Quiles delivers at home in Jerez as last-lap scrap decides the podium

There are wins that come from control, and then there are wins that have to be earned the hard way. What Máximo Quiles produced in Jerez firmly belonged to the second category. In front of a passionate home crowd at the Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto, the young Spaniard returned to the top step with a performance that combined patience, racecraft, and a decisive late charge.

Riding for the CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team, Quiles secured his second victory of the 2026 season—but the final result doesn’t fully capture just how intense the race was. Behind him, the fight for the remaining podium places went right down to the final corner, with Adrián Fernández narrowly beating David Muñoz in a drag race to the line after a fierce last-lap battle.

Fast start, early drama

From the moment the lights went out, it was clear this wouldn’t be a straightforward race. Muñoz launched perfectly and grabbed the holeshot into Turn 1, immediately putting himself at the front. But in typical Moto3 fashion—where slipstreams and late braking constantly shuffle positions—his lead didn’t last long. By Turn 8, Quiles had already fought his way back through to reclaim P1 and lead the opening lap.

Even before the race properly settled, there was early drama. Leo Rammerstorfer failed to get off the line, ending his race before it had even begun. Not long after, Matteo Bertelle—who had been enjoying one of his strongest weekends of the season—crashed out at Turn 1, a reminder of how unforgiving the opening laps can be in the lightweight class.

Constant pressure at the front

As the race unfolded, the leading group began to take shape. By Lap 6, Muñoz had regrouped and was back applying pressure to Quiles. At the same time, Fernández forced his way into second place, making it a three-rider fight at the front. A lap later, Fernández briefly took the lead, showing strong pace and confidence as he looked to control proceedings.

Just behind them, Marco Morelli was quietly putting together one of the rides of the day. Running in fourth, he managed to break clear from a large chasing group that included Alvaro Carpe and several others locked in a tight midfield battle.

Further back, the race continued to claim victims. Guido Pini, fresh off a win in Austin, crashed out, followed shortly after by Nicola Carraro. It highlighted how difficult it was to maintain consistency across the full race distance, especially at a technical circuit like Jerez.

Quiles makes his move

The decisive phase of the race began around Lap 15. Quiles, who had been carefully managing his pace, struck again at Turn 1 to retake the lead. This time, however, he wasn’t just interested in leading—he wanted to break away.

Immediately, his lap times dropped. While others were circulating in the mid-1:45 range, Quiles dipped into the high 1:44s, stretching the field and forcing his rivals to respond. Muñoz did his best to stay with him, while Fernández remained close enough to keep the pressure on.

But then came a key moment. With just three laps remaining, Muñoz made a small but costly mistake at Turn 1. It was enough to drop him over half a second behind Quiles—a significant gap in Moto3 terms. From that point on, the fight for victory was effectively settled, but the battle for the podium was just beginning.

Last-lap showdown for second

Heading into the final lap, Quiles had done enough to control the race from the front. Behind him, though, the tension was building. Fernández held second, but Muñoz was right on his tail—and Morelli had closed in to make it a three-way fight.

What followed was classic Moto3 racing. The trio exchanged positions and ran side-by-side through multiple corners, including Turns 6, 8, and 9. There was barely any room between them, with aggressive moves and defensive lines shaping the outcome corner by corner.

As they entered the final sector, it was still anyone’s guess who would come out on top. Muñoz made one last attempt at Turn 13, diving in aggressively in a bid to snatch second place. But Fernández held firm, got the better exit, and powered ahead in the drag race to the finish line.

A home victory to remember

Out front, none of that mattered to Quiles. With a clear track ahead, he crossed the line to take a well-earned victory—his second of the season and a particularly special one given it came at his home Grand Prix.

Fernández secured second after that final-corner battle, while Muñoz had to settle for third. Morelli, just missing out on the podium, finished fourth after an outstanding ride.

The result meant a clean sweep for Spanish riders on home soil, much to the delight of the Jerez crowd.

The rest of the top 10

Behind the leading quartet, Carpe came home in fifth place after a solid but quieter race. Veda Pratama impressed again in sixth, continuing his consistent form, while Valentin Perrone finished seventh.

David Almansa secured eighth, followed by a season-best performance from Jesus Rios in ninth. Joel Esteban rounded out the top ten.

A classic Moto3 race

Races like this are exactly why Moto3 has built a reputation as one of the most entertaining classes in motorcycle racing. Close battles, constant overtakes, and last-lap drama are part of its DNA—and Jerez delivered all of that and more.

For Quiles, it’s a result that strengthens his position as a serious contender this season. For Fernández and Muñoz, it’s proof that the competition remains incredibly tight. And for the fans, it was another reminder that in Moto3, nothing is decided until the final corner.

With momentum building and the championship starting to take shape, attention now turns to the next round in Le Mans—where another unpredictable chapter is almost guaranteed.