Rueda made the full-time leap to the Moto3 World Championship in 2023 with longstanding frontrunners Red Bull KTM Ajo. A podium in Barcelona was a highlight and he finished the year in the top ten overall, but 2024 was a more difficult story. Appendicitis, crashes, and technical problems interrupted his season, but he nevertheless still took his first GP win at MotorLand – becoming the 400th GP winner across all classes.
POTENTIAL: FULFILLED
2025 saw Rueda shoot out the blocks as the rider to beat. He won in Thailand, took a podium in Argentina and then won again in the USA. In Qatar technical issues hit, handing the lead to key rival to Ángel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI), but Rueda bounced back in style with three consecutive victories at Jerez, Le Mans, and Silverstone, making it five wins in the first seven races.
Aragon and Mugello saw the 99 finish off the podium for the first time in 2025, but a win in Assen, podium in Germany and win at Brno underlined his lead as his title bid marched on. Austria and Hungary were two fifth places, before a podium in Barcelona preceded a win in San Marino and a second place in Japan – setting up his first Championship point in Indonesia.
As the first rider to win the Rookies and JuniorGP in the same year, Rueda’s arrival promised much and the 99 has more than delivered in 2025. Another victory in Lombok, added to drama for his fellow contenders, sees the #99 secure the 2025 Moto3 World Championship.
Congratulations, Jose Antonio!
