Moto3 got the action underway at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas with a race that went all the way to the wire, with Guido Pini seeing the danger and picking the bast line for a first win in the class.

The Leopard Honda rider had started fifth and was a constant fixture in the lead group whether a seven or the four remaining in the battle to the line.

The closing stages saw a tussle ahead between polesitter Alvaro Carpe and Valentin Perrone.

Patient in behind, Pini benefitted from Carpe running wide trying to block, taking Perrone with him, passing underneath the duo to cross the line the first of the quartet – the first Italian winner in the class since Dennis Foggia in 2022 at Silverstone.

Max Quiles, who lead for much of the early part of the race also made it back around the Red Bull bikes to take second, just 0.056s behind for Aspar and KTM.

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Alvaro Carpe’s record lap in qualifying saw him launch form pole, but he slipped back looking to manage tyres and was soon able to bounce back and feature at the front of the race. Pushing ahead in turn one on the last lap, the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider was trying hard to hold on to the chequered flag, but his wide move saw him finish third – his first podium of the season.

After leading at the start of the final lap his Tech3 counterpart Perrone was forced back to fourth.

Adrian Fernandez was the best of the rest a distant and solo fifth on the second Leopard bike.

Adrian Cruces finished sixth but was weaving down the finish straight on the CIP Green Power bikes, forcing Brian Uriate wide and down to seventh for Red Bull KTM Ajo, with Rico Salmela also passing underneath to be top rookie on the race for the Tech3 team. The result was quickly amended for the move with Salmela placed sixth, Uriarte seventh and Cruces eighth after the race.

Behind the chaos, but in the same battle in the biggest group fighting for position on track Matteo Bertelle was a close ninth for Level Up – MTA with Scott Ogden completing the top ten for CIP Green Power.

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There was a small gap back to Eddie O’Shea for the MLav team, who managed his early track limits warning for the remaining laps.

Marco Morelli was given a long lap penalty for his actions on Veda Pratama in qualifying. Already down in 18th on the grid the sanction effectively ended his chances of running at the front, but his pace pulled the Aspar rider through the pack for 12th.

Hakim Danish, who started last on the grid made it to 13th for MT Helmets.

Marcos Uriarte for Liqui Moly Dynavolt IntactGP in 14th and Rivacold Snipers rider Jesus Rios, who served a double long lap penalty to serve from his actions in the the Brazil race completed the points finishers.

Official COTA Moto3 Records:
Fastest race lap: Matteo Bertelle (2025) 2:13.939s
All time lap record: Matteo Bertelle (2025) 2:12.939s
New lap record: Alvaro Carpe (2026 -Q2 ) 2:12.107s

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Crashes, injuries and replacements

Marcos Uriarte was in at Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP with both of their regular riders, David Munoz and David Almansa out of action.

The best rookie in qualifying, Casey O’Gorman launched from second and had issues all race, constantly running wide. The Irish rookie eventually crashed out after giving as good as he got after falling back into the main group on track.

Veda Pratama highsided from the original lead seven group, right on front of Joel Esteban, who had nowhere to go. Esteban re-joined but later retired.

Zen Mitani, Joel Kelso and Leo Rammenstorfer also crashed during the race.

Championship standings

Quiles remains championship leader after his podium performance, leading with a total of 65 points. Carpe moves up two places to second, 23 points behind with a total of 38.

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Perrone sits third with 38 points. His race win sees Guido Pini up to fourth overall, on 36 points. Adrian Fernandez completes the overall top five with 29 points.

Pratama is the best rookie after three races, in seventh overall with 27 points.

Full Moto3 race results can be found below.

2026 US Moto3  – Race ResultsPosRiderNatTeamTime1Guido PiniITALeopard Racing (Honda)31:20.489s2Maximo QuilesSPACFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team (KTM)+0.056s3Alvaro CarpeSPARed Bull KTM Ajo (KTM)+0.254s4Valentin PerroneARGRed Bull KTM Tech3 (KTM)+0.445s5Adrian FernandezSPALeopard Racing (Honda)+9.192s6Adrian CrucesSPACIP Green Power (KTM)+14.914s7Rico SalmelaFINRed Bull KTM Tech3 (KTM)+15.075s8Brian UriarteSPARed Bull KTM Ajo (KTM)+15.105s9Matteo BertelleITALEVEL UP – MTA (KTM)+15.240s10Scott OgdenGBRCIP Green Power (KTM)+15.570s11Eddie O’SheaGBRGRYD – MLav Racing (Honda)+16.204s12Marco MorelliARGCFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team (KTM)+17.274s13Hakim DanishMALAEON Credit- MT Helmets – MSI (KTM)+18.513s14Marcos UriarteSPALiqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (KTM)+20.559s15Jesus RiosSPARivacold Snipers Team (Honda)+27.200s16Ruche MoodleyRSACODE Motorsports (KTM)+28.093s17Nicola CarraroITARivacold Snipers Team (Honda)+28.099s18Ryusei YamanakaJPNAEON Credit- MT Helmets – MSI (KTM)+28.332s19Cormac BuchananNZLCODE Motorsports (KTM)+37.244s20Leo RammerstorferAUTSIC58 Squadra Corse (Honda)+1:01.694s21Zen MitaniJPNHonda Team Asia (Honda)DNF22Casey O’GormanIRLSIC58 Squadra Corse (Honda)DNF23Joel EstebanSPALEVEL UP – MTA (KTM)DNF24Joel KelsoAUSGRYD – MLav Racing (Honda)DNF25Veda PratamaINAHonda Team Asia (Honda)DNF