The first race of the 2026 Moto Junior FIM World Championship season began this past weekend at Circuit de Barcelona.

Mikey Lou Sanchez is racing in the Momoven Moto4 European Championship (previously called the European Talent Cup), with the same team as last year, AC Racing Team.

The weekend started off well for Mikey during practice on Friday. On Saturday morning, Mikey was able to finish the Practice session in P10, going directly into Q2. In Q2 Mikey qualified P7 and started in P12 on the grid for the only race on Sunday.

Mikey got a good start and was battling with the front group of 15+ riders for many laps until another rider made contact with Mikey coming into Turn 1, causing Mikey to crash.

It was unfortunate but Mikey is OK and is getting prepared for the next race in Estoril, Portugal on June 14th.

More, from a press release issued by FIM MotoJunior World Championship:

Experience met ambition as 10,000 spectators enjoyed the first round of the 2026 FIM MotoJunior World Championship at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Entering a bold new era with a refreshed identity, MotoJunior proved that its essence remains unchanged. Fierce competition, rising talent and pure adrenaline continue to define every lap of the Championship.

– The Moto3 Junior World Championship got off to a high-octane start in Race 1 in Barcelona with Leonardo Zanni (Momoven Racing) clinching the win ahead of CFMoto Aspar Junior Team duo Giulio Pugliese and Carlos Cano, who crossed the line in P3. However, a post-race three-second penalty promoted Kiandra Rhamadipa (Honda Asia-Dream Racing Junior Team) onto the podium in place of the young Spaniard.

– Cano’s rivalry with Fernando Bujosa (AC Racing Team) was renewed after last year’s duel in the Momoven Moto4 European Cup (former European Talent Cup), but in the season opener the Spaniard crashed out of the lead group.

– Guillem Planques (Momoven Racing) and Indonesia’s Kiandra Ramadhipa (Honda Asia-Dream Racing Junior Team) battled with the leading group throughout to complete the top five.

– In Race 2, Giulio Pugliese returned to the podium, this time on the top step after Zanni crashed out of the lead. Maltese rider Travis Borg (Team Monlau Motul) secured P2.

– Bujosa was offered another opportunity to put points on the board, and he did just that by completing the podium for the first time ever in Moto3 Junior at the second time of asking.

– Reigning Champion Milan Pawelec (AGR Team) pulled off a tactical masterclass in Race 1 in Barcelona to start his title defence with victory.

– The Polish rider was trailing Unai Orradre (Momoven Racing) until Lap 12, when he pounced to take the lead – and the win. Francesco Mongiardo (MMR) completed the podium.

– Polesitter Eric Fernandez (Fau55teyRacing) crashed from the lead on Lap 4 at Turn 10.

– In Race 2, Orradre battled back from a poor start to cross the line in P1 at the end of the 15-lap race. However, he was given a track limits penalty on the final lap, demoting him behind Dennis Foggia (Team Ciatti – Boscoscuro) for his first win in the class.

– The podium was completed by Pawelec, who goes into Round 2 as Championship leader.

– In the Moto4 European Cup’s sole race of the day, Alvaro Lucas (CFMoto Aspar Junior Team) pulled off a stunning victory from 28th on the grid after receiving a slow riding penalty in Saturday’s Q2.

– Edoardo Savino (Leopard Junior) though he’d done enough for his first win in the class but fell just 0.006s short, finishing in second for his maiden rostrum.

– Lorenzo Pritelli (Team Echovit Pasini Racing) was in the battle for the win all race and finished in third.

– Despite a slow start from pole position, Blai Trias (GV Tamoil Racing), didn’t lose belief. The Spaniard surged through the field to claim P1, a position he wouldn’t surrender despite sustained pressure from Yeray Ruiz (Team Honda Laglisse FPS).

– Rookie Lorenzo Fellon (FS Racing) held off challenges from Filippo Fuligni (Face Racing) and Alberto Garcia (Top Surface Aspar Team) to finish third in his first-ever Stock ECh race.

With Round 1 done and dusted, the FIM MotoJunior World Championship heads to Portugal and the Circuito do Estoril for Round 2 on the 14th of June. We’ll see you there!

For all the results from the past, present and future and more news regarding the Championship, www.fimjuniorgp.com