The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 rider enjoys a solid race in the leading group. Teammate Kaito Toba climbs 17 places for 11th.

The Moto3 Czech Grand Prix provided another typically close race on Sunday, in which Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 challenged for the podium places through Raul Fernandez. The Spaniard fought in the leading group from the first lap to the last, finally crossing the finish line in sixth position. Kaito Toba staged a spectacular comeback on raceday, climbing from 28th to 11th.

Poleman Fernandez made a good start, slotting into the leading group after the lights went out. The Spaniard would have his turn at the head of the field, but the large number of riders caused a constant exchange of positions. On the final laps, the 19-year-old was at the back of the pack, and he took the chequered flag in sixth for the third race in a row. He is one of the few riders to have scored points at all of the contests held to date in 2020.

Kaito Toba, who started from the sixth row of the grid, was swamped on the first corner and dropped down to 28th. Little-by-little, the Japanese regrouped and began to climb up the order, circulating in the chasing pack. Eventually, the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 rider came home 11th, having made up a total of 17 places.

Fernandez occupies 5th position in the Moto3 World Championship with 36 points, whilst Toba is 18th, with 12. The Red Bull KTM Ajo duo now travel to the Red Bull Ring in Austria, where the second of three consecutive race weekends will get underway on August 14th.

Results (Moto3 Race)
1. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 39:06.370
2. Albert Arenas (KTM) +0.205
3. Ai Ogura (Honda) +0.251
4. Niccolo Antonelli (Honda) +0.381
5. John McPhee (Honda) +0.509
6. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +0.808
11. Kaito Toba (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +8.828

Moto3 World Championship Standing 2020
1. Albert Arenas (KTM) 70 points
2. Ai Ogura (Honda) 52 points
3. John McPhee (Honda) 51 pints
4. Tatsuki Suzuki (Honda) 44 points
5. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 36 points
18. Kaito Toba (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 12 points

AKI AJO – TEAM MANAGER

“It was once again a positive weekend for us in Moto3. Both riders are making steady progress, and Raul [Fernandez] especially had a great performance here, being very consistent. We have to take steps forward and accumulate experience, so we have to be happy with his sixth position. We have to analyse the data gathered from this Grand Prix to be even stronger in Austria. As for Kaito [Toba], he had a positive performance and rode a good contest. However, we have to try to get him more consistent in practice.”

25 RAUL FERNANDEZ

“We had a good race. However, it still leaves a bittersweet taste in my mouth, since throughout the weekend we were consistent and we were always at the front in every practice session. Nevertheless, I am happy and I want to thank the team, as we are working very well together. We have to continue gaining experience and learning, because in this class the riding is of a high level and there are people who have been competing for years. We have to keep on the same path, starting with the two contests in Austria.”

27 KAITO TOBA

“We keep making progress, which is definitely a very positive thing. I lost a lot of places at the beginning of the race, so afterwards I had to push to overtake other riders. We have to improve our first laps and be strong from the start, because if we achieve this then I know we can be fighting for the top positions.”