Holgado and Almansa shine under Qatar’s stars

· Second win of the season for Holgado. Starting from second on the grid, Daniel Holgado (Kalex) won the Moto2™ night race at the 2026 Grand Prix of Qatar, ahead of Iván Ortolá (Kalex), who fought his way through from thirteenth, and polesitter Álex Escrig (Forward), who finished third after leading for most of the race. All riders went for the soft SC0 rear, while front tyre choices were split almost equally between the soft SC1 and medium SC2: the winner opted for the former, while Ortolá and Escrig used the latter. And on lap five, Ortolá set the new race lap record of 1’56.448, almost nine tenths of a second faster than the previous benchmark of 1’57.366 set by Sam Lowes in 2023.

· Almansa’s fourth wins. In the Moto3™ race, most riders chose the medium SC2 tyres for both front and rear. Leo Rammerstorfer (Honda) was the only rider to use the soft SC1 rear, while eight other riders chose it for the front, including race winner David Almansa (KTM), who controlled the soft compound very well. Starting from second on the grid, the Spanish rider took the lead in the early stages and held it to the chequered flag, claiming his fourth Moto3™ win of the season, after winning the Thai, British and Japanese Grands Prix. Runner-up Adrián Fernandez (Honda) also used the soft SC1 tyres at the front, while Máximo Quiles (KTM), who finished third, opted for the medium SC2 at both ends.

· Significantly faster races than in previous years. Overall race times in both classes showed a significant improvement on previous editions. The 18 Moto2™ laps were completed in 35’13.340, almost 17 seconds faster than in 2025, with an average improvement of more than nine tenths of a second per lap. In Moto3™, held over 16 laps in conditions almost identical to last year’s, the overall time of 33’09.479 was almost 7.8 seconds faster than in 2025, and more than 10 seconds faster than in 2024, with an average improvement of around half a second per lap.

· Chishiki crowned Moto4 Asia Cup champion. 15-year-old Japanese rider Hayato Chishiki was crowned Moto4 Asia Cup champion, after claiming five victories this season. His seventh place in the final race of the year, won by Kotaro Togashi, was enough to secure the title. All Moto4 Asia Cup riders opted for DIABLO™ Superbike tyres in the medium SC2 compound, both front and back.

Qatar’s races significantly faster than ever
 
“Lusail is a particularly challenging circuit for tyres: the wide temperature offset and sand on the track can significantly increase wear, making tyre management crucial to control the race pace.
Holgado and Almansa adapted very well to these conditions, making the most of the soft SC1 front tyre. All in all, the most significant aspect for us was seeing both the soft and medium front options prove competitive in Moto2™ and Moto3™, as reflected in the different choices made by podium finishers. By providing two effective options at such a demanding circuit, we have proven our range’s versatility and helped each rider choose the tyre that best suits their riding style and bike set-up.
After three seasons, riders are becoming increasingly familiar with our tyres and are masterfully unlocking their potential. This is why races were noticeably faster than in previous years, with lap-time improvements of almost a second in Moto2™ and around half a second in Moto3™. Another factor that led to this result in Moto2™ was the new soft SC0 rear from the 2026 range, delivering consistently high performances across a range of conditions.
Finally, I would like to congratulate young Hayato Chishiki on winning the Moto4 Asia Cup.”