The team’s two riders finish inside the Top 9 in race two at Misano, with Raul Fernandez in sixth position and Kaito Toba in ninth.

Round eight of the Moto3 World Championship concluded this Sunday with a 23-lap race, in which the Red Bull KTM Ajo team put in a solid performance. Raul Fernandez was very strong once again, leading the contest and remaining permanently in the front group. The Spaniard finally placed sixth in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. His teammate, Kaito Toba, completed his best weekend of 2020, crossing the line ninth at Misano.

Raul Fernandez took the holeshot from pole position on the grid, then imposed a very strong pace at the start of the contest, trying to escape and opening a gap of 0.3 seconds over his closest rivals. However, the chasing group would hunt down the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 rider after a few laps and he needed to work hard to fend off the various overtaking attempts from them. After a close final few laps, Fernandez took the chequered flag in sixth.

Toba made his strongest race start to date at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, taking off from the third row of the grid. The Japanese was up into fifth position on the opening corner, then stuck with the lead group as he gained valuable experience. In the second half of the contest the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 talent dropped several places, but was always within touching distance of the riders in front of him. Toba eventually achieved his best result of the year: ninth.

After the second race at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Raul Fernandez is 9th in the overall standings with 61 points. Kaito Toba is 19th with 19. The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 team now travel to Barcelona, where the Catalan Grand Prix will be held from September 25-27th.

Results – Race
1. Romano Fenati (Husqvarna) 39:30.124
2. Celestino Vietti (KTM) +0.036
3. Ai Ogura (Honda) +0.121
4. Albert Arenas (KTM) +0.199
5. Jaume Masia (Honda) +0.280
6. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +0.439
9. Kaito Toba (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +0.939

Moto3 World Championship Standing 2020
1. Albert Arenas (KTM) 119 points
2. Ai Ogura (Honda) 117 points
3. John McPhee (Honda) 98 points
4. Celestino Vietti (KTM) 86 points
5. Tatsuki Suzuki (Honda) 75 points
9. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 61 points
19. Kaito Toba (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 19 points

AKI AJO – TEAM MANAGER

“It was a very positive weekend for us in Moto3. Raul [Fernandez] had another great performance, especially in practice. However, we still need to take a step forward with him in the race. In any case, it was a good Grand Prix for him, in which he continued to learn and gain experience for the future. As for Kaito [Toba], we saw a change in him. He is more relaxed now and that has finally allowed him to take a big step forward here.”

25 RAUL FERNANDEZ

“I’m happy with how the race went. Both the team and I did a good job this weekend. We had studied what the contest would be like and I am satisfied that I was always in the Top 10. However, we have to improve on the last laps in order to be able to fight for a place on the podium. In the final part of the GP, a group of five riders always forms and we can’t fall into their trap. We have to continue in the same way, do our best and trust that our moment will eventually come. Thank you once again to my crew for always giving their all. We will go again in Barcelona.”

27 KAITO TOBA

“We had a good race, as we took a big step forward compared to last week. This was our best Sunday so far this year, so I am satisfied.
At the beginning of the contest I was riding with the leading group and, although afterwards it seemed that I had lost contact with them, I caught them back up again at the end. Today I felt well on the bike and I am getting more and more confident. We have to continue working in this way next week in Barcelona.”