2026 Brazilian Moto3 - Qualifying Results

Qualifying for the Moto3 Brazil Grand Prix was heavily delayed after a sinkhole appeared in the track, pushed back to after the MotoGP Sprint race. Once on track it was Joel Esteban who came out on top after a red flagged, crash heavy session as the sun set at the Autodromo Internacional Ayrton Senna.

The Level Up - MTA rider was calm in the chaos, but sat in 13th heading into the final minutes. Taking over from Brian Uriarte at the top with a new record best at the new track for the class, Esteban went on to set a 1:26.241s lap - crossing the line before Marco Morelli who moved up to second at the time as yet another yellow flag came out in Goiania.
 

• MotoGP Brazil Sprint build-up LIVE: MotoGP Sprint delayed, track under repair

Behind the KTM rider, who held on for his first pole, the chequered flag saw improvements very late on from Argentine rider Valentin Perrone, who jumped to second from fourth, just 0.206s slower for Red Bull KTM Tech3.

An impressive run from rookie Hakim Danish, who had taken the slot moments earlier, saw the newcomer join the front row for MT Helmets after being one of the first to fall.

The already delayed Q2 started and was quickly red flagged after a huge crash for Cormac Buchanan which saw him thrown up in the air from his Code Motorsports bike, which was battered after it cartwheeled into the gravel. Seconds Danish also fell on a different part of the circuit.

Veda Pratama, who had impressed in practice as the rookies shone at a track which was new to all, circulated with Perrone to move into fourth for Honda Team Asia.

Morelli dropped to fifth in the late shuffle for Aspar, just faster than Uriate who brought out the final yellow flag. His timesheets topping time was strong enough to keep him sixth for Red Bull KTM Ajo.

Joel Kelso, who also fell in the session, was still strong enough for seventh after venturing back on track after a trip to the pits for MLav Racing, with Ryusei Yamanaka the best of the riders to move on from Q1 in eighth.

Tech3 Rookie Rico Salmela was ninth quickest and Q1 leader Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) recovered from having several laps cancelled to make a late move to eighth dropping slighty to complete the top 10.

Max Quiles was yet another rider who had their performance slowed by a crash. The Aspar rider pushed on with his bike still twitching for 11th on the grid for the race.

The first Moto3 sessions in Brazil saw David Almansa once again setting the pace, as he had done on the opening day in Thailand, to get his Brazilian Grand Prix weekend off to the best possible start.

The Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP rider was looking to build on his opening race success with a pole position and race win in the season opener in Thailand, and had backed that performance up by being fastest on Friday in the wet, going on to top the crash filled dry FP2 ahead of qualifying.

Q2 saw Almansa out of luck with laps cancelled by yellow flags and no time set for much of the session. A late solo run elevated the Spaniard from 16th to a disappointing 14th.

Leo Rammerstorfer placed 17th but already has a three place grid penalty confirmed from Friday so will line up further down the grid for SIC58 Squadra Corse.

The early red flag crash left Buchanan last in 18th after a strong start to his Brazil weekend.

Official Buriram Moto3 Records:
Fastest race lap: New Circuit
All time lap record: New Circuit
Current best lap: 1: 27.308s (FP2) David Almansa

New record lap 1:26.241s (Q2) Joel Esteban

Q1 sees Carpe cruise through

One early run was enough to convince Carpe he had done enough to feature in Q2. Sat top of the times the Spaniard was also sat in the pits as Q1 drew to a close, with his then new lap record run holding firm at the top.

Adrian Fernandez (12th) crashed in the session, picked his bike back up and continued to circulate. That saw his Leopard regularly spitting gravel and rocks over the track, but Honda man continued to improve, heading to Q2 second.

Ryusei Yamanaka’s late dash took him to third late on, with the final progression slot going to Honda Team Asia rookie Zen Mitani (15th) thanks to his early lap.

Scott Ogden was the rider shuffled out by Yamanaka’s effort, leaving the British rider to line up 19th for CIP Green Power.

Adrian Cruces was also sat in the pits to close the session, but for very different reason, as he sat watching his CIP Green Power mechanics try to get his bike back on track after a huge fall which saw him thrown into the gravel. Before any penalties are applied the Spaniard is due to line up last after his spill.

Full qualifying results can be found below.