Moto3 returned to the spotlight in Hungary with a barnstorming contest that set the tone for Grand Prix Sunday. The Balaton circuit played host to one of the most dramatic races of the season so far as Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) edged out fellow rookie Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) by a breathtaking 0.018 seconds at the flag. The pair literally banged elbows as they tore across the line, producing a finish destined to be remembered as an instant classic.
While the top two staged their private duel, the battle for third was no less intense. David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) ultimately prevailed, denying Austrian GP winner Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) and championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in a five-rider scrap for the podium.
Blistering start: Quiles leads, Perrone fights back
Off the line, polesitter Quiles nailed the holeshot, leading into Turn 1 ahead of Perrone and Piqueras. The entire field managed a clean opening lap, but the pace was fierce from the outset. On lap three, Perrone capitalised on a rare mistake by Quiles at Turn 5 to snatch the lead. His advantage didn’t last long: just four corners later at Turn 9, Quiles struck straight back.
The all-rookie fight at the front allowed the chasing pack to close in. Muñoz was particularly sharp, moving into third on lap four after overtaking Piqueras and then pouncing on Perrone at Turn 9 to climb into second. The stage was set for a multi-rider showdown.
Early drama: crashes thin out the field
While the front group traded blows, misfortune struck elsewhere. At the end of lap six, Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power) crashed out at the final corner. His fall forced Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) and Marcos Uriarte (LEVELUP-MTA) to take avoiding action, both running wide into the gravel.
By the halfway mark, the race order resembled Austria a week earlier: Quiles once again dictating the pace, with Piqueras climbing into second, Perrone slipping to third, and Muñoz holding fourth ahead of teammate Guido Pini. But the momentum shifted on lap 10 when Quiles made another mistake at the final corner, dropping from the lead all the way to fourth. Perrone gratefully took over at the front, Muñoz slotted into second, and the balance of power began to swing.
Five laps to go: lead group swells again
With five laps remaining, the tension ratcheted up another notch. Perrone continued to lead but Muñoz was now right on his tail, while Quiles had regrouped into third. Piqueras clung onto fourth, and Rueda — after steadily chipping away at the gap — had latched onto the leaders in fifth. Five riders, all with a realistic shot at victory.
The group was soon whittled down again. Pini’s challenge ended on lap 11 with a crash at Turn 11, just as he looked set to make it a six-way fight. In the chasing pack, Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) also crashed, this time at Turn 1, costing Honda a chance at valuable points.
With the laps ticking away, the front quartet held formation — but everyone knew the storm was coming.
Last lap fireworks: elbows at the line
Heading into the final lap, just a tenth separated Perrone and Quiles. The Spaniard looked for a move into Turn 1 but couldn’t quite make it stick. At Turn 5, however, Quiles seized his chance, diving through to take the lead. Perrone refused to yield, rebuilding momentum through sector three.
The decisive moment came at the final sequence of corners. Perrone launched a bold attack through the fast chicane at Turns 15 and 16, nosing ahead into the last corner. For a brief moment, it looked as if the Argentine rookie had done enough. But Quiles got the better drive out of the corner, pulled alongside on the straight, and the two brushed elbows in a dramatic sprint to the line.
By just 0.018 seconds, Quiles held on to take victory — his finest moment yet in Moto3. Perrone’s second place marked his best career finish and his second podium in only five starts. Behind them, Muñoz secured third, extending his streak to five consecutive podiums. Piqueras narrowly missed out in fourth but did manage to claw back three points in the championship battle, as Rueda followed him home in fifth.
Top ten finishers: steady rides behind the chaos
- 6th: Adrian Fernández (Leopard Racing) – the top Honda rider, steady all race.
- 7th: David Almansa (Leopard Racing) – followed his teammate home for a double top-seven.
- 8th: Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) – quietly consistent, rewarded with solid points.
- 9th: Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – another strong rookie ride.
- 10th: Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) – back inside the top ten for the first time since Germany.
Hungary delivers, Barcelona awaits
The Hungarian Grand Prix marked Moto3’s first appearance in the country since the early 1990s, and it didn’t disappoint. The combination of a flowing circuit and fearless young talent produced a thriller that went right to the wire.
Quiles’ victory underlined his raw speed and racecraft, while Perrone confirmed himself as one of the breakthrough rookies of the season. Muñoz’s relentless consistency keeps him firmly in the title conversation, and Rueda still clings onto the championship lead despite losing ground.
Next stop: Barcelona. For many in the paddock, it’s home soil, and after Hungary’s fireworks, Moto3 looks set to deliver another classic.
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