The Malaysian Grand Prix begins in style for the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 team, with both riders going directly into Q2 once again.

Day one in Sepang for Alvaro Carpe and Brian Uriarte saw the Red Bull KTM Ajo riders secure direct spots in Q2, overcoming high temperatures and humidity at the Malaysian circuit to place seventh and ninth in the afternoon Practice session.

The asphalt had some damp patches following heavy rain the previous night, but FP1 was held in dry conditions at the Sepang International Circuit, with track temperatures reaching 31°C. Even so, the times have been slower than usual.

Carpe topped a session for the tenth time in 2026. Looking strong right from the start, the Spaniard was competitive while riding in a group during his first run, which allowed him to hold the top spot throughout the opening part of the session. After a close call when going into Turn 1, he headed back to the pits to make some adjustments to his bike. Once out on track again, Carpe saw several other riders take the lead, but he managed to reclaim it during his final flying laps, clocking a 2:11.585. He put in 13 laps in total. Uriarte opted to ride solo, demonstrating a very solid base for the weekend after just two laps. He quickly moved into the Top 5 and was pushing for the lead with half the session still remaining. However, a minor crash on the entry to Turn 1 served as a reminder of the surface’s limitations, and he returned directly to the pits, with neither he nor the bike sustaining any damage. When he went back out, Uriarte managed to improve his time, posting a 2:12.273 to finish ninth after 13 laps. He remained well off the pace of his best laps from last year, which were up to two seconds faster.

During Practice, conditions were even more extreme for the Moto3 riders, with track temperatures reaching as high as 48°C.

Carpe was highly competitive from start to finish, spending most of the session riding as part of a group. During his first run, the Spaniard provisionally moved into second place -while also focusing on his race pace for Sunday. After a pit stop, he went back out and attempted to improve his best time; however, minor errors and traffic prevented him from doing so. He ultimately had to rely on the lap time set on his fifth of 14 laps, finishing seventh with a best time of 2:11.731. Uriarte followed a slightly different strategy, particularly during his first run. He chose to ride entirely alone to focus on race preparation, remaining outside the Top 14 until the final Time Attack phase. He managed to climb to ninth place, securing his spot in Q2 with a 2:11.858, set on his 10th of 15 laps.

All in all, it was a hot but also very positive Friday for the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 team, which will once again have both riders in the running for Pole Position tomorrow afternoon. FP2 will take place from 8:40 a.m., following Q2 at 1:15 p.m. (local time) on Saturday.

Practice Results
1. David Almansa (KTM) | 2:11.427
2. Rico Salmela (KTM) | 2:11.496 (+0.069)
3. Veda Pratama (Honda) | 2:11.519 (+0.092)
4. Hakim Danish (KTM) | 2:11.573 (+0.146)
5. Adrian Fernandez (Honda) | 2:11.589 (+0.162)
7. Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 2:11.731 (+0.304)
9. Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 2:11.858 (+0.431)

#83 ALVARO CARPE

“Overall, it’s been a good day. I’m happy with the work we’ve done, although I think we could have achieved a better position -especially during Practice. We know we have the speed and plenty of room for improvement, so now it’s time to get to work and analyse where we can take that next step forward ahead of tomorrow. For a first day, I’d say it’s been acceptable, but we need to hold ourselves to a higher standard and aim for the best possible result in every session we take part in.”

#51 BRIAN URIARTE

“The morning went well. Even though the track was a bit damp, it helped me get a feel for things. It wasn’t an easy session, as I struggled to find the right line, but it was useful for preparing for Practice, where I managed to get a much better feeling. There are still a few things to work on, so we’ll push hard tomorrow and see if we can put in a strong performance in qualifying. I’m gradually feeling more comfortable, and I’m confident that we’re on the right path for the rest of the weekend.”