Oliveira and Cardus take on newly-resurfaced Le Mans

17/05/2017

Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 team head to French GP confident after a second podium of the season, taken by Miguel Oliveira at Jerez. Ricky Cardus continues to stand in for the injured Brad Binder at Le Mans.

After two podiums in the first four races of the year, the Red Bull KTM Ajo team’s debut in the intermediate category has got off to a successful start. This positive performance is something that both Miguel Oliveira and Ricky Cardus –standing in for the injured Brad Binder– will want to extend this weekend at the historic Le Mans Bugatti circuit. The French track features new asphalt this season, and those who have already ridden there have indicated that it has high grip levels.

Miguel Oliveira is one of just Moto2 four riders to have scored points at every round of the season so far. With two podiums to his name, the Portuguese lies third in the overall standings, only 16 points off the Moto2 leader. At Le Mans last season he took his first Moto2 Top 10 finish, placing ninth.

Ricky Cardus will ride for Red Bull KTM Ajo for the third consecutive round, as Brad Binder enters the final phase of his recovery from injury. The Spanish rider has achieved two 14th place finishes in his two previous appearances this season.

Le Mans is a completely new circuit for the KTM Moto2 bike, but that will not prevent the team from targetting a finish as high up the order as possible. The Moto2 race will be held at 12:20pm local time on Sunday.

Circuit information – Le Mans
Length: 4.185 metres / 2.600 miles
Width: 13 metres
Left corners: 5
Right corners: 9
Longest straight: 674 metres / 0.419 miles
Constructed: 1966
Modified: 2008

44 MIGUEL OLIVEIRA
“After our second podium of the year in Spain, we are looking forward to this event in France. The first challenge we will face is the new asphalt. It looks like it has plenty of grip, so let’s see how it behaves throughout the weekend. Unlike the Jerez Circuit, where we had already undertaken a preseason test, at Le Mans we will start from scratch again, so we have a lot of work ahead. I like the track quite a lot, it’s very nice, and it’s not very different in characteristics to Jerez –there’s just a few more inclines and dips.”

88 RICKY CARDUS
“I approach this third race with Red Bull KTM Ajo with great desire, since it is a circuit that I like very much and at which I am very comfortable riding. Over the last two races I have been able to find the pace we were missing, so I am very motivated by this new opportunity. Brad [Binder] is already at the end of his rehabilitation process, so I hope to finish off this great experience with a good taste in my mouth. I feel strong and better than ever, so both the team and I will work hard to achieve the best possible result.”

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