The opening day of lightweight class action at Sepang delivered intense competition, with David Almansa setting the pace to top Friday's practice session ahead of the 2026 Malaysian Grand Prix. Piloting his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP machine, the Spaniard successfully secured an automatic spot in Q2 after clocking an impressive lap time of 2 minutes 11.427 seconds in the closing stages of the session.
Almansa made his decisive move heading into the final five minutes after riders returned from the pits. Pushing hard on his KTM, he leaped from seventh to first on the timesheet. A trio of rookies also showcased remarkable pace to challenge for the top spots around the Sepang International Circuit.
Young contender Rico Salmela pulled off a late charge aboard his Tech3 bike, jumping from eleventh to second place, finishing just 0.069s shy of the benchmark time. Meanwhile, rising star Veda Pratama slotted into third place, emerging as the highest-placed Honda rider for Honda Team Asia following strong momentum from previous rounds.
Local hero Hakim Danish fueled the home crowd enthusiasm by securing fourth place for MT Helmets - MSI, having briefly led the session moments before Almansa's charge. Adrian Fernandez rounded out the top five for Leopard Racing, with Matteo Bertelle taking sixth for Level Up - MTA.
The opening practice also featured dramatic on-track battles, including an incident between FP1 leader Alvaro Carpe—who finished seventh—and Ryusei Yamanaka. The rookie championship battle intensifies as Brian Uriarte sits ninth, trailing his closest title rivals heading into the crucial weekend sessions. Read our in-depth analysis and get the latest updates right here on Sportrik Media.
Read Also
Simak hasil lengkap latihan Moto3 Sepang saat David Almansa amankan posisi tercepat. Baca analisis mendalam dan update sesi selengkapnya di sini.
Simak hasil practice Moto3 Malaysia 2026 di Sepang di mana Veda Pratama sukses mengamankan posisi ketiga. Baca analisis lengkapnya di sini.
Simak kisah perjuangan Jose Antonio Rueda pulih dari crash horor Sepang Moto3. Baca analisis lengkap dan update terbarunya di sini!
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!