Máximo Quiles celebrated with Raúl Fernández / EFE
Máximo Quiles strengthened his lead in the Moto3 World Championship with a commanding victory at the French Grand Prix in Le Mans, leading from start to finish. In a race defined by survival, the protégé of Marc Márquez had no serious challenger as he crossed the finish line first, securing his third win of the 2026 season. Pole-sitter Adrián Fernández finished second, with Matteo Bertelle rounding out the podium in third.
The morning race was heavily impacted by rain that had soaked the circuit. Due to the wet conditions and the lack of any prior practice on a damp track, race officials shortened the event to just 13 laps, allowing riders a 10-minute reconnaissance session before the start.
Even before the first corner, Brian Uriarte crashed out, though he managed to rejoin shortly after. Soon after, David Muñoz and Cormac Buchanan also fell, following the path of the KTM Ajo rider.
Máximo Quiles, the championship leader, executed a strong start and immediately took the front position, closely followed by pole sitter Adrián Fernández. Behind them, with the track cold and slippery, crashes continued to pile up, turning the race into a pure test of endurance.
Before the fifth lap was completed, championship runner-up Álvaro Carpe also hit the ground, visibly frustrated as he headed back to the pits. Marco Morelli followed suit a few meters later, leaving Adrián Fernández as the only real challenger for second place.
**Playing it safe**
With just nine laps gone, a total of 13 riders had already kissed the asphalt, leaving only 19 survivors from the original field under the treacherous conditions.
Up front, Quiles and Fernández held firm, with the CFMoto Aspar Team rider maintaining a gap of just over a second ahead of the Leopard rider. Behind them, the field stretched further, with gaps of two seconds or more between positions.
With the goal of avoiding mistakes, no one dared to take unnecessary risks, and most accepted their positions. Quiles crossed the line first, now holding 115 points in the overall standings after five Grands Prix.
