2026 Thai Moto3 - Friday Practice Results

The opening day of the Moto3 season saw David Almansa rise to the top of the timesheets to begin 2026 in the best way possible leading Practice in Buriram ahead of the Thai Grand Prix.

The Spaniard adapted quickly to his new Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP KTM, having been a Honda rider with Leopard last season, and overcame the spots of rain after a brief shower during the lunch break to still find red sectors, posting a final best of 1:40.990s.

• 2026 Thai MotoGP, Buriram - Friday Practice LIVE!

Alvaro Carpe was a late improver, powering his Red Bull KTM bike up to second to finish just 0.078s slower.

The Friday top three was completed by Valentin Perrone, making a move into the top ten after a slower start to the day in FP1, pulling out his best lap when it mattered for Red Bull KTM Tech3.

Maximo Quiles, who topped the final test in Jerez, had been the most regular early session leader - his late lap to try to regain the top spot saw the Aspar rider run wide, leaving him fourth, with new team-mate Marco Morelli closing in on his best to place fifth.

Scott Ogden was the best of the British riders in sixth for CIP Green Power, with the battle for top rookie.

Strong opening day for the 2026 rookie riders

That battle was won by Jesus Rios, who had also been the best placed newcomer at the final test for Rivacold Snipers.

Honda Team Asia’s Veda Pratama was close behind in eighth, the first rider to be just over half a second from Almansa’s time.

Adrian Fernandez dropped from first in FP1 to ninth for Leopard, with another rookie, Brian Uriarte who arrives at Red Bull KTM Ajo as the reigning Junior GP and Rookies Cup champion completing the top ten.

The remaining overnight provisional Q2 places inside the top 14 went to Ryusei Yamanaka, whose late run for MT Helmets - MSI pushed him up to 11th, Guido Pini in 12th on the second Leopard bike, Casey O’Gorman in 13th for SIC58 Squadra Corse and Joel Esteban in 14th for LEVEL UP - MTA.

 Rookie Rico Salmela became the first rider in the class to fall, almost recovering from his early sector three spill but coming up just short in 15th for Red Bull KTM Tech3.

David Munoz held the final spot in the closing minutes before he was shuffled back to 16th.

With testing elsewhere it was a first return to the Chang International Circuit in Thailand since the opening race of last season, where Matteo Bertelle took pole, ahead of a Jose Antonio Rueda win.

Bertelle suffered an injury ravaged season after that bright start, but was a much more muted 20th to get 2026 started for the Italian at LEVEL UP - MTA.

Hakim Danish was 22nd but could not be accused of not pushing to the limit, pulling off a huge save to stay on board his MT Helmets bike as the clock ticked down.

Official Buriram Moto3 Records:
Fastest race lap: David Munoz (2025) 1m 41.042s
All time lap record: Jose Antonio Rueda (2025) 1m 40.350s

Free Practice 1

The opening Free Practice session saw Fernandez pick up from where he left off, topping the session - initially bridging the gap from his first ever win from pole to close out 2025.

The early top three was completed by Kelso and Almansa - the only riders within half a second of the lead time, though the Australian then found himself down in 19th in the second session, with Carpe and Pini beginning their second full season inside the top five.

Pratama was the top rookie in FP1 in sixth, while Ogden was once again the best of the Brits in ninth.

Down in 13th Yamanaka was the last rider within a second of Fernandez in the first track outing for Moto3.

FP1 times can be found below…