A classic start Moto3’s 2026 campaign? Just what we ordered. It was very much a case of the calm before the storm as David Almansa (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) battled to a maiden victory in a final corner, last lap thriller ahead of Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team). 0.003s and the joint-closest finish, Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) opened his account with a podium behind the duelling Spaniards up ahead.
The first holeshot of the season went to polesitter Almansa, who let the brakes off to hold P1. It was a drag race down to Turn 3 against Quiles but the #22 held firm and lead the opening lap of the season. Behind, there was drama for Ryusei Yamanaka (AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI) who crashed at Turn 5 on Lap 2, the same corner that ended hiss Thai GP last year. Lap 3 saw another rider fall from the top ten as Guido Pini’s (Leopard Racing) debut with his new team saw him crash at Turn 12 but the Italian sophomore remounted and rejoined the action, eventually finishing 20th.
Five laps in and what looked like a breakaway group of four – consisting of Almansa, Quiles, Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) – had been reeled in. They now had rookie sensation Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia) and Argentinean Perrone for company with approximately one second covering the top six. At the end of Lap 6, a mistake from Carpe allowed Fernandez through before another mistake allowed Pratama into fourth and the Indonesian didn’t stop there. He forced his way under Fernandez to take P3 at the end of Lap 7, sitting in a provisional podium position on his debut.
As half distance approached the front two had scarpered. At the end of Lap 11, our first change in the lead as Quiles decided to take over at the front from Almansa at Turn 12, now giving his fellow Spaniard a chance to study his own strengths and weaknesses. It didn’t last long though, as Quiles ran off at Turn 1 to gift his rival the lead straight back. Both were matching each other’s lap times, the only riders in the 1’41s – a true head-to-head to get us started in 2026. Seven seconds behind, there were passes in abundance with Fernandez, having dropped to sixth, climbing back into third with three to go.
Onto the last lap and after a Turn 12 error from Quiles, Almansa sported a half a second advantage as they took in the final 4.5km of Buriram. However, Quiles wasn’t finished and put in an outstanding final lap to get back on terms for one final attack into the last corner. Defending his line, he forced Quiles to let the brakes off and it looked like he got the job done but on the run to the line, Almansa had better drive to snatch his first victory in Moto3 by just 0.003s, equalling the closest finish of all-time in Moto3. In the scrap for third, Perrone fought his way ahead of Carpe, likewise in a final corner pass whilst Pratama took top Honda honours in fifth on his debut, ahead of Fernandez.
Outside the top six, Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was a strong seventh ahead of Marco Morelli (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), Joel Esteban (LEVEL UP – MTA) and David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) who rounded out the top ten. Just missing out on the top ten by 0.206s, it was 11th for rookie Casey O’Gorman (SIC58 Squadra Corse).
Full results from the Moto3 Thai GP at Buriram!