Maximo Quiles claimed pole position for the 2026 Malaysian Moto3 Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit, leading a closely contested qualifying session on Saturday, 31 October 2026. The Aspar Team rider set a benchmark lap time of 2m10.396s in Qualifying 2 to head the starting grid. Brian Uriarte finished just behind in second place for Red Bull KTM Ajo after posting a 2m10.480s effort, while Hakim Danish completed the front row in third for Aeon Credit – MT Helmets – MSI with a personal best of 2m10.529s.
Indonesian competitor Veda Ega Pratama secured eighth on the grid for Honda Team Asia with a final Q2 effort of 2m10.861s. Pratama had advanced straight into the pole shootout after concluding the earlier Practice session in third place, joining an 18-rider field in the second qualifying phase. During his opening run, Pratama completed a single flying lap to record a 2m11.137s time, which initially placed him ninth before a subsequent improvement lifted him to eighth at the checkered flag.
Track proceedings commenced with Qualifying 1, where 12 riders fought for four promotion spots into Q2. Adrian Cruces progressed for CIP Green Power alongside Leopard Racing rider Guido Pini, Ryusei Yamanaka representing Aeon Credit – MT Helmets – MSI, and Aspar Team competitor Marco Morelli. In the subsequent pole contest, David Almansa took fourth for Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP after disputing the top positions, while Alvaro Carpe followed in fifth for Red Bull KTM Ajo. Matteo Bertelle placed sixth for Level UP – MTA, ahead of Joel Kelso in seventh for GRYD – MLav Racing, with Adrian Fernandez and David Munoz concluding the top ten.
The remaining Q2 participants locked down positions 11 through 18 on the grid. Scott Ogden led the midfield runners in 11th for CIP Green Power, with Morelli in 12th, Eddie O'Shea in 13th for GRYD – MLav Racing, Pini in 14th, and Yamanaka in 15th. Joel Esteban took 16th for Level UP – MTA, while Cruces in 17th and Rico Salmela in 18th for Red Bull KTM Tech3 rounded out the second qualifying segment order.
The lower grid positions determined by Qualifying 1 placed Zen Mitani in 19th for Honda Team Asia and Valentin Perrone in 20th for Red Bull KTM Tech3. Kiattisak Singhapong secured 21st for Rivacold Snipers Team ahead of Casey O'Gorman in 22nd for SIC58 Squadra Corse, Jesus Rios in 23rd, Ruche Moodley in 24th for CODE Motorsports, and Leo Rammerstorfer concluding the 25-rider classification for SIC58 Squadra Corse.
The Malaysian Moto3 main race is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 1 November 2026, starting at 11:00 WIB. Live broadcast coverage of the Grand Prix race will be shown domestically on Trans7, alongside digital streaming on SPO TV 2 via the Vidio and Vision+ platforms.
For the rider behind one of the session’s notable results, see our Veda Pratama profile.
Sources: Hasil Kualifikasi Moto3 Malaysia 2026: Veda P8, Danish P3.
