Results from the 2026 Moto3 Thai Grand Prix at Buriram, the opening round of the season.

David Almansa took victory in the opening round of the 2026 Moto3 season, beating Max Quiles in a run to the line on the final lap.

Almansa led from the start after launching from pole position, Quiles quickly getting into second place after starting fourth. In the beginning of the race both were at the front of a large group that covered most of the top-10, but in the second half of the race especially they proved to have superior pace.

Quiles took the lead from Almansa on lap 11 and tried to make a break. He had looked as though he was saving himself and his tyre for a late attack while following his compatriot, but after taking the lead he soon made a mistake at turn one, running wide and allowing Almansa back through.

Quiles got back to Almansa's rear wheel by the penultimate lap, but on that time through the final corner he ran wide and gave up half-a-second.

The Aspar rider was able to make that time back up on the final lap, and was in position to launch an attack on Almansa into the final corner. Almansa covered the inside, but Quiles got there anyway, braking down the inside and taking the lead at the apex. Almansa carried better momentum through the corner, though, and ultimately beat Quiles to the line by only 0.003 seconds - the closest Moto3 finish since the 2013 Australian Grand Prix, won by Alex Rins over Maverick Vinales.

The battle for third place was decided nine seconds back of the leaders. Valentin Perrone won out in a battle that also featured Alvaro Carpe, Veda Pratama, and Adrian Fernandez, who finished fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively. For Pratama, it was a debut top-five.

Behind, Brian Uriarte, Marco Morelli, Joel Esteban, and David Munoz completed the top-10.

There were few crashes in the race, and only one retirement: Cormac Buchanan. Ryusei Yamanaka crashed out of the group that ultimately battle for third at turn five on lap two, while Guido Pini crashed out of 10th the following lap at turn 12. Yamanaka got back on and finished a lap down, while Pini remounted to take 20th on his Leopard Honda debut.