Moto3: Almansa Beats Quiles for First Moto3 Win in Buriram

A last-corner battle and record-equalling finish margin saw a breakthrough winner emerge.

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What a way to start the 2026 Moto3 season. David Almansa delivered a sensational last-corner victory at the Chang International Circuit, defeating fellow Spaniard Maximo Quiles by just 0.003 seconds in one of the closest finishes in Moto3 history.

The LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP rider secured his maiden Grand Prix win in a dramatic drag race to the line, matching the joint-closest finish ever recorded in the lightweight class.

Polesitter Almansa grabbed the holeshot and held firm into Turn 3, fending off early pressure from Quiles. The two Spaniards quickly established themselves as the main protagonists of the race.

Drama struck early for Ryusei Yamanaka (AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI), who crashed at Turn 5 on Lap 2, the same corner that ended his Thai GP last year. Guido Pini (Leopard Racing) also had trouble on Lap 3 but remounted to finish 20th. 

By Lap 6, what initially looked like a four-rider breakaway, Almansa, Quiles, Alvaro Carpe and Adrian Fernandez, had been caught by an exciting chasing group. Among them? Rookie sensation Veda Pratama and Argentine hopeful Valentin Perrone.

Veda Pratama, riding for Honda Team Asia, made headlines on his Grand Prix debut. The Indonesian star forced his way into podium contention, briefly running third after a bold move on Fernandez. Calm, calculated and aggressive when needed, Pratama showed maturity beyond his years.

Although he eventually finished fifth, he was the top Honda rider on debut, a massive statement for Indonesia’s growing presence in MotoGP’s junior ranks. For Southeast Asian fans, Pratama’s performance signals genuine potential for podium battles in 2026.

Final Lap Showdown

As half distance approached, Almansa and Quiles pulled clear, matching each other’s pace in the low 1’41s, the only riders capable of that speed. A mistake from Quiles late in the race handed Almansa a half-second advantage heading into the final lap. But the CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar rider wasn’t done.

Quiles closed the gap dramatically and launched one last attack into the final corner. Almansa defended hard, forcing Quiles slightly wide, and that proved decisive. With superior drive onto the straight, Almansa edged ahead to win by 0.003s, sealing his first Moto3 victory in unforgettable fashion.

Behind them, Perrone executed a last-corner pass on Carpe to clinch his first Moto3 podium, while Pratama completed a remarkable debut in fifth.

A last-corner battle. A record-equalling finish margin. A breakthrough winner. And a rookie Indonesian star making waves. If this is how Moto3’s 2026 season begins, we’re in for a spectacular year.