Almansa Beats Quiles by 0.046 Second in Moto3 at Motegi
David Almansa won the 17-lap Moto3 race at Motegi by a narrow 0.046-second margin over Maximo Quiles. Alvaro Carpe finished third, Brian Uriarte fourth, and Rico Salmela fifth. Quiles continues to lead the standings with 326 points, 127 ahead of Almansa, with Carpe third on 191.
Almansa’s Motegi victory was his third of the 2026 Moto3 season. He started strongly, led early, and later benefited when Brian Uriarte received a double Long Lap Penalty because his team worked on the bike after the three-minute signal. That put Almansa into the lead on Lap 8.
Quiles stayed close, moved into second on Lap 12, and erased much of a later gap after a mistake with five laps left. Carpe took third, 2.738 seconds back, while Uriarte and Rico Salmela completed the top five. Quiles still leads the standings by 127 points over Almansa.
The narrow finish may heighten fan interest in Moto3 and keep the title fight suspenseful for another round. It could affect riders, teams, sponsors, and spectators at Motegi, while Quiles’ delayed celebration may draw more attention to upcoming races. The Long Lap penalty may also spark discussion about grid procedures and officiating, potentially influencing how teams and fans view rule enforcement. Younger viewers could be inspired by the close competition.