Maximo Quiles is heading to Moto2 as the latest Moto3 champion and one of the paddock’s most closely watched young riders. The 18-year-old Spaniard will join Aspar next season under a two-year contract.

His results explain the attention. During his debut season in 2025, Quiles won three races and finished third in the standings. He was even more effective in 2026, taking 10 victories and securing the championship with five rounds still to run at the Indonesian Grand Prix. Quiles is also a protege of Marc and Alex Marquez and trains with the brothers regularly.

Why Marquez expects a difficult start

Marc Marquez has no doubts about Quiles’ pace. He expects the teenager to become fast in Moto2, pointing to their shared training and Quiles’ ability to find speed on different motorcycles. At the same time, Marquez would like to see him encounter some difficulties during the opening part of pre-season and in the first races.

That is not a prediction of failure. Marquez believes the first setbacks could help Quiles understand what the new category demands, learn from the process and keep his feet on the ground. Moto2 will provide the next meaningful test of whether the explosive speed Quiles showed in Moto3 can transfer quickly to a new racing environment.

Talk of a rapid route to MotoGP has already begun, although there is no confirmed plan. In theory, Quiles could spend just one season in Moto2 and pursue a premier-class seat in 2028. Maverick Vinales, Alex Rins and Raul Fernandez followed a similar route, moving to MotoGP after a single Moto2 season.

The contract picture may make 2029 a more realistic horizon, with most MotoGP deals reportedly locked in through the end of 2028. The market can move earlier, however: Jorge Lorenzo and Francesco Bagnaia had premier-class agreements in place at least a year before their respective moves up. For Quiles, his first Moto2 season will show how quickly the next step can become realistic.