Deniz Öncü will start from third position, with Jose Antonio Rueda fifth at Red Bull Ring.

An outstanding qualifying run for the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 riders at the Austrian GP saw Deniz Öncü and Jose Antonio Rueda work as a team to improve their times, and the strategy helped them both to start from the upper rows of the grid. Öncü will do so from the front row for the fifth time this season, in third place, whilst Rueda will be fifth.

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 duo improved their times from the opening laps of Practice 3 and worked together to find a good feeling. Öncü took a step forward compared to the previous day and completed a productive session, putting in 14 laps and clocking the fourth fastest time with a 1:41.379 on lap 11. Rueda continued his progression at the Red Bull Ring and focused on lowering his times for qualifying in the afternoon. The Moto3 rookie was tenth with a time of 1:41.729 on his penultimate lap.

Moto3 qualifying began with both riders in Q2. Once again, the Red Bull KTM Ajo pair rode together and worked on a time attack that would allow them to start as high up the grid as possible. Öncü would set the pace in the session and fought for pole until the end, eventually claiming third place. Rueda set a high pace and has offered one of his best performances this season. The Spanish rider wanted to accompany his teammate on the front row, although his best lap was canceled out when he exceeded the track limits. Despite this, Rueda achieved one of his best results of the year and will start from fifth position, on the second row, with a time of 1:41.795.

The 20-lap Moto3 Austrian Grand Prix will start this Sunday at 11 AM at the Red Bull Ring.

Results (Qualifying session)
1. Colin Veijer (Husqvarna) 1:41.486
2. Daniel Holgado (KTM) 1:41.543 +0.057
3. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:41.591 +0.105
4. Jaume Masia (Honda) 1:41.690 +0.204
5. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:41.795 +0.309

#53 DENIZ ÖNCÜ

“Tomorrow both Rueda and I will start from the top positions. Rueda was fifth and I’m third, so as a team we did a great job. I think I still have some time in my pocket but this position is good for the race. Tomorrow we will start from the front row and we will give it all we have. I’m going to fight for a great result here in Austria and we will enjoy the race.”

#99 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“I have had a very good feeling since we went out on the track in Practice 3. I’m very happy because we are improving every day. In qualifying we followed our strategy, although it didn’t end up going well after we made a small mistake. It was a good qualifying session, we are starting from the second row and we have more options to be at the front. I really want to give it my all in tomorrow’s race.”