Uriarte defeats Quiles for Moto3 win in Sachsenring classic
Moto3 never fails to deliver the goods and Sunday morning at the Sachsenring was no exception as Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) converted his pole position for a second victory of 2026.
A late error from Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) saw the Spaniard have to settle for P2 but increases his Championship lead whilst it was a second rostrum of 2026 for Matteo Bertelle (LEVELUP-MTA) who claimed third.
Getting a fantastic launch from pole, Uriarte grabbed the holeshot ahead of Hakim Danish (AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI) before Marco Morelli (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) fired it up the inside at Turn 7. There was big drama at Turn 1 with a crash at the start of Lap 2 for Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Marcos Uriarte (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) whilst Nicola Carraro and Joel Kelso went into the gravel. Uriarte and Carraro were able to rejoin but Perrone’s Grand Prix was done.
Five laps in and there was a breakaway group of five at the front with Uriarte leading well ahead of Quiles and Carpe. Rico Salmela (Red Bull KTM Tech3) was having a cracking Grand Prix in fourth whilst Morelli was hanging back in P5. Further back, Casey O’Gorman (SIC58 Squadra Corse) fell at Turn 3 whilst a lap later, Scott Ogden (CIP GreenPower) joined him; both were able to rejoin.
There was a big crash from the battle for P7 as Adrian Cruces (CIP GreenPower) highsided, leaving Joel Esteban (LEVELUP-MTA) nowhere to go and both tumbled through the gravel and were thankfully OK. Back at the front, there was now a gap between Uriarte and Quiles in first and second and then Salmela, Carpe and Morelli behind. On Lap 12, Carpe had a huge moment at Turn 7 and some how kept it upright but dropped out of the podium battle and into P11. Three laps later, it was teammate Uriarte’s turn for an error as he went wide through Turn 2, giving Quiles the lead – but only for a few corners as the Championship leader seemingly let him back through up at Turn 5.
As the two at the front battled, Bertelle had done a cracking job to catch Morelli and Salmela and on Lap 18, got himself into P4. Four to go and Quiles pounced, taking over at the front but Uriarte was glued to his rear wheel. Both riding to the limit, a true Moto3 head-to-head was incoming.
At Turn 3 on the final lap, Quiles had a front-end moment, giving Uriarte the chance to go through; it was all building to the final sector. Both were on the limit but Quiles just couldn’t get through. Uriarte resisted the Championship leader’s charge to take a second Grand Prix win of his career and to move up into P2 overall in the standings. Behind both at the front, Bertelle drafted by Morelli on the run to the line for a second podium of the season whilst Salmela took fifth, a joint-best finish of his rookie season. Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) took top Honda honours in P6 ahead of Jesus Rios (Rivacold Snipers Team), Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia), Ryusei Yamanaka (AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI) with a first top ten of 2026 and Eddie O’Shea (GRYD Racing).
104 points in the lead going into summer, Quiles will be able to relax a little bit before we get back on track for Silverstone from the 7th – 9th of August. Can anyone catch the Championship leader in the second half of the season or will his prowess continue? Join us in the UK to find out!
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