Moto3 winner Maximo Quiles was startled: the Asia Delikatesse was still moving

With his tenth Grand Prix victory of the season, Maximo Quiles clinched the Moto3 title on 11 October on the holiday island of Lombok in Indonesia, having already finished third in the World Championship in his rookie year of 2025 with Jorge ‘Aspar’ Martinez’s team.

Quiles qualified in pole position at Sepang, but lost two places on the first lap after getting off to a flying start. It was not until lap 5 that he managed to overtake David Almansa of the Memmingen-based Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP team, who had been leading until then, and when the chequered flag fell, Maximo was an astonishing 3.734 seconds ahead, winning ahead of Honda rider Veda Pratama from Indonesia and Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo).

Maximo Quiles: Plagued by the heat and a sore throat

“That was a hard-fought victory; it was very hot and I rode alone for most of the race,” groaned the world champion. “On top of that, I’d been ill all weekend and had a severe sore throat. But I knew I could fight for the win if I gave it my all. I’d already been working towards this on Saturday so that I could pull away in the race, but the others are strong too – always. I gave it a go because I knew I still had something in the tank for when the tyres started to fade. Almansa had a few slips, so I realised my moment had come.”

In the parc fermé, Quiles was offered a special treat by Pratama. “Was that dried honey?” asked a journalist. “I’d have loved that,” laughed the Spaniard. “They were insects, something like cockroaches. I think they were still moving! He’s mad – but if he likes that sort of thing, then he deserves them. I’m delighted for him that he made it onto the podium.”

Quiles was already confirmed as champion with five rounds still to go. He now has a 148-point lead over second-placed Almansa and will compete in the Moto2 World Championship next year. But he’s not thinking about that just yet. “First I have to finish one thing before I turn my attention to another,” emphasised the hugely talented rider from Murcia, home to MotoGP riders Pedro Acosta and Fermin Aldeguer. “I’ll enjoy Moto3 right up until Valencia, then I’ll take it step by step. I’ve got some time to prepare so that I’m as ready as possible.”

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06.11.2026 - 10:55