Moto3 riders face Austrian GP with the ambition of achieving a great result at special event for Red Bull and KTM.

The Red Bull Ring will host its second ever Moto3 race this weekend, as the World Championship reaches its eleventh round of the season. The Austrian GP is a special race for both Red Bull and KTM, who are based in the European country. Riders Bo Bendsneyder and Niccolo Antonelli are optimistic, motivated and keen to get good results at the team’s home round.

Bendsneyder just missed out on his first podium of the season this past weekend at Brno. The Dutchman is aiming to again feature in the fight for the top positions -something he achieved last year in Austria by finishing seventh, just 4 seconds behind the race winner.

The Czech GP was a tough weekend for Antonelli, as weather conditions and fitness following injury provided a big challenge. Motivated by racing at the Red Bull Ring, a track that he liked a lot last year, the Italian will seek to regain a good feeling and be among the fastest riders. In 2016 he took 18th place on his first appearance at the circuit.

The only podium so far in Austria for the Red Bull KTM Ajo team was taken by Brad Binder last year, crossing the line second. This weekend, Bendsneyder and Antonlli will target another great result for the team, for Red Bull and for KTM, on Sunday at 11:00am.

Circuit information – Red Bull Ring
Length: 4.318 m / 2.683 miles
Width: 13 metres
Left corners: 3
Right corners: 7
Longest straight: 626 m / 0.389 miles
Constructed: 1969
Modified: 1996

23 NICCOLO ANTONELLI
“Austria is a circuit that I really like. It has many hard braking and hard accelerating parts, so it will be very important to be strong in both situations; we will do our best to do so. Our goal will again be to hold up among the fastest riders and take a step forward from Brno. If it rains again this weekend we will have to work hard to find something that will help us to be strong, since I have not been comfortable in such conditions at Assen or Brno. We will work hard to get our reward in the race.”

64 BO BENDSNEYDER
“After some positive weekends, I think it is very exciting to get to a circuit that I really like. The goal will again be to keep in the Top 10, just like at the last GP. In addition, it is the home GP for Red Bull and KTM, so we will try to push our hardest for the team and all the Austrian fans. I think it’s good that we have two races in a row, because after just missing out on the podium at Brno we will get back on the bike just a few days later.”