Moto2

Qualifying:

In a nail-biting session at the Chang International Circuit, Australian rider Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) stunned the field to take his first-ever Moto2 pole position for the 2026 season opener. The battle for the top spot came down to the final seconds of Q2. Agius posted a blistering 1:34.576, narrowly beating Izan Guevara (Blu Cru Pramac Yamaha Moto2) by a mere 0.028s.

Some Key Highlights from the session include:

• Rookie Adrian Huertas was declared unfit for the rest of the weekend following a heavy crash during the earlier Practice sessions.
• Established names such as Tony Arbolino and Joe Roberts failed to make the cut for Q2, leaving them the tough challenge to move from the seventh and ninth rows, respectively.
• Mario Aji delivered a career-best performance for Idemitsu Honda Team Asia, securing P9 on the grid. Finishing within three-tenths of the pole time, this performance makes a significant step forward for the Indonesian rider.
• 2025 Rookie of the Year, Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Aspar) rounded out the front row in P3, just 0.049s off the pace in one of the closest qualifying sessions in the series.

Qualifying Top-10:

1. Senna Agius (Intact GP): 1:34.576
2. Izan Guevara (Pramac Yamaha): +0.028
3. Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Aspar): +0.049
4. Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI): +0.117
5. Celestino Vietti (SpeedRS): +0.170
6. Collin Viejer (Red Bull KTM Ajo): +0.212
7. Manuel Gonzalez (Intact GP): +0.220
8. Filip Salac (American Racing): +0.254
9. Mario Aji (Honda Team Asia): +0.259
10. David Alonso (CFMOTO Aspar): +0.284

Race:

Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) emerged victorious from the madness to take a brilliant victory, fending off Izan Guevara in a last-lap thriller. Despite starting 7th, Gonzalez used the multiple restarts to his advantage, eventually winning by a mere 0.099s.

On Lap 3, an incident at Turn 9 involving pole-sitter Agius, David Alonso (CFMOTO Aspar) and Filip Salac (OnlyFans American Racing) brought out the red flag. Agius appeared to suffer a technical issue and slowed on the racing line. With nowhere to go, Alonso clipped his rear wheel and high-sided violently, before Salac was also collected in the aftermath. Despite initially being taken to the medical centre with arm pain, Alonso was cleared of any fractures but suffered significant bruising, whilst Agius and Salac were allowed restart the race from the pitlane.

With the race distance reduced to just 11 laps, Holgado was the first to Turn 1 and led the field down to Turn 3, where more drama occurred. Sergio Garcia clipped Barry Baltus at Turn 3, sliding out and leaving Luca Lunetta with nowhere to go. Both riders required stretchers; while Garcia escaped major injury, Lunetta was diagnosed with a foot injury that would require surgery. This ultimately brought out the second red flag of the Grand Prix, with a new distance of seven laps set to sort out the order.

Holgado once again led the pack from the second race restart; however, was quickly passed by Guevara at Turn 3. Gonzalez soon made an overtake stick on Holgado on Lap 2, before setting his sights on Guevara up the road.

Gonzalez made his move on the penultimate lap of the race at Turn 7 with a bold move. Guevara didn’t give up as he tried to fight back at Turns 8, 9 and 12.

Gonzalez managed to hold the advantage to repeat his season-opening victory from 2025 and take charge of the 2026 championship. Behind the pair, Holgado rounded out the podium ahead of Ortola and Collin Veijer, who completed the top 5.

Moto2 Race Top-10:

1. Manuel Gonzalez
2. Izan Guevara
3. Daniel Holgado
4. Ivan Ortola
5. Collin Veijer
6. Celestino Vietti
7. Alonso Lopez
8. David Munoz
9. Denis Oncu
10. Ayumu Sasaki

Moto3

Qualifying:

David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) demolished the existing benchmark in Moto3 qualifying at the Chang International Circuit, making a seamless transition from Honda to KTM machinery. He posted a 1:40.088, slicing over 0.3s off the previous all-time lap record.

Almansa’s lap was so strong that he was the only rider to break into the 1:40’s during the session. The closest challenger was Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Alvaro Carpe, who secured P2, finishing 0.430s behind his compatriot. Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) broke the KTM stronghold on the front row, placing his Honda in P3 with a late-session effort.

Standout Qualifying Performances:

• Indonesian star Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia) stunned the paddock on his full-time world championship debut, clinching P5 and out-qualifying many seasoned veterans.
• David Munoz was forced to fight his way through Q1 after a difficult Friday. He managed to advance and eventually secured P6, putting him at the back of the second row for Sunday’s race.

Qualifying Top-10:

1. David Almansa (Intact GP): 1:40.088
2. Alvaro Carpe (KTM Ajo): +0.430
3. Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing): +0.605
4. Maximo Quiles (Aspar Team): +0.609
5. Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia): +0.789
6. David Munoz (Intact GP): +1.003
7. Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI): +1.110
8. Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power): +1.203
9. Guido Pini (Leopard Racing): +1.231
10. Casey O’Gorman (SIC58): +1.249

Race:

David Almana (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) converted his record-breaking pole position into a debut victory, but only after a heart-stopping 19-lap duel with Maximo Quiles. The two Spaniards crossed the line virtually inseparable, with Almansa officially awarded the win by a mere 0.003 seconds.

Almansa and Quiles (CFMOTO Aspar Team) were in a league of their own. By the halfway mark, they had pulled nearly a 4-second gap over the chasing pack, turning the race into a two-man showdown for the win.

Quiles attempted a divebomb move on the final lap; however, Almansa took a defensive line that forced Quiles out wide. Almansa managed to get the better drive out of the turn, leading to a drag race to the chequered flag and the closest Moto3 finish since the 2013 Australian Grand Prix, won by Alex Rins over Maverick Vinales.

Just under 10 seconds behind the leaders, a chaotic four-way fight for the final podium spot saw Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) snatch 3rd place, completing an all-KTM rostrum. Alvaro Carpe, Veda Pratama, and Adrian Fernandez rounded out the top-sixth in that order. A fifth-place finish for Veda Pratama saw him take the best-ever finish for an Indonesian rider in a Moto3 debut.

There were a few crashes in the race, but only one retirement: Cormac Buchanan. Contact with another rider during the warm-up lap saw the New Zealander receive damage to his bike’s electronics/sensors. On the opening lap, his bike completely shut off at Turn 3. Buchanan managed to restart the machine but was stranded 10 seconds behind the last-placed rider. Whilst attempting to close the gap and limit the damage, he lost the front end and crashed out of the race on Lap 14.

Ryusei Yamanaka crashed out of the group that ultimately battled for third at Turn 5 on Lap 2; however, the Japanese rider got back on and finished a lap down. Guido Pini also crashed out of 12th on the following lap at Turn 12, eventually remounting to take 20th on his Leopard Honda debut.

Moto3 Race Top-10:

1. David Almansa (Intact GP)
2. Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Aspar)
3. Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3)
4. Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo)
5. Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia)
6. Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing)
7. Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo)
8. Marco Morelli (CFMOTO Aspar)
9. Joel Esteban (Level Up MTA)
10. David Munoz (Intact GP)