New Moto3 Record
David Almansa Secures Pole Position and Sets New Moto3 Record in Thrilling Final Moments
David Almansa grabbed pole position for the Moto3 Czech Republic Grand Prix at Brno with a stunning last-second lap of 2:04.069 — a new all-time circuit record. The Spanish rider beat rival Hakim Danish by just 0.017 seconds, making it three consecutive poles in the 2026 season. Moto.it reported Almansa said: "We are very happy with three poles in a row. The feeling with the bike is the best I've ever had."
The qualifying session at Automotodrom Brno had drama to spare. Championship leader Maximo Quiles was forced into the pits with a gearbox failure in the final minutes, ending his challenge from provisional pole. Almansa pounced, slicing nearly four-tenths of a second off Quiles' best effort to seal the top spot for his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP team.
A Record Shattered Multiple Times in 48 Hours
The lap record at Brno fell again and again over the Czech GP weekend. On Friday, Malaysian rookie Hakim Danish was the first Moto3 rider to crack the 2:05 barrier there, posting a 2:04.938 in practice. On Saturday morning, Alvaro Carpe pushed it lower to 2:04.394 to lead Free Practice 2, according to BikeSport News. Then Almansa blew past them all in qualifying with his 2:04.069.
Analysts note that the "sub-2:05 era" at Brno for Moto3 is now firmly established. The top five qualifiers all went under 2:05. Improved Pirelli tire compounds and aerodynamic upgrades on the 2026 KTM RC250GP helped shave more than two seconds off records set just two years ago.
Almansa's Perfect Timing Beats Danish by 17 Thousandths
With three minutes left in Q2, Almansa lined up behind a group of three riders to use their slipstream as a speed boost — a tactic that has become his trademark in 2026. He crossed the line at 2:04.069. Seconds later, Danish finished his lap at 2:04.086. The gap: 0.017 seconds. According to SNE Sports, Danish was actually faster through the first three sectors but lost critical time in the final corner due to a small mistake.
Rival Guido Pini, who qualified P12, summed up the pace gap bluntly. Moto.it quoted him saying: "I tried to get behind Almansa but from Turn 1 he was in another sport." It was Almansa's fourth pole of 2026. His previous three came at Mugello, Balaton Park in Hungary, and now Brno.
Quiles' Gearbox Failure Leaves the Title Battle Wide Open
Maximo Quiles holds a 170-point total in the championship and leads his nearest rival Alvaro Carpe by 59 points, according to Paddock GP. But Saturday was a rough day for the Aspar rider. He set a provisional pole early in Q2 with a 2:04.490, then watched his CFMOTO machine limp back to the pits with a gearbox fault. He will still start P3 on Sunday.
Some Italian media framed Almansa's pole as partly the result of Quiles' bad luck. Spanish and French outlets pushed back hard. Infobae pointed out that Almansa's final lap was nearly four-tenths faster than Quiles' best effort before the mechanical failure — a gap too big to explain away as fortune.
Teammate's Injury Adds Emotional Weight to Almansa's Day
Almansa also took a moment after qualifying to address the absence of his Intact GP teammate David Munoz. Munoz is recovering from a fractured pelvis suffered at the previous round in Hungary. Marcos Uriarte is riding in his place at Brno. Almansa said simply: "I also want to send my support to my teammate David Munoz." His replacement Uriarte took part in practice as the team pushes on with a depleted lineup.
Sunday's Moto3 race at Brno is set for 11:00 AM local time. Over 150,000 spectators are expected at the circuit across the full weekend. Czech fans will watch the fastest lightweight racing in the track's history — and see whether Almansa can finally turn his qualifying speed into a race win and close the gap on Quiles in the standings.
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