Fernandez and Toba relishing challenge of Portuguese GP season finale
18/11/2020Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 aim to round off the 2020 season with good results, having been on the podium at the last four rounds.
The Moto3 World Championship reaches its season finale this weekend, as the series heads to the Algarve International Circuit for the Portuguese Grand Prix. Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 riders, Raul Fernandez and Kaito Toba, will seek to end the campaign with a good result. The duo come into the last round of the year with extra motivation, as they know the track from their time in the FIM Moto3 Junior World Championship.
At the most recent Grand Prix, Fernandez claimed a hard-fought third place, having set the pace during the contest. He was on the rostrum three times at the last four events, as his season ends strongly. Now the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider goes to a track of which he has fond memories: in 2016 he got his first podium in the FIM Moto3 Junior World Championship by finishing third at Portimão. Fernandez is currently in sixth position in the overall standings, with 134 points.
Toba arrives in Portugal wanting to make amends for last weekend, when he crashed out when riding in second place. The Japanese has taken a step up over the last month, and wants to finish this off with a positive race result. Toba raced at the Algarve International Circuit in 2015 and 2016 in the FIM Moto3 Junior World Championship, finishing in the points on both occasions. He is currently 18th in the Moto3 World Championship, with 40 points.
The 21-lap Portuguese Grand Prix takes place at 11 am, local time, on Sunday.
Circuit information – Algarve International Circuit
Length: 4.6 km / 2.85 miles
Width: 18 metres / 59.06 ft.
Left corners: 6
Right corners: 9
Longest straight: 969 m / 3179.13 ft.
Constructed: 2008
25 RAUL FERNANDEZ
“I’m looking forward to the Portuguese GP. We are having a great end to the season, in which we have shown that we are strong and competitive, and it is very positive to be able to finish this way after a campaign that, to begin with, was difficult. I have to thank the team for all of their help. We should be happy. In addition, we cannot forget that it has been a tough year due to the pandemic, and we have had to take great care of our health. We arrive in Portugal with the same motivation that we had at the previous rounds, and with a strong mentality. Portimão brings back great memories for me and it’s a circuit that I really like. With the form we are in, I am sure it will be a fun weekend. The goal for the last race is to give our 100% and fight for the last victory of 2020.”
27 KAITO TOBA
“As at each and every one of the races we have contested this campaign, we are going to give our 100% in Portugal. It hasn’t been an easy season, but we are going to try to finish it with a good result to celebrate the end of the year. I rode at the Portimão circuit when I was competing in the FIM Moto3 Junior World Championship in 2015 and 2016. I don’t remember it very well, but I think it was an interesting track. We are going to take advantage of all the knowledge we have – and that acquired during the 2020 – to fight for the podium on Sunday.”