Maximo Quiles of the CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team is simply the rider to beat right now. On a sweltering Saturday afternoon at the Malaysian Grand Prix, the machine proved untouchable as he sliced through Q2 to lock down pole position with a 2'10.396 lap on his fifth trip around. It marks his first time leading a qualifying session since Assen back in June, and he did it right when the pressure peaked with under two minutes left on the clock.
Behind the pacesetter, the battle for the front row delivered absolute magic. Brian Uriarte charged to P2 for the Red Bull KTM Ajo squad, hitching a ride in the slipstream of home hero Hakim Danish and another machine ahead. Unfortunately, Uriarte's push came to an abrupt halt when he crashed at Turn 2 on his very next lap.
Now, let's talk about the real roar of the crowd: Hakim Danish. Running for AEON Credit - MT Helmets – MSI on home turf, Danish fought his way to P3 to secure a stunning front row start. More than that, it makes him the first Malaysian rider to start from the front row since Zulfahmi Khairuddin back in 2012. That is the kind of result that lives forever.
Row two will see David Almansa leading the charge for Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP after putting down a 2'10.571s early in the session, though his day ended in the gravel after running wide at Turn 4 on his final run. Alvaro Carpe of Red Bull KTM Ajo slots in just three hundredths behind him, with Matteo Bertelle of LEVEL UP – MTA closing out the second row two tenths further back.
Further down the order, the margins were razor-thin. GRYD Racing's Joel Kelso clinched P7 by just a hundredth of a second over Veda Pratama, with the Indonesian rider taking eighth for Honda Team Asia thanks to a 2'10.861s lap that missed Kelso by a mere six thousandths. Leopard Racing's Adrian Fernandez and Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP's David Munoz rounded out the top ten, both clocking into the 2'11s range with just three hundredths separating them.
Earlier in Q1, Guido Pini set the early pace for Leopard Racing with a 2'11.614s before Adrian Cruces of CIP Green Power lowered the benchmark to 2'11.4s. The session wasn't without its bumps, as replacement rider Leo Rammerstorfer of SIC58 Squadra Corse took contact from Kiattisak Singhapong of the Rivacold Snipers Team, though the FIM opted for no further action. Ryusei Yamanaka grabbed a Q2 ticket for AEON Credit - MT Helmets – MSI just five hundredths behind Pini, while Marco Morelli snagged the final transfer spot for the CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team with a late 2'11.708s as several riders, including Valentin Perrone, misjudged their final stint and missed the flag.
Moto3
Moto3
