Red Bull KTM Ajo Factory Racing team heads for the new GP-season with a strong trio

03/04/2012

look Danny Kent, Arthur Sissis. © Gold and Goose” src=”http://haajashare.com/ajo/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Sandro-Cortese-Danny-Kent-Arthur-Sissis.-©-Gold-and-Goose-300×196.jpg” alt=”” width=”300″ height=”196″ />The first Moto3 race of the MotoGP-series that will start in Qatar on Sunday means big challenges and huge opportunity for Red Bull KTM Ajo Factory Racing -team. The team of three riders lead by Aki Ajo will chase for the first ever World Championship of this new and still unpredictable class with KTM factory bikes.
– Of course that´s what we always want but we will keep our heads cool. We also have to be realistic because we are dealing here with a new class and a new project. We have worked hard and successfully but there is still a lot to do. It´s great to realize how hard work ethics and hunger for success these people have. We all try to do a perfect job, says team leader Ajo.

Good results
from testing

Team, which has a strong background, will start the new GP-season after total of 11 test days. The data collected from circuits of Valencia and Jerez in Spain and experiences of KTM`s 250cc four-stroke prototype bikes are pretty encouraging. Everything reflects how greatly and purposefully KTM has invested in its return to the highlights of MotoGP-series.
– Tests went just fine without major technical problems. We are at good level but in this new class basically no one can know yet how everything will turn out. Of course the season opener in Qatar will tell us something but I believe that we will see the actual situation just before the mid way of the season that includes 17 GPs. We will develop the bikes throughout the season. There will be new things and continuous analysing, Ajo describes.
Latest after the testing season many have thought that the KTM´s factory team´s riders will be the most promising candidates to success this season. However, there has not been a reason for the team leader to restrain its team. Everyone knows exactly that there is no reason to celebrate yet.
– We try to make a good start for the season in Qatar and hopefully we will collect as many points as possible without any technical problems, Ajo says.

Cortese and Kent will get
good rivals from themselves

The riders of the KTM´s official factory team lead by Finnish team Ajo Motorsport are German Sandro Cortese, Briton Danny Kent and Australian Arthur Sissis who will now start his first GP-season.
– Cortese came back to our team and many consider him as one of the biggest championship candidates. Cortese will have already his eight GP-season so he is experienced enough to have a professional attitude without taking too much pressure.
– I am pleased. For sure we have a lot of work to do but we did extremely great at tests. I am ready for Qatar and to fight for the podium places there, Cortese confirms.
22-year-old Cortese was fastest at the first official test that was held in Valencia and 18-year-old Kent dominated the following three-day testing period in Jerez.
– Cortese will have a tough competitor at his own team. Kent might have surprised many but not me. I have always thought he is a great talent. I don´t have any doubts about his possibilities as long as he will find more stability for his riding, Ajo says.
– I feel ok. During the winter season we tried many things, which of course was the purpose of the testing. I will go to Qatar with a good self-confidence but I will keep my feet on the ground, Kent highlights.
For 16-year-old Sissis, who was last year second at Red Bull Rookies Cup, the new season will be a big learning process to get used to the MotoGP-series.
– Sissis is a rookie and he has a lot to learn. Nevertheless, even I was a bit surprised how fast he adapted with the new bike and new ways of working.

GP of Qatar divided
into four days

The Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar that is held under the floodlights at the 5,4 kilometres long Losail International Circuit differs from the other MotoGP-events also in that sense that it is divided into four days instead of three.
The riders of Moto3-class will have on Thursday two 40 minutes free practice sessions. On Friday they will have one practice session before Saturday´s qualifying and warm-up-session.
The exciting competition of the first ever Moto3-class world championship points will start on Sunday at 7pm local time (GMT +3).
– We will wait calmly and do our homework properly, explained Ajo, who travelled to Qatar on Monday, about the feelings prior to the season start.

* Red Bull KTM Ajo Factory Racing -team´s riders
in Moto3-class of MotoGP World Championship -series in season 2012:

Sandro Cortese # 11
Bike: KTM
Place of birth: Ochsenhausen, Germany
Date of birth: 6.1.1990
Weight: 61 kg
Height: 169 cm

First GP: 2005 – Spain
First pole position: 2009 – Netherlands
First fastest lap time in competition: 2008 – Malaysia
First podium position: 2009 – Qatar
First GP-victory: 2011 – Czech
GP-victories: 2
2nd positions: 5
3rd positions: 4
Podium positions: 11
Pole positions: 3

* Alessandro “Sandro” Cortese made his debut in MotoGP-series at 125cc class in 2005. In 2009 he celebrated his first podium position with Ajo Motorsport. In 2011 Cortese had his first GP-victory in Czech-GP at the circuit of Brno. He was fourth at the total scores of the last 125cc season.

Sandro Cortese, video profile:
http://www.redbull.com/cs/Satellite/en_INT/Video/sandro_cortese_Red_Bull_Video_Profile-021243187121801

Danny Kent # 52
Bike: KTM
Pleace of birth: Chippenham, Great Britain
Date of birth: 25.11.1993
Weight: 60 kg
Height: 174 cm

First GP: 2010 – Great Britain

* Danny Kent started his Road Racing career already in 2001 when he was eight years old. He made the first stage of his breakthrough in 2010 when he was second at the total scores in Red Bull Rookies Cup. On the same year he also made a debut in MotoGP-series. In 2011 Kent had his first full time GP-season when he competed in Ajo Motorsport -team in 125cc class. He was at his best fourth in Jerez, Spain.

Danny Kent, video profile:
http://www.redbull.com/cs/Satellite/en_INT/Video/Danny_Kent_Red_Bull_Video_Profile-021243187047683

Arthur Sissis # 61
Bike: KTM
Place of birth: Adelaide, Australia
Date of birth: 15.6.1995
Weight: 53 kg
Height: 167 cm
First GP: 2011 – Malaysia

* Arthur Sissis was second last year in the total scores of Red Bull Rookies Cup. Tough fight for the championship ended up for Lorenzo Baldassar at the last GP. Sissis made his MotoGP-debut last season when he had a wild card at 125cc race at Malaysian GP.

Arthur Sissis, video profile:
http://www.redbull.com/cs/Satellite/en_INT/Video/arthur_sissis_Red_Bull_Video_Profile-021243187485573

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