David Alonso fended off late pressure from Taiyo Furusato to pick up his sixth Moto3 win of the season at the German Grand Prix.
Colin Veijer maintained his lead on his Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP heading into the long Turn 1, while championship leader Alonso fell back to fourth.
Luca Lunetta and David Muñoz almost had a coming together in Turn 3 when the door shut in Muñoz’s face, before overtaking in the following corners.
Veijer lost the front end of his Husqvarna bike at high speed on Lap 2, he later rejoined at the back of the grid.
MT Helmets team-mates Rysei Yamanaka and Dutch GP winner Ivan Ortola were penalised with long lap penalties before the race due to impeding; Ortola took his on Lap 4 and was inches away of being taken out by his team-mate.
Muñoz saved a potential crash at Turn 7, which closed the door on Furusato and, in turn, forced him out wide, which saw the Japanese rider drop from third to eighth.
These events saw Alonso build a second gap to his next nearest challenger, but the gap proved short-lived.
While he was able to keep himself out in front, Adrian Fernandez and Jose Antonio Reuda were battling Muñoz and Furusato for the all-important second place.
Furusato overtook KTM’s Rueda in the fast Turn 7 on Lap 13 to snatch second, while further back, the Leopard Racing duo of Adrian Fernandez and Angel Piqueras squabbled for fifth as the recession of bikes arrived into Turn 1.
GasGas KTM rookie rider Jacob Roulstone crashed out of proceedings on Lap 15 in the fast Turn 11, picking up his first retirement of the season.
Alonso finally relinquished his lead on Lap 18 in Turn 7 as Furusato led proceedings, but only for a few corners. Alonso sought revenge down the hill to take the lead straight back.
The Italian rookie Lunetta race ended at Turn 1 while sitting in 14th place spot.
Furusato fell back to fourth in the closing laps, but the gaps sustained between the top four increased.
Rueda lost all control of his bike at Turn 1 on the second to last lap, which saw his race end completely in the dying embers.
Alonso cruised in the final lap to extend his championship lead, with Furusato delivering Team Honda Asia its best result of the season.
Despite the long lap penalty Ortola rounded off the podium spots, ahead of Leopard Racing duo Adrian Fernandez and Piqueras who were two seconds adrift.
Yamanaka followed with championship contender Daniel Holgado placed in a lacklustre seventh.
Tyrewear ate away Muñoz’s chances of picking up the victory, as he fell to eighth while Tatsuki Suzuki finished in ninth.
MLav Racing’s Scott Ogden delivered its best result of the season in 10th, ahead of Australian Joel Kelso by under 0.200s.
Stefano Nepa finished in a world of his own to bring home 12th, finishing seven seconds behind 11th and 12 seconds clear of the final three point scoring positions.
Filippo Farioli, Joel Esteban and Matteo Bertelle rounded off the final few point-scoring positions with all three riders collectively separated by only 0.071s in what was a photo finish.
