What a machine Maximo Quiles is right now. Converting pole position into a stunning victory at Assen, the CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team rider secured his sixth win of 2026 after a masterclass over the 20-lapper. The championship leader put together a sublime finish to fend off David Almansa (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP), while Marco Morelli charged through to take his second podium of the year for the CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team. Unfortunately for Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo), a DNF dealt a heavy blow to his title hopes, leaving him second in the standings but now 90 points adrift.
From the lights, Quiles nailed the holeshot into Turn 1, though a rapid-starting Almansa wasted no time applying pressure at Turn 5. The usual frantic scrapping quickly claimed its first major victim on Lap 2. Carpe dropped out of the lead group after clipping the back of Morelli at Turn 5. While Morelli stayed upright, Adrian Cruces (CIP GreenPower) collected Carpe, putting the #11 out of action entirely while the #83 rejoined. The lead battle kept twisting; halfway through Lap 4, Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia) snatched the front at Turn 12, only for Almansa to hit right back at Turn 15.
By Lap 7, the midfield charge was in full swing. Hakim Danish (AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI) fought up to third, while Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Jesus Rios (Rivacold Snipers Team) clawed their way from 16th, 19th, and 21st respectively to scrap inside the top six. Pratama's early promise ended in the gravel at Turn 5. At the halfway mark, Almansa tried to break the pack with Quiles glued to his tail, as Danish and Rios joined them to form a tight four-rider breakaway ahead of Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing).
A messy final chicane on Lap 10 between Rios, Danish, and Almansa handed Quiles some welcome breathing room, but Almansa was relentless. By Lap 12, the LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP machine was back on the leader's gearbox, snatching P1 at Turn 14 with back-to-back personal best laps. Quiles refused to yield, reclaiming the lead at Turn 8 on Lap 13. Their duel brought Danish right back into play in third.
With five laps remaining, Carpe officially called it a day following his earlier rejoin. Into the final three laps, Quiles pulled the pin, dragging Almansa with him and dropping Danish into a separate scrap for the final podium spot. Morelli rocketed through on used rubber to secure P3, leaving the victory fight purely to the front two.
Onto the last lap, it was an all-Spanish duel for glory at Assen. A crucial moment for Almansa at Turn 9 decided the contest once and for all, allowing the championship leader to cruise home to his sixth victory of 2026. Almansa took second, moving up to third in the standings, with Morelli claiming third. Perrone delivered his best result since COTA with fourth, ahead of a mighty Rios in fifth. Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) crossed the line sixth, followed by Danish, Joel Kelso (GRYD Racing), Fernandez, and Casey O'Gorman (SIC58 Squadra Corse). Rico Salmela (Red Bull KTM Tech3) initially crossed fifth, but a 6-second time penalty equivalent to a double Long Lap dropped him down to 11th.
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