Máximo Quiles: A Great Racer and a Great Guy

The first experiences of Palmen in Motorradsport in MotoGP were a huge opportunity in many ways. Choosing the best moments is difficult, almost impossible, but one of them is represented by a rider, who is doing some incredible stuff: Máximo Quiles.

Palmen and Máximo

I’ve known Máximo since 2021. After watching his first race in the European Talent Cup (where he fought for the win on his debut with insane braking and an intense hunger for success), I decided to interview him live on Instagram (we were still in the middle of the pandemic-related lockdown) and to get to know him better and share his story. It turned out to be one of the best interviews I’ve ever done: his youthful enthusiasm at just 13 years old, the natural ease of his answers, and a way of speaking that was half teenage innocence and half champion’s mindset… Simply wonderful!

Since then, some time has passed. We’ve stayed in touch through messages when possible, while on track Máximo won the European Talent Cup title in 2021 and 2023 and collected podiums and victories in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. He also came under the guidance of a rather special mentor: Marc Márquez. Then came 2024, the year he stepped up to JuniorGP. That’s when we finally met in person. It was a short chat (he was in the middle of a team briefing), but a lovely one filled with memories of that live interview three years earlier and reflections on his growth since. We wrapped it up with a selfie I still treasure.  

A Terrific Rookie

This year, he debuted in the Moto3 World Championship with the CFMoto Aspar Team, alongside a highly experienced Grand Prix rider, Dennis Foggia (who returned to Moto3 from Moto2). He missed the opening rounds in Buriram and Termas de Río Hondo because he hadn’t yet turned 17 (the minimum age for top 3 finishers in JuniorGP or the Rookies Cup). But already in Austin, he showed what he’s made of: front row in qualifying, fifth place in the race. As a rookie. After missing two GPs.

But that was just the "appetizer". An injury later kept him out of Qatar and Jerez, but as soon as he returned to the track, he made things crystal clear: “I’m here too!” Always in the lead group, first podium at Silverstone, first incredible win at Mugello, two more podiums at Sachsenring and Brno. The result after 12 out of 22 GPs of the 2025 season? Despite missing four races and finishing 15th at Assen (after remounting from a crash), Quiles is fourth in the championship with 126 points, only 17 points behind Ángel Piqueras in second. Sure, José Antonio Rueda seems out of reach, but to already be performing at this level as a rookie is nothing short of phenomenal.

His Words in Brno

What’s also impressive about Quiles is his great self-awareness and understanding of his potential, which has solidified in recent years. This awareness came through in a flash of frustration when he arrived at the Media Scrum in Brno, despite having finished second, only behind a dominant Rueda. Here’s what he had to say initially: “I’m happy, but it could have gone better. On the one hand, I’m glad to be on the podium, but on the other, I’m angry about a few things. Anyway, we’re on a positive path and I hope we can keep it up, because we’re doing a good job. Now my goal is to keep this momentum and fight for the podium in every race.”

Veteran MotoGP journalist Mela Chércoles asked why he was angry. Quiles responded: “During the whole weekend I worked really well on my pace and I had a little something extra compared to Rueda. I knew I could stay with him, and you could see that he was struggling a bit in certain sections. Then the battling started, and even my teammate began overtaking me. I saw Rueda was starting to break away, I tried to close the gap, and in some parts I was gaining... but then I got overtaken again! At that point, he was gone, so I focused on fighting for second place, and I managed to get it.”

Another long-time MotoGP journalist, Jaime Martín, asked if he’d talk to the team about what happened with Foggia. Quiles showed at least some understanding toward his teammate: “No. Everyone has their own goals: he was aiming for the podium, I was aiming for the win. I’m happy for him because he’s improving. You just have to think sometimes.” Right after the Media Scrum, we had a quick chat (he had to leave), and I gave him the compliments he absolutely deserved for both his performance and maturity. He thanked me and we agreed to meet again, who knows when…Well, maybe in 2026!

Máximo Quiles is showing a level of maturity and awareness you just don’t expect from a 17-year-old. And he does not forget about the people who talked about him and followed him a few years ago, when he was not yet known. Believe me, you shouldn't take it for granted at such high levels...

In conclusion, like many of his fellow riders, Quiles also paid tribute to Pau Alsina, a JuniorGP rider who tragically passed away after a crash at Motorland Aragón. They had shared several seasons together in the Spanish Championship and European Talent Cup, and had even been teammates in 2024, both riding for Estrella Galicia 0,0 (Quiles in JuniorGP, Alsina in ETC). And after all this, I’ll say one thing to Máximo: Keep growing on the track, but as a person stay just the way you are. You’re truly special.