The 2026 Thailand Moto3 season kicked off with a thrilling Friday practice session, setting the stage for an exciting race ahead. David Almansa, a seasoned Spaniard, claimed the top spot with a stellar performance on his new Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP KTM. Despite a brief rain shower during the lunch break, Almansa adapted swiftly, showcasing his prowess with a final time of 1:40.990s, leaving his competitors in awe.
Alvaro Carpe, a late bloomer, powered his Red Bull KTM bike up to second place, finishing just 0.078s behind Almansa. Valentin Perrone, who started the day slower in FP1, made a remarkable move into the top ten, securing third place for Red Bull KTM Tech3. Maximo Quiles, the early session leader, couldn't maintain his top spot, finishing fourth, while his teammate Marco Morelli secured fifth place.
The British riders, Scott Ogden and Jesus Rios, showcased their talent, with Ogden in sixth for CIP Green Power and Rios in seventh for Rivacold Snipers Team. Honda Team Asia's Veda Pratama, close behind in eighth, was just over half a second behind Almansa. Adrian Fernandez, who topped FP1, dropped to ninth for Leopard, with Brian Uriarte, the reigning Junior GP and Rookies Cup champion, completing the top ten.
The remaining overnight provisional Q2 places went to Ryusei Yamanaka, Guido Pini, Casey O'Gorman, and Joel Esteban, pushing them up the ranks. However, the race wasn't without its challenges, as Rico Salmela, a rookie, became the first rider to fall, recovering from an early spill in sector three but finishing 15th for Red Bull KTM Tech3. David Munoz held the final spot in the closing minutes, shuffling back to 16th.
The Chang International Circuit in Thailand welcomed the riders for the first time since the opening race of the previous season, where Matteo Bertelle took pole and Jose Antonio Rueda claimed victory. Bertelle's 2026 season got off to a muted start, finishing 20th for LEVEL UP - MTA, while Hakim Danish, in 22nd, pushed his MT Helmets bike to its limits, pulling off a remarkable save as the clock ticked down.
The official Buriram Moto3 records revealed the fastest race lap by David Munoz (2025) at 1m 41.042s and the all-time lap record held by Jose Antonio Rueda (2025) at 1m 40.350s. The opening Free Practice session saw Adrian Fernandez top the session, bridging the gap from his first win from pole in 2025. Joel Kelso and David Almansa completed the early top three, with Kelso then dropping to 19th in the second session. Veda Pratama was the top rookie in FP1, while Ogden was the best British rider in ninth.
The 2026 Thailand Moto3 - Free Practice (1) Results showcased the riders' prowess, with Adrian Fernandez leading the pack at 1:41.202s, followed by Joel Kelso and David Almansa. The battle for top positions was intense, with only a few seconds separating the top riders. The full results can be found below, providing a comprehensive overview of the practice session's outcomes.
