Rookie sensation Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team) delivered a final-corner masterclass at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, storming to his first Grand Prix victory in a Moto3™ thriller. The 17-year-old battled from the third row to lead home a rookie 1-2, fending off Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in a drag to the line, while Dennis Foggia (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team) returned to the podium in front of his home crowd for the first time since 2022.
The early chaos and charge
Polesitter Carpe grabbed the holeshot and kept things tidy early, with front-row starters briefly forming the top three. Behind them, it was action immediately, as Jose Antonio Rueda and Scott Ogden rubbed elbows on Lap 1. On Lap 2, drama struck as Vicente Perez, Riccardo Rossi, and Ruche Moodley all crashed exiting Turn 5. Then on Lap 3, David Almansa was eliminated in contact with Ogden, ending another promising charge early.
While Carpe and Rueda duked it out with Quiles at the front, Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) put on a sensational show, slicing from 20th to P4 by Lap 6 and battling for the podium on home turf. Also on a flyer was Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3), joining the lead group after starting from the back of the grid.
But it wouldn’t last. Lap 7 saw more heartbreak for the home fans as Adrian Fernandez and Luca Lunetta crashed out at Turn 1. A few corners later, the dream run for Pini ended after contact with Joel Kelso sent him down at Turn 12.
The final lap showdown
The final lap was a Mugello classic. Foggia led into Turn 1, but as the group blasted through Arrabbiata 1 and 2, the top three went full attack mode. Carpe and Foggia swapped positions, allowing Quiles to slide back into P2 by Turn 12. Into Bucine, the last corner, Quiles hit the front—and despite Carpe’s late lunge in the slipstream, the #28 held his nerve to cross the line just ahead.
“That was chaos—but incredible,” said Quiles. “I didn’t expect the win to come this soon, especially here. Mugello is special. I can’t believe it.”
Carpe took his third podium of the year in P2, while Foggia celebrated an emotional return with a home podium in P3.
Title implications
Championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda finished fourth after briefly dropping to 15th mid-race, salvaging valuable points in a wild one. David Muñoz crossed the line fifth, just ahead of Taiyo Furusato, who was shuffled back late in the lap.
Angel Piqueras fought to P7, narrowly ahead of Perrone in P8, with Joel Kelso and Ryusei Yamanaka completing the top ten—just 0.9s from victory. Nicola Carraro was 11th in a photo finish.
Main Photo credit: Pirelli Press Office