Forward rider Alex Escrig missed out on his first Moto2 victory again in Qatar

Alex Escrig is perhaps the biggest surprise of the Moto2 season. Seemingly destined for the back of the field in this highly competitive class, Escrig and Forward unexpectedly appeared on the Moto2 radar at the start of the 2026 season. When the Spaniard – a close friend of MotoGP ace Pedro Acosta – shone by setting the fastest time at the winter test and also claimed the lap record, the name Escrig had firmly established itself in the Moto2 elite.

Despite mixed results, the now 22-year-old managed to work his way up through the field – and he did so on the Forward machine, which was at a disadvantage simply due to its status as an outsider. His first top result finally came on British soil – at Silverstone, Escrig took to the podium for the first time after finishing third. His first victory followed shortly afterwards – but at Mandalika, the number 11 rider became the tragic figure. Escrig, starting from the front row, was clearly the fastest rider, but in the final kilometres, technical issues prevented him from securing his maiden Moto2 victory.

In the Qatari desert, the stage was now set, as with pole position, nothing initially stood in the Forward rider’s way. Escrig kept his cool and converted his pole into a commanding lead. The mint-coloured Forward bike controlled the race until the midway point, when Escrig was caught by Aspar-Kalex rider Dani Holgado .

Alex Escrig: Jubel auch über Platz 3

Foto: Gold and Goose

Remarkably, Escrig appeared ahead of Holgado in the fastest lap times table, but his compatriot – and next year’s Ducati MotoGP rider – managed his race better. After 14 of 18 laps, the lead changed hands. Escrig was then so preoccupied with defending second place that Ivan Ortola carried more momentum into the home straight and crossed the line 0.02 seconds ahead of Escrig.

Topic of the week

World Champion Kimi Antonelli: record-breaker, heart-breaker, the Tifosi’s dream

With his third-place finish at the Mexican Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest of the 36 Formula 1 world champions to date. The 20-year-old Italian is on a record-breaking run. The Tifosi are dreaming of Antonelli in a Ferrari.

Read More

TV Program

Live

Portimao: International Livestream

MotoGP World Championship

20.11.2026 - 09:55

Mandalika was a walk in the park, Losail was hard work

Unlike Moto3 World Champion Quiles before him, the Forward rider was nevertheless happy with third place. Escrig: “Even though it was only the trophy for third place, I’m delighted and very satisfied because it shows how well we’ve developed as a team and how well we worked in Qatar too. I really felt very comfortable and confident on the bike; it was just a few small things that were missing.”

The Spaniard emphasised that the race unfolded quite differently to the one at Mandalika: “In Indonesia, the race was much more relaxed; it went fantastically well. In Qatar, it was all hard work – which is another reason why third place feels so good. It’s important for me to stay focused and carry on working hard now. I’m now at a stage where it’s about more than just riding a motorbike fast. I have to, and I want to, focus on every single detail. There’s no other way if you want to make it to the top flight. I’m prioritising this above everything else – and I hope that we can learn so much from Qatar that we’ll secure a victory in the final races,” said Escrig before leaving Doha.

For the time being, the lanky southern Spaniard needn’t worry about his sporting future. In 2027, Alex Escrig will move to Italtrans – on a Kalex – and thus join the 2024 World Championship-winning team. With third place at Losail, Alex Escrig moved up to 12th in the World Championship standings.