Italian GP presents new challenge for Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3
26/05/2021Acosta and Masia will contest two events in consecutive weekends, kicking off at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello with the sixth round of the season.
The Moto3 World Championship reaches the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello this weekend for the sixth round of the 2021 season. The tricky, physically demanding track will put the Red Bull KTM Ajo duo of Pedro Acosta and Jaume Masia to the test, as both look to take strong results in the Italian Grand Prix.
Two weeks ago, Acosta had his first experience at Le Mans, making an astonishing fightback from 21st position to eighth after an early crash. The Spaniard will attempt to continue learning and improving at a circuit where he finished second in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in 2019 – his only previous time at the track. Acosta continues to lead the Moto3 World Championship with 103 points.
Masia arrives in Italy after some bad luck at the French Grand Prix, when he crashed on Lap 2 and could not re-join the race. This weekend, he chases a good result to get his season back on course, and the visit to Mugello allows him to return to the scene of a third place finish in 2019 in Moto3. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider is seventh in the overall standings with 39 points.
The 20-lap Moto3 Italian Grand Prix will take place on Sunday at 11 AM local time. To date, the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 team achieved a total of 3 victories at Mugello: with Luis Salom in 2013, Miguel Oliveira in 2015 and Brad Binder in 2016. There was also a third place for Sandro Cortese there in 2012.
Circuit information – Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello
Length: 5.245 m / 3.259 miles
Width: 14 m / 45.93 ft.
Left corners: 6
Right corners: 9
Longest straight: 1.141 m / 0.709 miles
Constructed: 1974
5 JAUME MASIA
“We showed that we are competitive and consistent in every practice session. I hope that nothing out of the ordinary happens this weekend, and we can enjoy a good performance. Mugello is a track that I really like and is actually one of my favourite circuits. Once again, the objective will be to fight at the front and be strong. We will give our one hundred percent, as we always do.”
37 PEDRO ACOSTA
“We were able to take a step forward in the test in Barcelona, in terms of setting up the bike. I hope to be able to qualify better this weekend and go directly into Q2, although at this circuit the race is very long, and it is possible to recover positions if you start from further back.
I’ve only raced at Mugello once, with the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in 2019. I really liked it. It’s not the best fit for my style, with flowing corners and little hard braking, but I think it’s nice. If we continue working as we usually do with the team, we can do a good job. However, the objective will be the same as always: to have fun every time we go out on track.”