Being the 2026 world champion has not made Maximo Quiles immune to disappointment. The Spanish rider, representing the CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team, arrived at the Lusail Circuit with a stellar reputation, but reality on the track proved otherwise. Despite dominating practice sessions and securing pole position, he had to settle for a third-place finish in the latest race in Qatar.
Trouble was apparent from the start. Quiles lost his advantage during the sprint to the first corner, where David Almansa proved more effective on his Intact GP machine. Rather than just losing the lead, Quiles dropped four positions within the first two kilometers, triggering significant psychological tension for the young world champion.
"Yes, I am annoyed and angry. Third place is not what satisfies me. I want to win and that was my intention here as well. I still cannot say exactly what happened; I don't know if it was the setup that wasn't good enough or my motorcycle," Quiles stated during the post-race media session.
Furthermore, Quiles revealed that he briefly considered retiring from the race. The technical issues he faced were so severe that he felt completely uncomfortable on the bike. "I had terrible chattering entering the corners and there was a lot of movement in the bike during acceleration. I even briefly considered riding into the pits. We need to understand why it was so dramatic. However, it shows me that the learning never stops, neither for the team nor for me," he added.
According to Speedweek, the technical obstacles were exacerbated by a deliberate choice of a longer gear ratio intended for top speed, which compromised his feeling on the brakes. Despite having already clinched the world championship with a 139-point lead over Almansa, the incident in Qatar serves as a vital lesson for the team to remain competitive for the final two rounds in Portugal and Valencia.
Now, attention turns to how the team will evaluate their bike performance. With the season drawing to a close, Quiles is tasked with regaining his mental edge to finish the season on a high note, especially after Adrian Fernandez capitalized on the situation to secure second place in Lusail.
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