CFMOTO rules Moto3 and Moto2 in Malaysian Grand Prix
CFMOTO wins in Moto2 and Moto3!
MotoGP blasted back to speed around the wide, fast curves of the Sepang International Circuit for the Malaysian Grand Prix and the latest round of the FIM world championship. After missing race laps in last week’s cancelled Australian fixture, CFMOTO Aspar Team returned to the spray of podium Prosecco with Maximo Quiles taking his eleventh win of the season in Moto3 in front of a packed venue south of Kuala Lumpur, and David Alonso and Daniel Holgado went 1-2 in Moto2.
Sepang was the first of the final four Grands Prix of the season. CFMOTO Aspar Team had already started celebrations for Quiles and their second Moto3 crown in three years after the race in Indonesia. In Moto2 the crew were hoping that Daniel Holgado and David Alonso could continue to accumulate points and bid for the top three of the championship.
Moto3 Practice and Qualification saw Quiles fast and relaxed and relieved of thoughts about the title. He set the 2nd fastest time on Friday and then aimed for Pole Position on Saturday; achieving his goal at a site where slipstreaming can be a key asset for critical tenths of a second. It was his fourth P1 of the year. Marco Morelli was 12th fastest on his first visit to Sepang and encouragingly only 0.8 away from his teammate. Marco started from the fourth row of the grid.
Quiles helped set the pace in the first throes of the race on Sunday. By lap 8 of 15 Max attempted to break away from his four rivals for victory. He kept consistent with his lines and speed and forged a margin of more than two seconds. The distance helped Quiles roll to the win undisturbed on the last circulation, and the domination was complete. Morelli continues to struggle for form. He ran wide and finished 20th.
David Alonso had won the 2024 Moto3 Grand Prix for CFMOTO and Quiles made it ‘2 from 3’. MQ has now accumulated 16 podium appearances in 2026.
Max Quiles: “So nice! We were angry about Australia because we had great pace there so I came here with a lot of energy to race. I’ve been sick this weekend so I’ve been trying to keep calm but…really happy. I’m also sad for the train tragedy in Spain…there is not much I can say from here in Malaysia but all my strength to the people and the families.”
Moto2 grid slots were decided by less than a second between the top ten. Holgado and Alonso worked until the final seconds of Q2. David rode more laps after needing the Q1 session to find his feeling and Daniel was the reference: Holgado blasted to Pole Position by over half a second – an impressive amount. It was his second P1 of the campaign, the fourth Moto2 Pole of the year for the team and the second time in 2026 that CFMOTO held the distinction in both Moto3 and Moto2 on the same weekend (the first occasion being the Dutch GP). Alonso made his way to 4th in Q2 for the first berth on the second row of the grid.
Moto2 circulated Sepang for 17 laps and Holgado shot from Pole into the lead and a position he held for the first third of the race. Alonso moved into 2nd and then relegated his teammate on lap 5 of 17. With track temperatures topping 50 degrees, tyre conservation was important. David nearly crashed exiting Turn 14 with 3 laps to go and that created a grandstand finale between the two. Alonso recomposed and found a two-second advantage to win for the second time (after triumph in Assen) and walk the podium for the fifth occasion in 2026. Holgado uncorked Prosecco for the sixth time. Alonso now has two Sepang victories in two classes in three years.
The Moto3 world championship standings are largely inconsequential for the team; the job is done. Morelli however still has a chance of a top five classification. The Argentine is currently 6th. Alonso is top ranked in Moto2 in 4th and is one point ahead of Holgado in 5th.
David Alonso: “I’m not used to these types of races! I’m used to battling a bit. We made a really good job through the weekend to make a good start and had a good feeling. I wanted to push and to learn more. I almost crashed near the end but finally I am here. This is for all the people in Toledo and I hope this race gave them some fun in difficult moments.”
Daniel Holgado: “I’m very happy with the race; a very hard race from the first lap because the track condition today was super-hard to manage. I’m super-happy with the pace. We were so fast. Back on the podium with P2 and I’m happy for the team because they deserve it. Thank you to the fans for the fantastic support.”
Sepang was home to displays from more promising talent in and around the CFMOTO development program. The final round of the Moto4 Asia Talent Cup saw Wenze Zhong hoping to better his highest race classification of 9th place so far in 2026. The teenager sealed 15th in the first race on Saturday afternoon and then took 16th on Sunday morning.
The third consecutive round on the schedule will take MotoGP to the Lusail International Circuit and for the nocturnal Grand Prix of Qatar this week.
Results Moto3 Grand Prix of Malaysia
1. Maximo Quiles (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team 33:07.634
2. Veda Pratama (INO) Honda +3.734
3. Alvaro Carpe (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo +4.184
20. Marco Morelli (ARG) CFMOTO Aspar Team +38.537
World Championship standings Moto3
1. Maximo Quiles (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 376 points
2. David Almansa (ESP) KTM, 228
3. Brian Uriarte (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo, 205
6. Marco Morelli (ARG) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 140
Results Moto2 Grand Prix of Malaysia
1. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO Aspar Team 35:44.732
2. Daniel Holgado (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team +1.932
3. Angel Piqueras (ESP) +3.565
World Championship standings Moto2
1. Manuel Gonzalez (ESP) 276.5 points
2. Izan Guevara (ESP) 273
3. Ivan Ortola (ESP) 199.5
4. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 191
5. Daniel Holgado (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 190
