Miguel Oliveira will look for his second consecutive podium of the season, while Brad Binder will ride for the first time at the Circuit Of The Americas with a Moto2 bike.

For the third consecutive year, the Circuit Of The Americas in Austin will be the venue for the only Moto2 round held in the United States. It is a Grand Prix to which the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 riders arrive with very different dynamics: Miguel Oliveira having taken his first podium of the season and Brad Binder getting a DNF in Argentina.

There are few circuits on this year’s calendar where Miguel Oliveira has not placed on the podium, and Austin is one of them. This is a challenge that the Portuguese wants to overcome this weekend. The podium he achieved two weeks ago in Argentina, after fighting for the victory throughout the race, will serve as additional motivation. Last year, in his first experience of the track with the KTM, he claimed a commendable sixth place.

Brad Binder was on the rostrum at the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas in 2016, a year in which he was proclaimed Moto3 World Champion. However, the South African could not take part in last year’s event due to an injury to his left arm. This will be the first time that Binder rides with a Moto2 bike at the circuit, but he is nevertheless aiming high this weekend.

The third round of the season will be the last before a run of European events. The Moto2 race will start at 12:20am local time –7:20pm CET– on Sunday, and will consist of 18 laps.

Circuit information – Circuit of The Americas (COTA)
Length: 5.513 m / 3.426 miles
Width: 15 metres
Left corners: 11
Right corners: 9
Longest straight: 1.200 m / 0.746 miles
Constructed: 2012

44 MIGUEL OLIVEIRA
“Honestly, the podium we achieved in Argentina gives us a little more peace of mind to face this third round. In any case, the Circuit Of The Americas is a very tricky circuit, with many changes of direction. We have to take advantage of all the track time we have available. Last year we didn’t have our best weekend, but even so we finished sixth, so we will at least try to improve on that result on Sunday. With the experience we have from last year, we will try to do our best.”

41 BRAD BINDER
“I can’t wait for another Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas. It will be my first time on this track with a Moto2 bike, due to my injury last year, but I’m anxious to start riding there and learning the new track lines. I have been looking at practices and races from previous years to see the way to go and be as prepared as possible before we go to the track. I hope this helps me to adapt as quickly as possible and feel comfortable. It’s already the third round of the year and I’m not completely satisfied with how things have gone so far, so I want to get better results from this weekend.”