Quiles Seizes First Moto3™ Victory in Electrifying Mugello Thriller

There’s a fitting symmetry in the story. Back in 2010, Marc Marquez claimed his maiden Grand Prix win at Mugello after earlier achieving his first pole in France and a podium in the UK. Now, 15 years later, another Spanish rising star has followed a similar path. Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team) delivered a masterful ride through the pack to take his first-ever Moto3™ win in a dramatic showdown at Mugello — leading home a sensational rookie 1-2 finish.

Quiles, who began the race from the third row of the grid, showed nerves of steel and racecraft well beyond his years as he sliced through the field to take the chequered flag just ahead of polesitter Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo). Dennis Foggia, also on a CFMOTO Valresa Aspar machine, completed the podium in a race packed with incident and tension from start to finish.

Carpe made a clean getaway, defending his position into Turn 1 and holding the lead early on. The top three starters quickly established themselves at the front, while chaos erupted just behind. Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Jose Antonio Rueda – the current points leader – and Britain’s Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power) exchanged paint through the opening corners, fighting for track space in the thick of the action.

Disaster struck on Lap 2, as three riders — Vicente Perez (GRYD MLav Racing Team), Ricardo Rossi (Rivacold Snipers Team), and Ruche Moodley (DENSSI – Racing Boe) — were all caught out at the exit of Turn 5 and crashed out of contention. Then, early on Lap 3, Leopard Racing’s David Almansa – running inside the top six – went down after contact with Ogden, who had been involved in a few close quarters moments already.

By the sixth lap, Quiles had stormed into the lead and began trading places with Rueda. Behind them, Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP) was producing the ride of his young career, climbing from 20th on the grid all the way up to fourth, even joining the podium battle alongside fellow Italian and home crowd favourite Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse). It was turning into a true Moto3 classic, and there was more drama to come.

On Lap 7, David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP) and Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) had a heart-stopping moment at Turn 10, narrowly avoiding disaster. Perrone, remarkably, had climbed into the lead group despite starting from the very back of the grid. Meanwhile, Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), returning from injury, briefly hit the front by the end of the same lap — showcasing the unpredictable nature of the battle up front.

But Mugello is a cruel stage at times. At Turn 1, just moments later, both Fernandez and Lunetta crashed under braking, ending their hopes of podium glory. And a few corners on, Pini’s brilliant run also came to an abrupt halt after contact with Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) at Turn 12 sent him tumbling out.

The final lap was a nail-biter. Foggia led into Turn 1, but Carpe responded brilliantly, retaking the lead through the fast and flowing Arrabbiata corners. That brief tussle allowed Quiles to close right back in. By Turn 12, Quiles had snatched second, and heading into the final corner, he made his decisive move for the win. Despite Carpe’s best efforts in the slipstream down the straight, Quiles held firm, crossing the line to take an emotional and well-deserved maiden victory — at the very circuit where Marquez had done the same in 2010.

Carpe settled for second, while Foggia delighted the home fans with a return to the rostrum — his first since Buriram in 2022. Rueda salvaged fourth place after a rollercoaster race that saw him drop as low as 15th at one point, further extending his lead in the championship. Muñoz came through for fifth in another solid ride.

Tatsuki Furusato took sixth after losing ground on the final lap but showed strong pace throughout. Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) and the ever-impressive Perrone followed in seventh and eighth respectively. Kelso, despite his late incident with Pini, claimed ninth — less than a second behind the winner, highlighting just how close the race was. Rounding out the top ten was Ryusei Yamanaka (also FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI), who edged out Nicola Carraro (Rivacold Snipers Team) in a fierce final-lap duel.

Official MotoGP Press Release