Acosta on top and Arenas in the Top10 on the last day of testing

19/03/2023

Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 riders finishes first and tenth respectively. 

After three productive days in Portugal, the Red Bull KTM Ajo duo finished the 2023 Moto2 preseason feeling good. Pedro Acosta dominated proceedings during the weekend and was the fastest rider, whilst Albert Arenas remained in the Top 10, in tenth.

Acosta has been one of the most consistent riders this preseason. On Sunday the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider showed great pace and broke the Portuguese track record with a 1:41.907 time. Acosta did not take part in the last session of the day after completing his work plan early, with very satisfactory results. Over the 53 laps he completed on Day 3 of the test, he clocked the best time overall.

Arenas has been feeling more and more comfortable with his KTM this winter. Throughout Sunday, he lowered his times for the weekend and the track conditions allowed him to make the most of the last three sessions. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider made the final adjustments required before the season starts, racking up 51 laps in Portimao and finishing in tenth place with a time of 1:42.576.

The 2023 season will kick off this coming week with the opening event being the Portuguese Grand Prix, held from March 23rd-26th.

Results (Combined practice times Day 3)
1. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:41.907
2. Fermin Aldeguer (Boscoscuro) 1:41.979 +0.072
3. Aron Canet (Kalex) 1:42.091 + 0.184
4. Somkiat Chantra (Kalex) 1:42.275 +0.368
5. Sam Lowes (Kalex) 1:42.281 +0.374
10. Albert Arenas (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:42.576 +0.669

Aki Ajo – Team Manager

“We should be really happy because most of the days during preseason the weather was stable. We had a good testing programme with our Moto2 riders. Pedro is starting his third season with the team, so he was focused on different things than in recent years.  It’s his second year in Moto2, he had made many steps forward and progressed. His speed and pace are really strong. With Albert we also started in November, so we had many days to get out in track and try many new things. He has shown good speed and I have to say that his progress is very positive. He is part of the team and he is ready for the first race in Portimao”.

#37 PEDRO ACOSTA

“I think we have worked very well with the team. It is true that, in the end, having a base like the one we had, we knew where the problems were and more or less how to solve them or how to work. I think that five days have been very good, counting both Jerez and Portimao, the team has worked very hard, I think we have worked on the points that cost me a little more last year. Ready for the race”.

#75 ALBERT ARENAS

“It has been three days of a lot of work, and very intense. We have had the occasional setback but I have found the limits. That may have slowed us down a bit, although we’ve tried out a lot of things. The team have done an amazing job and I have to thank them for all the work they have done. We used the last runout to finish clarifying all the new things we have tried and I think it is positive. Even so, we are focused on continuing to grow and adapting, because I think we still have a little way to go, but I think we are close to getting the right match with the bike, team and rider and I am going to focus on that for the first race”.

 

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