Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder complete first two testing days with the new KTM.

The first test for the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 team concluded this Thursday at the Jerez Circuit, with positive data gathered for the rest of the 2017 preseason. Just as they did on Wednesday, Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder followed different workplans, but both improved their feelings with a new machine that has provided improvement day by day and has great potential.

Miguel Oliveira’s year of experience in Moto2 has helped the entire team to take important steps forward with each hour of testing. Good weather conditions at Jerez allowed the Portuguese to put in some 66 laps, including the first laps for the KTM with soft tyre compounds at this track.

Brad Binder continued with his adaptation to the class, completing 85 laps of the Andalusian track with a bike he is finding enjoyable to ride –although which he admits he needs more days to understand.

Work for the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 project will continue next week in Valencia.

Aki Ajo – Team Manager
“We are very excited to be starting this project in Moto2 with the new KTM. It is clear that we are only at the beginning and it is important to carry out many tests. After these first two days, we already have information, in this case at a circuit that is not easy. I think we have started very well and it is very important to also get a lot of data from a track as different as Valencia is. Binder and Oliveira have done a great job. For Brad it was the first test in Moto2 so it’s a big challenge. Miguel showed his great professionalism and has done very consistent work. I thank them both and the team for this good start.”

#41 Brad Binder
“These two days of testing at Jerez have been very fun, and I have really enjoyed riding. I have tried to fully understand how to ride this Moto2 bike and I have had a great time. I have begun to notice improvements and find the way to go, but I know I will need many laps to understand it 100%. It was strange, because after a few consecutive laps I set a good time, but after going through the pits, I couldn’t understand how I had been able to get it. I just need to keep working hard and little by little everything will go better.”

#44 Miguel Oliveira
“Today we once again had many good hours on the track. This is the first time that KTM have been able to run the soft tyres at this track, so it has been a challenge since we had no previous reference; this is what prevented us from being able to go a little faster with new tyres. In any case, the day has been very positive because we have identified where we can improve the bike. This KTM Moto2 bike has a lot of potential! We are happy with these first two days of testing.”