Back-to-back victories since breaking his collarbone and a lead of over 100 points in the standings? There truly is no stopping Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team). The championship leader snatched victory in dramatic fashion at Misano, denying David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) in an epic photo finish.
Almansa had been the master of the San Marino GP in Moto3 from the very start. The 20-year-old polesitter led every single corner of the race, only to watch Quiles blast past him on the run to the line. Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) had the absolute best seat in the house to watch it all unfold, crossing the line in third to complete the podium.
Off the line, Almansa secured the holeshot from Uriarte while a fast-starting Quiles briefly climbed into third before Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) jumped ahead. It was absolute disaster for Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who started 21st due to penalties and crashed on the exit of Turn 4 on the opening lap. He managed to rejoin, but his grand prix was effectively over. Later on the opening lap, Nicola Carraro (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Leo Rammerstorfer (SIC58 Squadra Corse) both fell at Turn 14—fortunately both were OK, but their races were done.
By Lap 3, Almansa was hitting his stride with the fastest lap of the grand prix, while Quiles muscled past Perrone for third. Uriarte chased the #22 machine out front, followed by Perrone, Joel Kelso (GRYD Racing), Matteo Bertelle (LEVELUP-MTA), and Rico Salmela (Red Bull KTM Tech3). Quiles was on a mission by Lap 5, copying his earlier move on Perrone at Turn 13 to take second from Uriarte. A lap later, Bertelle gave the home fans something to cheer about by grabbing fifth ahead of Perrone, who dropped further back as Kelso took fourth and Salmela picked him off on Lap 9.
Into the second half of the race, a clear battle for the win emerged between Almansa, Quiles, and Uriarte, alongside a separate fight for fourth led by Bertelle after Kelso made a mistake on Lap 10. Bertelle soon made his own error at Turn 14 on the same lap, letting Salmela through. In the podium scrap, Uriarte picked Quiles’ pocket at Turn 4 on Lap 11, but two laps later Quiles pounced at his trademark Turn 13. He soon closed right onto Almansa's tail, clocking a 1’40.366 for the fastest lap of the grand prix and putting himself within striking distance.
With four laps to go, it was the exact head-to-head we had seen at Buriram, Goiania, Balaton Park, and Aragon: Almansa versus Quiles. Championship leader against the rider now provisionally second in the standings and chief title rival. It all built toward a last-lap showdown, where Almansa stood firm through Turn 1, Turn 4, and Turn 8. Ultra-defensive through Turn 14 and into the final corner, Almansa ultimately cost himself drive on the exit. Quiles—having not led a single lap or even a single sector all day—pinched it on the run to the line by just 0.021s. Almansa had led 320 corners only to be pipped in the final 200 metres.
Behind them, Uriarte completed the rostrum for the fourth time in his rookie season. Bertelle finished as the top home-hero in fourth, just ahead of Perrone, Salmela, and Kelso. Adrian Cruces (CIP GreenPower) secured back-to-back top tens for the first time in his grand prix career in eighth, fending off Marco Morelli (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) and Casey O’Gorman (SIC58 Squadra Corse).
That eighth win of 2026 extends Quiles' championship lead to 107 points overall. Meanwhile, Carpe slips to third in the standings, sitting just five points ahead of his rookie teammate Uriarte with eight rounds remaining in 2026.
