Máximo Quiles Dominates Sepang to Equal Valentino Rossi’s 125cc Win Record Despite Illness
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Máximo Quiles emphatically secured his 11th victory of the Moto3 season at the Sepang Grand Prix, matching Valentino Rossi’s 1997 125cc record for most wins in a single campaign. The Aspar rider crossed the line ahead of Veda Pratama and Álvaro Carpe, solidifying his place as the second most victorious rider in a single Moto3 season, trailing only David Alonso.
Quiles’ triumph in Malaysia not only highlights
Quiles’ triumph in Malaysia not only highlights his winning prowess but also his consistency, as he reached an unprecedented 16 podiums this year—an all-time high in the category. With 376 points accumulated, the Spanish star now ranks second in the all-time points tally for a single season, just behind Alonso’s 421 points.
The race was grueling under punishing conditions, with track temperatures soaring to 46°C and the humid air hitting 34°C. Quiles battled through illness all weekend, suffering from nasal congestion and a sore throat, yet managed to maintain an unyielding pace. Starting from pole on hard tyres, he initially faced pressure from rivals David Almansa, Álvaro Carpe, and Hakim Danish but leveraged superior tyre management to pull clear in the latter stages.
“I was really angry about the Australian GP cancellation,” Quiles admitted post-race in Malaysia. “I’m a winner—I always want to win. Maybe I could have won there, maybe not, but I was ready to fight. Not racing was like losing an opportunity to win, so yes, I was angry. But if it happens, it must be for a good reason.” The Australian round’s cancellation dashed his hopes of surpassing David Alonso’s record of 14 wins in a single season. However, Quiles still has a mathematical chance to equal that record with three races remaining.
Quiles described the race conditions as really tough
Quiles described the race conditions as “really tough” and praised his own resilience: “It was difficult to manage all that heat alone, especially being sick all weekend. But I knew if I gave everything, I could fight for the win—and we did, so I’m very happy.” His strategy involved attacking as his hard tyres began to degrade, capitalizing on moments when Almansa faltered. “I was explosive in the first laps and managed to build a gap, then maintained it,” he explained.
Máximo Quiles’ Sepang performance not only cements his dominance in Moto3 but also underscores his extraordinary resilience and hunger for victory—even when battling adversity. His record-equaling feat resonates as a clear message: the future Moto2 rookie is a force to be reckoned with.
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