The Italian, Mattia Pasini, will ride for Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 this weekend at Misano as a stand-in for Jorge Martin.

Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 and Tetsuta Nagashima return to the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli this week to contest the eighth round of the 2020 season: the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. The Japanese rider has a second chance for success at the track, as he looks to conclude the San Marino double header with a good result. The team have brought in Mattia Pasini as a stand-in rider for Jorge Martin, who is still to test negative for COVID-19 after it forced him to miss the last round.

At the previous contest, Nagashima was running in eighth position when, having completed a solid comeback, he crashed on the last lap. The Japanese and his crew had done a great job throughout the entire Grand Prix, taking positive steps forward in every session. This week the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 rider will work hard to continue that same constant progression, in search of the good feeling he enjoyed at the start of the season. Nagashima is currently 5th in the overall standings with 68 points.

Mattia Pasini will ride for Red Bull KTM Ajo for the first time. The Italian has extensive experience in the World Championship and in Moto2 and knows the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli well, having won there in 125cc and taken a podium in 250cc. He and the team are looking forward to working together this weekend.

The Moto2 race will take place over a total of 25 laps and will be held on Sunday at 12:20 pm local time. The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 team have already been on the podium at the San Marino track, when Miguel Oliveira finished second there in 2018.

Circuit information – Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
Length: 4.226 m / 2.626 miles
Width: 14 m / 45.93 ft.
Left corners: 6
Right corners: 10
Longest straight: 565 m / 0.351 miles
Constructed: 1969

45 TETSUTA NAGASHIMA

“It was a pity not to be able to finish the race at Misano, as my feeling was good and we were in an optimal position. Luckily this week we have a new opportunity at the same track, where we hope to take a great leap forward and be able to fight with those at the front. We are going to work very hard to make it happen. Contesting two rounds at a single circuit is a good thing for me in this case, because after the mistake we made last Sunday we now have a second attempt to try to get a strong result.”

Mattia Pasini – Rider 

“I’m very happy to be back on track, especially with it being at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, my home race. I’m very sorry about what Jorge Martin is going through. I hope he can come back soon and in the meantime I will look after his bike well. 
I want to thank Red Bull KTM Ajo for giving me this opportunity, I am sure it will be a nice weekend. I want to enjoy this round, do a professional job and try to take progressive steps forward. I will work hard to bring home a good result.”