Maximo Quiles is simply unstoppable, and his latest masterclass for CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team proved it once again. Taking his first victory as World Champion, the #28 sealed the deal for an incredible 11th win of 2026. While the dominant machine at the front cruised to victory three seconds clear of the chaos, the real drama unfolded right behind him.
Starting from pole, Quiles grabbed the holeshot down to Turn 1, though David Almansa of Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP quickly forced his way into P2 by Turn 2 and led the opening lap. But the race was immediately full of casualties. Jesus Rios of Rivacold Snipers Team suffered an early crash at Turn 2, though he remounted and was okay, while Matteo Bertelle of LEVELUP-MTA saw his day end with a crash at Turn 9 on Lap 3. More misfortune struck later as Scott Ogden of CIP GreenPower crashed at Turn 1 on Lap 8, then suffered a race-ending second crash at Turn 15 two laps later, just after Rico Salmela of Red Bull KTM Tech3 went down at the same corner.
Amidst the attrition, the home crowd found their hero in Hakim Danish of AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI, who kept himself firmly in the podium scrap all afternoon. On Lap 2, Danish capitalized on a scrap between Alvaro Carpe and Quiles to surge into P2, sending the local fans into a frenzy. By Lap 7, Danish fought his way through at the final corner for third, while Veda Pratama of Honda Team Asia and Carpe of Red Bull KTM Ajo constantly traded blows right alongside him.
The contest for the remaining rostrum spots went down to the absolute wire. With four laps remaining, Danish pounced on Pratama at Turn 1 for second, only for the position to shift again as the fierce battling pushed the Malaysian hero back. Entering the final lap, Danish got his elbows out in a wild sequence: briefly grabbing second, slipping to fifth, snatching fourth from Almansa at Turn 5, and grabbing third by Turn 11. But heartbreak awaited at the very end. Danish went for a last-ditch lunge for P3 at the final corner, ran wide, and allowed Carpe to snatch it back, breaking local hearts.
Quiles crossed the line uncontested for win number 11, followed across the finish by Pratama in second, Carpe in third, Danish in fourth, and Almansa in fifth. That fifth-place finish for Almansa crucially extends his gap in P2 in the standings over the chasing pack, pushing his advantage over third in the standings to 23 points with just two grands prix remaining.
Further down the order, Joel Esteban of LEVELUP-MTA rode a solid race to sixth ahead of Adrian Fernandez of Leopard Racing, David Muñoz of Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP, Brian Uriarte of Red Bull KTM Ajo, and Eddie O’Shea of Gryd Racing rounding out the top ten. Further back, Zen Mitani of Honda Team Asia secured his first career points in P13, while Valentin Perrone of Red Bull KTM Tech3 salvaged a single point in P15 after a difficult weekend. The paddock now prepares to head under the lights at Lusail for the Grand Prix of Qatar.
Moto3
Moto3
