Malaysian masterclass as Danish takes maiden Moto3 victory at Brno
Moto3: A first win for Malaysia in a decade and a career-first for Hakim Danish (AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI) who overcame a 12-place grid penalty to hit the front on the last lap after a race-long battle.
The #13 became the fourth new winner of the 2026 season, finishing ahead of Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Championship leader Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team).
It was a bright start from polesitter David Almansa (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) but he was beaten to the holeshot by Quiles. Straight away on the opening lap, a front group of four broke clear as Quiles, Almansa and Red Bull KTM Ajo duo Alvaro Carpe and Uriarte duked it out. Further down, it was a cracking start from Danish who after receiving a 12-place grid penalty, started 14th and was P5 and with the leaders by Lap 2.
Four had become six with Danish right with the leaders and bringing Casey O’Gorman (SIC58 Squadra Corse) with him whilst less than a second back, Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia) had also recovered from his 12-place grid penalty and was P7 from 20th and by Lap 5, had climbed into the top four having had a very quiet weekend. A seven-rider fight at the front, Moto3 was at its best. A change of the lead on Lap 6 as Almansa burst through at Turn 1 whilst seven became six when O’Gorman crashed out at Turn 9.
Almansa’s lead was short-lived when Uriarte dispatched of Quiles and the Grand Prix leader at Turns 5 and 7 respectively and the #22 was now being beaten up by the Championship leader and Carpe, managing to recover to P3 as the second half of the race began. The battle kept raging, Almansa working his way to P1 briefly before Quiles took over and then Carpe pounced on the #22 at Turn 4, running him out wide and fragmenting the group.
With four to go, the group was back together and there was a brief change of lead with Almansa getting back in the game and attacking Quiles but the Buriram winner was unable to make it stick. Two laps to go and it was still anyone’s to win; Quiles stood firm and was leading brilliantly but the chasing pack were eager to disrupt his flow. Disrupting flow was what Pratama did to Almansa at Turn 10 whilst Carpe made a mistake all on his own, allowing Quiles, Uriarte and Danish to break free at the front.
Last lap time and elbows were flying everywhere and there was contact at Turn 8 between Quiles and Uriarte and that paved the way for Danish to carve his way through. In the final sector, it was five abreast into the final corner but nobody was getting near the Malaysian rookie. From 14th on the grid, it was a masterclass from Danish to take his maiden victory in Moto3 and Malaysia’s first since Khairul Idham Pawi at the Sachsenring in 2016. In the all-out fight for second, Uriarte came out on top ahead of Quiles with Almansa fourth despite being in P2 on the run up to the final two corners. Pratama was fifth at the flag whilst Carpe lost valuable ground to Quiles in the title race to finish sixth.
Noteworthy performances included a good comeback from 17th on the grid to P7 for Marco Morelli (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) and Joel Kelso (GRYD Racing) a best result of 2026 in eighth. Scott Ogden (CIP GreenPower) took his second top ten of the season in ninth ahead of Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) who came home tenth.
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