Aspar’s David Alonso became Colombia’s first-ever motorcycle world champion after winning his 10th Moto3 race of the season at Motegi.
Alonso sealed a dominant title with his victory over Collin Veijer. With his 14th Moto3 win overall, he also became the rider to with the most victories in the class.
It was a good start from poleman Ivan Ortola who was able to get the run down into Turn 1 ahead of Alonso and Veijer.
Holgado, the main championship challenger to Alonso, got off the line fantastically to move up from ninth to third, overtaking the Colombian in what could have been a vital move for the title fight.
Adrian Fernandez was another rider who had a fine opening lap and was able to push Alonso back a further place and into the clutches of Leopard teammate Piqueras.
Fernandez was clearly buoyed by his first podium in Mandalika and was able to pass Holgado and Ortola to take early control of proceedings.
At the midpoint of the race, the fastest laps flew in as the riders looked to keep in touch with the leading trio of Fernandez, Ortola, and Piqueras. The second and third-placed men set successive race lap records.
With eight laps to go, Alonso decided to turn up the heat and broke the lap record that had been set just laps before as he overtook Piqueras in an attempt to keep tabs on his nearest contender Holgado.
As the pace appeared to tumble, it was the Colombian with all the momentum and he was able to overtake both Holgado and Ortola to get up to second to put himself in a strong position for the title.
The leading group appeared to have become a group of six, but was reduced to five when Piqueras slid out and crashed when attempting to rejoin.
Alonso took the lead with three laps to go and tried to break away from Fernandez and Ortola to give himself the best shot of taking both the race and the Moto3 title.
Ortola was pushing hard to stick with Alonso and the pressure proved too much as the Spaniard crashed out of the race.
Battles behind allowed Alonso to clear off into the distance as he took the flag to take both the victory and the title in Motegi.
Veijer was victorious in his battle with Fernandez as he crossed the line in second ahead of the Spaniard in third.
Holgado was disappointed in fourth after losing out on the title while Jose Antonio Rueda finished fifth for KTM Ajo.
Home hero Ryusei Yamanaka took sixth, leading compatriot Tatsuki Suzuki over the line in seventh.
David Munoz finished the race in eighth ahead of Japan’s Taiyo Furusato in ninth, while Stefano Nepa rounded out the top 10.
The Snipers duo of Matteo Bertelle and David Almansa took the chequered flag in 11th and 12th, a second clear of Filippo Farioli in 13th.
Riccardo Rossi came home in 14th, while Joel Esteban completed the points finishers in 15th.
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