The second race of the season became a frantic five lap dash after a red flag in the first start of the Moto3 Brazilian round. Maximo Quiles had worked a huge lead of over four seconds to be leading at the stoppage, so earned a second pole start after originally lining up eleventh.

Running on the green for an advantage the CFMoto Gaviota Aspar rider was able to get ahead at the second time of asking but this time, his team-mate Marco Morelli, on a softer option tyre was able to push him over the shorter distance.

The Spaniard was able to hold on ahead despite the slipstream advantage behind over the line to take the win by 0.143s with the KTM duo celebrating with a synchronised dance in parc ferme.

The result was a fourth win for Quiles, while Morelli made is first podium appearance.

The battle for the final podium spot behind was fierce, with Alvaro Carpe in the driving seat, with rookie Veda Pratama all over his rear.

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The Honda Team Asia rider, also on a softer tyre, found a way around on the last lap, with an attack up the inside which he defended over the line. Pratama was rewarded by being the first Indonesian rider to take a podium in grand prix racing in just his second outing in the class.

Guido Pini was also in the mix finishing just behind the Red Bull KTM Ajo bike of Carpe, taking fifth for Leopard.

Rookie Rico Salmela was in the same group on track, racing hard for sixth for Red Bull KTM Tech3, with team-mate Perrone next to finish in seventh, one of the bigger losers on the restart having been battling for the podium before the red flag.

It was a similar story for Adrian Fernandez, who was a gap back on tarck to eighth on the second Leopard bike, whilst Casey O’Gorman progressed to ninth for SIC58 Squarda Corse, ahead of fellow newcomer Hakim Danish, who completed the top 10 for MT Helmets after being the top rookie qualifier on Saturday, originally on the front row.

Brian Uriarte was 11th for Red Bull KTM Ajo taking the chequered flag just before Joel Kelso, carrying injury after his fall on Saturday in 12th.

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The final points went to Adrian Cruces who was 13th for CIP Green Power, who started last on the original start, 14th placed Ryusei Yamanaka and Eddie O’Shea who was 15th .

Zent Mitani, Nicola Carraro and Cormac Buchanan, back on track after his huge crash on Saturday, were the only other riders to finish.

Official Brazil Moto3 Records:
Fastest race lap: New Circuit
All time lap record: New Circuit
Current best lap: 1:27.308s (FP2) David Almansa
New lap record: 1:26.241s (Q2) Joel Esteban

Crashes, injuries and replacements

Weather, track conditions and a long delay made for a tricky qualifying, with Joel Esteban dealing with the situation best, earning pole for the first restart, though the Level-Up MTA rider was soon back in the pack, working forward only to then fall.

Leo Rammerstorfer had a long lap penalty to serve in the race, but went onto be the first to crash, with Almansa slipping from the lead just before Scott Ogden fell and the red flag came out to retrieve his bike.

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Daivd Almansa, who was leading the championship after winning in Thailand was hit by yellow flags in qualifying, started 14th before racing to the front, it was confimred he was too far adrift to join the restart after his huge highside at  turn four.

On the restart Jesus Rios rushed for position and collected Matteo Bertelle. Ruche Moodley retired with a technical issues after getting the orange disc ‘meatball’ flag.

David Munoz took part in the season opener, but was rested in Brazil, as he continues his recovery from his accident at the end of last season.

Championship Standings

The race win took Quiles to 45 points and the title lead, with tam-mate Morelli moving uo to second overall on 28 – a 17 point advantage.

Pratama is third overall on 27 points after his podium finish, with Capre on 26 in fourth.

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Almansa had lead after the opening round, his DNF sees him stay on 25 points from that win, now equal with Perrone, but placed fifth due to the win heading to Austin.

2026 Brazilian Moto3  – Race ResultsPosRiderNatTeamTime1Maximo QuilesSPACFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team (KTM)7:19.821s2Marco MorelliARGCFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team (KTM)+0.143s3Veda PratamaINAHonda Team Asia (Honda)+1.650s4Alvaro CarpeSPARed Bull KTM Ajo (KTM)+1.741s5Guido PiniITALeopard Racing (Honda)+1.786s6Rico SalmelaFINRed Bull KTM Tech3 (KTM)+1.842s7Valentin PerroneARGRed Bull KTM Tech3 (KTM)+1.949s8Adrian FernandezSPALeopard Racing (Honda)+2.522s9Casey O’GormanIRLSIC58 Squadra Corse (Honda)+2.894s10Hakim DanishMALAEON Credit- MT Helmets – MSI (KTM)+3.083s11Brian UriarteSPARed Bull KTM Ajo (KTM)+3.158s12Joel KelsoAUSGRYD – MLav Racing (Honda)+3.791s13Adrian CrucesSPACIP Green Power (KTM)+4.001s14Ryusei YamanakaJPNAEON Credit- MT Helmets – MSI (KTM)+4.374s15Eddie O’SheaGBRGRYD – MLav Racing (Honda)+4.750s16Zen MitaniJPNHonda Team Asia (Honda)+6.438s17Nicola CarraroITARivacold Snipers Team (Honda)+6.595s18Cormac BuchananNZLCODEMotorsports (KTM)+12.823s19Ruche MoodleyRSACODEMotorsports (KTM)DNF20Matteo BertelleITALEVEL UP – MTA (KTM)DNF21Jesus RiosSPARivacold Snipers Team (Honda)DNF22Joel EstebanSPALEVEL UP – MTA (KTM)DNS23David AlmansaSPALiqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (KTM)DNS24Scott OgdenGBRCIP Green Power (KTM)DNS25Leo RammerstorferAUTSIC58 Squadra Corse (Honda)DNS

 

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