2025 Champion Rueda is the man to beat but Kelso is in career-best form and Roulstone has a point to prove
PODIUM CONTENDERS
1 – Jose Antonio Rueda
Without question, the star of this year’s Moto3 grid. Rueda has no doubt benefited from 2024 rivals David Alonso, Collin Veijer and Dani Holgado’s step up to Moto2. But the Spaniard has also transformed himself from a fast but timid rider to the necessary battle-hardened animal that thrives in the cutthroat junior class. He’s certainly had to roll his sleeves up this term: he won at Silverstone despite starting from the back of the grid, and the last-corner pass to achieve victory at Misano simply wouldn’t have happened last year. The newly-crowned world champ has been brilliant at fast open tracks this year, so he’ll start as favourite at the Island.
2 – Maximo Quiles
It’s hard to watch Quiles’ rookie season and not jump aboard the hype train. The Spaniard missed the first two rounds of 2025 as he wasn’t old enough to compete. Then his second and third of the season due to injury. When he has lined up he’s made his presence felt, winning his fifth ever GP and rising to third in the championship with a series of consistently brilliant performances. A protege of Marc Marquez (he’s managed by the MotoGP star’s Vertical Management), the 17-year-old has shown his compatriot’s awesome talent for learning new tracks quickly. He came into the year with a reputation as fast but dangerous. More often than not, he’s raced quickly and fairly all season. A certain challenger at the Island.
3 – Angel Piqueras
For much of the year, Piqueras has ridden as though weighed down by the size of his current contract. The star rookie of 2024, his current MSI squad paid a reported €300,000 to pry him away from his previous team. Understandably, expectations were high. It’s not that the 2023 Red Bull Rookies Cup and Junior GP winner has fallen drastically below them; it’s more that he’s been comprehensively outperformed by Rueda and Quiles until now. Still, he’s accumulated four wins, all of which were achieved in brilliant, late, smash-and-grab style, and has been a constant in the top five. As he tries to summon a late title attack, mark him down as one surely in the fight to win at PI.
GREEN & GOLD HOPES
Joel Kelso
Kelso’s in the midst of his best grand prix season to date. After scoring three podiums in April and May, the 21-year-old’s progress stalled as injury and set-up changes caused him to briefly lose his way. But recent showings in Barcelona and Misano proved he’s back and ready to attack at his home grand prix.
Jacob Roulstone
Roulstone recently claimed his first front row and best-ever fifth place in Indonesia so is in hot form for PI. However, he faces an untimely exit from the MotoGP paddock after his Moto3 options for 2026 dried up at Mandalika. The 20-year-old , currently 15th in the standings, missed preseason and two races after breaking neck bones in January. As AMCN went to press, Roulstone’s family confirmed his 2026 prospects are “pretty much zero”.
