Magnificent podium double for Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 at Doha GP

04/04/2021

Remy Gardner finishes second in Qatar, with Raul Fernandez in third place for his first Moto2 rostrum.

 

Red Bull KTM Ajo rounded off three weeks of intense work in Qatar with a fantastic podium double at the Doha Grand Prix. Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez placed second and third, respectively, as they continue to show that they are amongst the strongest competitors in Moto2. The Australian rider fought for victory until the last corner, eventually claiming second place, whilst the Spaniard made his first trip to the intermediate class rostrum in only his second race.

Gardner took advantage of his spot on the front row of the grid and, after making a good start, moved into the third place. He soon climbed another position and together with the race leader and his teammate, pulled away from the rest of the field. In the final stages of the contest, the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 rider stepped up the pace, setting the fastest lap of the afternoon. A two-way tussle saw Gardner push hard on the final lap, eventually coming home as runner-up at the Doha Grand Prix. The podium was his second of the season and the sixth of his career.

Fernandez also got off the line well, and by the end of the first lap he was already running fourth. A short time later, the Spaniard broke into the podium spots alongside his teammate. Whilst he would lose touch with the front two before the end, the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 talent crossed the line third, riding alone, and kept his speedy adaptation to the class going with a first podium in the intermediate category.

Remy Gardner is now second in the overall standings, with 40 points. Raul Fernandez is third with 27. The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 duo will be back in action in two weeks’ time, at the Portuguese Grand Prix on April 16th-18th.

 

Results (Moto2 Race)

1. Sam Lowes (Kalex) 39:52.702
2. Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +0.190
3. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +3.371
4. Marco Bezzecchi (Kalex) +6.789
5. Ai Ogura (Kalex) +16.640

Moto2 World Championship Standing 2021

1. Sam Lowes (Kalex) 50 points
2. Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 40 points
3. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 27 points
4. Marco Bezzecchi (Kalex) 26 points
5. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Kalex) 22 points

 

Aki Ajo – Team Manager
“It was an excellent race for us in Moto2. It’s amazing for both riders to have got on the podium. We are happy for Remy [Gardner] who earned 20 points which are important in a season as long as this one. We are pleased to see his progress, especially this weekend. He improved a lot and prepared well for the contest. As for Raul [Fernandez], we are pleasantly surprised by his performances in his debut year so far. At the end of 2020, we could already see that he had something special about him, and that took a big step forward. It is nice to see how these positive feelings have been proven.
I want to thank all of our sponsors, especially those who have been with us for a long time: Red Bull and KTM. We have come a long way together and, personally, I am motivated by how our junior project is working. What we have achieved is something unique.”

87 REMY GARDNER

“I’m very happy with the race. From the start I saw that the rider at the front was pushing very hard, and with each lap we were going faster because his pace was incredible. At the end of the contest, I thought I had to give it a go, and I gave it everything. I almost managed to pass him, but I didn’t want to make mistakes just because I wanted to claim 5 more points. I’m satisfied and surprised to see the good pace we had. We achieved points that are positive for the World Championship.”

25 RAUL FERNANDEZ

“I’m very happy. Getting my first podium in only my second race in Moto2 is incredible. We showed that we are prepared to make the step up in this class. I can’t express how grateful I am to all the people who have always believed in me: The team, my family, my manager… Aki [Ajo] has played an important role in my development. I feel very satisfied. The weekend in general was positive. I was focused on never losing touch with the riders in first and second and giving my all. Now I want to enjoy this result and prepare well for the Portuguese Grand Prix.”

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