Moto3 at Motegi: German Intact team triumphed, title party postponed

Two years ago, Aspar rider David Alonso secured the Moto3 title ahead of schedule at the Mobility Resort Motegi; a year ago, he achieved the feat in a less commanding fashion – second place in the Japanese Grand Prix was enough to clinch the title in the top flight. In 2026, it was now Maximo Quiles’ turn to have his big celebration. However, the Spaniard needed to secure a lead of at least 20 points.

In other words: even with another win, the Aspar youngster would have to rely on a disastrous weekend for his rivals. And they are incredibly close on the points table. Whilst Alvaro Carpe has 175 points (131 fewer than Quiles), David Almansa and Brian Uriarte follow with 174 each.

What’s more, it was precisely those three rivals who had relegated the World Championship leader to the second row of the grid on Saturday. Almansa, Uriarte, Carpe – that was the order after Q2. In P4, Quiles also had a good starting position. The future Moto2 rider lined up alongside Matteo Bertelle and the second Intact rider, David Muñoz. The task was to complete 17 laps of the 4,801-metre track.

Following the MotoGP riders’ go-kart challenge – staged much to the delight of the fans – the warm-up lap began at 11.00 local time. Despite the cloudy skies, rain was not expected. The fans were rooting for three Japanese riders. Yamanka-san had secured the best starting position in tenth place. Zen Mitani started from 15th, whilst debutant Ogiwara started from 18th. The Austrian Leo Rammerstorfer started from 25th place.

Pole-sitter David Almansa got off to the best start. The number 22 rider pulled clear ahead of rookie Brian Uriarte, Quiles, Carpe and Muñoz. Almansa emerged from the first lap in the lead ahead of Uriarte, whilst behind them Muñoz had aggressively moved up to third place. Meanwhile, Quiles was battling it out with Carpe and Rico Salmela. Yamanka had worked his way up to seventh place.

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Whilst Snipers rider Singhapong, who was only competing in his second race, crashed out, Brian Uriarte moved into the lead. A battle involving eight riders developed at the front. Quiles, who had temporarily regained third place, braked too late on one lap and consequently lost a few metres to the top three – Uriarte, Almansa and Carpe. Notably, the top eight were all KTM riders. The first Moto3 Honda was ridden by Adria Fernandez (Leopard) in 10th place.

By the halfway point, Uriarte, Carpe, Almansa, Quiles, Salmela, Yamanaka, Bertelle and Muñoz had already opened up a six-second gap over the chasing pack. At the same time, the leader received a message on his display informing him of a double long-lap penalty. The reason: on the starting grid, the Ajo team had continued to work on the KTM even after the three-minute board had been displayed. Uriarte served the penalty and dropped back to eighth place.

The leading group had now split into two groups of four, with David Almansa setting the pace. The World Championship third-place rider was followed by Carpe, title favourite Quiles and Salmela. With six laps to go, the young Salmela was forced to drop back. It all came down to a three-way battle between David Almansa, Alvaro Carpe and Maximo Quiles.

WM-Favorit Quiles wurde Zweiter vor Alvaro Carpe

Foto: Gold and Goose

Whilst Honda rider Guido Pini also crashed out of the race four laps from the end, the battle for victory intensified. Quiles overtook Carpe and now set his sights on the rider from Peter Öttl’s team, who held a narrow lead. The outcome seemed to be decided on that very lap. Quiles made a minor riding error; although he held on to P2, he was 0.8 seconds behind Almansa.

With two laps to go, Quiles once again demonstrated his class. The 18-year-old halved the gap to his compatriot, whilst Alvara Carpe was also unable to keep up. 1:54.8 mins – Quiles had set the fastest lap of the race and was now on the attack. Almansa defended fiercely. Quiles attacked twice – but David Almansa held on – the Intact GP rider won by 0.046 seconds ahead of Quiles.

Rico Salmela finished a strong fifth, behind Carpe and Urirate, who had fought his way back up the field. Yamanka also performed well – 7th place for the MSi rider at his home Grand Prix. Casey O’Gorman secured the final World Championship points in a large group.

Leo Rammerstorfer had a tough Japanese GP. The SIC58 rookie was in 23rd place for much of the race, but retired on the penultimate lap.

Sandwiched between his closest rivals, the Aspar team’s World Championship celebrations had to be postponed as a result. In a week’s time, Quiles will have his next chance to clinch the title in Indonesia.

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