The Red Bull KTM Ajo riders will have to learn a new circuit for their KTM Moto2 bike this weekend, at the Australian Grand Prix.

Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder had a demanding start to the flyaway rounds at Motegi, where three days of continuous rain compromised their performance at the Japanese track. For the sixteenth race of the season, both riders arrive at a circuit where they have previously won in Moto3: Oliveira in 2015 and Binder in 2016.

Miguel Oliveira won the Australian GP with Red Bull KTM Ajo in 2015, as part of his superb transoceanic tour. In 2016, the Portuguese rider missed the race at Phillip Island due to injury, so this weekend he will have his first Moto2 experience of the Australian track. It’s a challenge for which he feels motivated, and he is keen to get back into the podium fight after difficulties at Motegi.

A similar situation will be experienced by Brad Binder, who also debuts with a Moto2 bike at Phillip Island. The South African rider was unlucky in Japan, where one of his trademark comebacks was stifled by a crash. Now he hopes to resume his progression in Australia, where last year he won in Moto3 and in 2015 he took to the podium along with his teammate, who won the race.

The Moto2 race is scheduled for 14:20h Australian time on Sunday, 5:20am CET time. 

Circuit information – Phillip Island
Length: 4.448m / 2.764 miles
Width: 13m
Left corners: 7
Right corners: 5
Longest straight: 900m / 0.559 miles
Constructed: 1956
Modified: 1988 

  41 BRAD BINDER 
“It hasn’t been easy getting to Australia, with flights cancelled and delays of many hours. I have great memories of Phillip Island, where last year we won the race from pole position. I really enjoy riding there and I’ve always been fast. That’s why I can’t wait to see how I feel with a completely different bike like the Moto2 machine. I hope I can have my best weekend of the year.”

 

 44 MIGUEL OLIVEIRA
“The Australian GP is a round that I really like, besides being a track at which I have a victory with the team and another podium. I can’t wait to go Phillip Island and discover it with the Moto2 bike. It is usually very windythere; I hope that this weekend the weather will favour us, since at Motegi it rained every day. I’m keen to get back riding and doing my best with the team.”