After a solid showing in pre-season testing, Fernandez and Acosta face the first race of the year at the Lusail International Circuit.

The Lusail International Circuit is the venue for the start of the 2022 Moto2 World Championship, which kicks off with the Qatar Grand Prix this weekend. Red Bull KTM Ajo come into the inaugural race of the year, having completed an excellent pre-season, with their two representatives among the most competitive riders. Augusto Fernandez now faces his first race with the team, to which he has shown that he has adapted perfectly, whilst Pedro Acosta will make his debut in Moto2.

Fernandez starts the 2022 campaign with great enthusiasm and a positive mentality, as the Spaniard proved to be one of the riders to beat during the official test at Portimao. Despite the discomfort that he suffered with his recently operated left hand, the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 rider showed a fast adaptation to both his new team and bike. He travels to Qatar with the necessary confidence for the start of the new season – the first for him with the team.

Acosta debuts as a Moto2 rider this week in Qatar. The current Moto3 World Champion has taken to the intermediate class well, making steady progress throughout pre-season. This week, he travels to a circuit at which he has fond memories, as it is at Lusail that he achieved his first podium and his first Grand Prix victory in 2021. However, on this occasion, the only objective for the Spaniard is to continue learning and enjoying himself on track.

The 20-lap Moto2 Qatar Grand Prix will take place on Sunday, March 6th, at 4:20 PM local time. Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 took victory there in 2020 with Tetsuta Nagashima, and a second place in 2021 with Remy Gardner.

Circuit information – Lusail International Circuit
Length: 5.380 metres / 3.343 miles
Width: 12 metres / 39.37 ft
Left corners: 6
Right corners: 10
Longest straight: 1.068 metres / 0.664 miles
Constructed: 2004

37 AUGUSTO FERNANDEZ

“I can’t wait to start the season. Although we all want to win and be at the top, we have to think that this year there are 21 Grands Prix. It’s going to be a long campaign, so we have to use our heads. The ultimate goal for this new season is to fight for the title, so we shouldn’t be thinking about winning in Qatar, but rather about being consistent throughout 2022. We will continue to work calmly, but always giving our best. We have to go step by step and, if we have the chance to fight for victory, we will do it.”

51 PEDRO ACOSTA

“After the great work that we did during pre-season, we start the campaign with good feelings and a positive mentality. This year I know almost all the circuits, but, nevertheless, at many of them it will be my first time riding there with a Moto2, so we will have to push hard to learn and understand how this class works. For my first season in the intermediate class, we aren’t setting ourselves any goals. My only aim is to have fun at every Grand Prix and work hard with the team, so that we can take steps forward day after day.”