Posted on 10/26/2025 3:40:56 AM PDT by WhiteHatBobby0701
SEPANG, Oct 26 — Newly-crowned Moto3 champion Jose Antonio Rueda and Switzerland’s Noah Dettwiler were both airlifted to hospital after being involved in a collision during the sighting lap of the 2025 Petronas Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit here today.
According to a statement from the race organiser (Dorna), the accident occurred when Dettwiler, who is from team CIP Green Power, was seen riding slowly on the track before Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Rueda crashed into the back of Detwiller’s machine at the Turn 3.
Both riders fell to the ground and sustained injuries.
The SIC medical team immediately provided on-site medical attention before both riders were evacuated to a nearby hospital by helicopter, resulting in two races being delayed.
The conditions of both riders, however, have yet to be ascertained.
Rueda was supposed to start from third on the grid and Dettwiler from 25th.
Spaniard Rueda had earlier clinched the world Moto3 title at the Indonesian GP on October 5.
Following the incident, the start time for the Moto3 race was postponed to 1.45pm from 12 noon, and the race was shortened to 10 laps instead of 15.
The MotoGP race will start as scheduled at 3pm, while the Moto2 race has been moved to 4.30pm. — Bernama
We are hearing both riders are conscious and alert as of this time.
Sepang has been a dangerous circuit in MotoGP. In 2011, Marco Simoncelli was killed on Lap 2 of the MotoGP race, which was wiped off the books.
“Marco Simoncelli was killed on Lap 2 of the MotoGP race...”
He rode horribly and caused injuries to other riders...his awful riding caused his fatal situation.
Hope these two Moto GP3 riders are OK.
I remember SIC’s fatal crash was first posted on Twitter by Darrell Waltrip whilst covering for Fox Sports’ now-defunct Speed the Supercars race at Surfers Paradise, then two 300km (186 mile) races with the regular driver and a co-driver that had to have international regard. That race was devastated when Holden Racing Team lost its international co-driver Dan Wheldon, who was killed at Las Vegas a week prior. Will Power (Ford Performance Racing), Tony Kanaan (Brad Jones Racing) withdrew after the Vegas crash because of hospital trips and out of respect.
The NASCAR legend finished the Supercars broadcast and the Supercars media row watched MotoGP that afternoon when Super Sic was killed. He could not believe what had happened again within seven days.
As for the Moto3 crash Sunday:
From CIP Green Power’s Facebook at 8 AM EDT Sunday:
“This morning, during the sighting lap at Sepang, our rider Noah Dettwiler (SUI) was involved in a serious accident. He was taken to the hospital in Kuala Lumpur and will need to undergo multiple surgeries.”
Dettwiler’s Moto3 motorcycle had a technical issue, according to reports, when hit by Moto3 champion Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP) of KTM Ajo, who was scheduled to advance to their Moto2 team in 2026.
Reuda is out for the 2025 season (Algarve next week and Cheste in mid-November) with severe concussion, fracutred hand, and multiple contusions. He will not be able to participate in the Moto2 season-ending tests.
Thank you for the update.
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