After a stellar rookie year for Maximo Quiles (CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team), safe to say there is plenty of talk around the #28 as he moves into his sophomore season in Moto3 – and he’s started it on top. In the pre-season test at Jerez for the Moto3 class, Quiles was fastest by just over a tenth, and two tenths off the lap record. His best lap was a 1:43.930.
Second and third sees two more veteran riders make their experience pay, and there was literally nothing to split them on the combined timesheets. Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power) officially takes P2, however, just ahead of Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), who heads into 2026 as a race winner. Both were 0.124 off Quiles, which is even more amazing considering the former is on KTM machinery and the latter, Honda.
Guido Pini seems to have settled in to life at Leopard Racing alongside Fernandez too, taking fourth, ahead of Matteo Bertelle (LEVEL UP – MTA) as he aims to start 2026 at full fitness and get back on top after a tough time sidelined through injury. David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) also returns and was P6 ahead of Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo).
THE ROOKIES
Top rookie goes to Jesus Rios, who lands at Rivacold Snipers Team, in seventh. CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team’s Marco Morelli wasn’t far off in P11, with Finnish rider Rico Salmela (Red Bull KTM Tech3) in P16 – just ahead of Indonesia rookie Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia) and Brian Uriarte at Red Bull KTM Ajo.
Casey O’Gorman, who impressed in some replacement rides in 2025, starts the season in P22 with SIC58 Squadra Corse, a couple of places ahead of new teammate Leo Rammerstorfer, Honda Team Asia’s Zen Mitani and Malaysian rider Hakim Danish at MSi Racing Team.
One note for those tuning who may not recognize his name is that Adrian Cruces – who was P10 and takes the reins full-time alongside Ogden at CIP Green Power this year – doesn’t class as a rookie. Once a rider has done six or more events in the same class in any season, they’re no longer eligible for Rookie of the Year.
Find the full results from the test HERE and come back for more Moto3 as the field take on Buriram at Round 1!