Máximo Quiles is the Moto3 rookie of the year officially, thanks to today's result in Sepang, and can still reach second place in the standings

The CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team riders faced one of the toughest races of the season today in Malaysia. Máximo Quiles fought for the podium and finished in seventh place, confirming his Moto3 rookie of the year title with two races remaining. His teammate Joel Esteban finished in seventeenth place after starting from the back of the grid. The victory in the lightweight class went to Taiyo Furusato, who climbed onto the top step of the podium for the first time in his Moto3 career, while Ángel Piqueras finished second and Adrián Fernández, third.

The Malaysian Grand Prix had a bitter end for the Moto3 riders. After a serious incident between José Antonio Rueda and Noah Dettwiler on the formation lap, the lightweight class race was delayed for more than an hour and reduced to just ten laps. The soaring temperatures, with over 55 degrees on the track, put both bikes and riders to the test. Once the lights went out, Máximo Quiles quickly reached the podium positions and tried to hold on to them, albeit fighting within a large group. The CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team rider found himself involved in an intense battle in which there was no margin for error due to the low number of laps. The Spaniard, after a couple of scares, finally crossed the finish line in seventh place. Despite not securing a podium finish, this result earned him the Moto3 rookie of the year title, with 237 points and eight podiums, including two wins. He also maintains his chances of fighting for the runner-up spot with Ángel Piqueras with two races remaining. Meanwhile, his teammate Joel Esteban was forced to make up positions from the back of the grid. The CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team rider remained in the back of the pack and tried to reach the points positions, but the lack of grip prevented him from riding more freely and he had to settle for seventeenth.

7th Máximo Quiles (+4.496): “It was a complicated race in which things didn't go as we wanted. We've had several races in which, for one reason or another, we've missed out on the podium. I'm angry about that because today we had a good chance of being in the top three again. We managed to be the Moto3 rookie of the year, but we'll continue to learn from days like these and keep working for the last two races of the season.”

17th Joel Esteban (+19.512): “It was a very difficult race and I didn't feel comfortable from the start. There was little grip in general and it was as if I was riding on ice. I tried to manage it as best as possible, but it was a tough weekend in which I didn't find the same feeling as last weekend. It wasn't like that in Australia, and I want to analyze it with the team because I think many factors can influence it. It has helped me learn more and arrive better prepared for the final JuniorGP races.”