Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 riders go to Phillip Island motivated to continue battle for rider and team titles.

The frantic pace of the flyaway rounds sees the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 riders move on from Japan to Australia this weekend. In what will be the seventeenth round of the season, Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder will look to repeat their great result from last year, when they achieved a 1-2 finish, and also increase the gap in the top of team standings.

Miguel Oliveira has the chance to cut the gap to the Moto2 series leader at Phillip Island, which now stands at 37 points. The Portuguese rider can draw upon his strong showing from last year, when he started from the front row and achieved a dominant victory. Oliveira also has two further podiums in Australia in Moto3, from 2012 and 2015 -1st position.

Brad Binder also has fond memories of Australia. In addition to achieving his first Moto2 podium there last year, he has not been outside the Top 3 at this round of the season since 2015. Binder wants to consolidate his position in third in the standings, and also return to the fight for the top during the race. The Phillip Island track is favourable for both the South African and his KTM bike.

The race this weekend in Phillip Island will deviate from its usual schedule, taking place on Sunday from 2:20pm local time -4:20am CET time. On Friday and Saturday the intermediate class will go on track just after Moto3 and before MotoGP.

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

44 MIGUEL OLIVEIRA
“Last year we had a very positive experience in Australia, since Brad [Binder] and I were both on the podium in a one-two. It is a very special circuit, where your feeling on the bike is more important than ever and the wind can have a big influence. I am very motivated ahead of this weekend. We still want to give our all, and we will try to get the most out of the bike to be able to fight for the victory again -and continue battling for the title. We aren’t giving up.”

41 BRAD BINDER
“I really can’t wait to get to Australia. In the last three years I’ve had very good races there and I’m really looking forward to giving 100% and fighting to the end. Also, Phillip Island has always been a circuit that has suited me, and where I have gone very fast. I’m very excited to get this weekend underway and I think that the KTM is also very well suited to the track. There are some things that I want to try to improve, and if they work then I hope to feel confident again and feel that I can do whatever I want on the bike. If we find those improvements, I’m sure we’ll be back on top in Australia and hopefully we can repeat the great result that the whole team took last time.”