The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 riders finish eighth and fifth, respectively.

The Moto3 Indonesian Grand Prix provided an intense and extreme race, in which the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 duo went from strength to strength from the get-go. Jose Antonio Rueda made a great fightback at the Pertamina Mandalika Circuit and returned to the Top 5 after beginning the contest in sixteenth position. Deniz Öncü also made up positions and fought in the front group, crossing the finish line in eighth.

Öncü started the Indonesian Grand Prix race from the second row of the grid, in fifth position. After slight contact with another rider, the Turkish rider fell to eighth, but he remained in the group and began to regain positions. Öncü tried to maintain the high pace set by the leading competitors, and in the final stretch managed to reach fourth position in a tight battle. He finally crossed the finish line in eighth place, and with 155 points he remains fifth in the overall standings.

Rueda achieved one of his best results this season, when forced to fight back from sixteenth position. On the initial laps the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider managed to climb up the order, remained in the group and after the first half of the race he reached the Top 10. The Spanish rider took another step up and fought intensely with his rivals until he took fifth at the chequered flag. The 11 points put him eighth in the series.

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 team now travel to Phillip Island to compete in the Australian Grand Prix, from October 20th-22nd.
 

Results (Race)
1. Diogo Moreira (KTM) 33:19.002
2. David Alonso (GasGas) +0.107
3. David Muñoz (KTM) +0.130
4. Collin Veijer (HUsqvarna) +0.190
5. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +0.483
8. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +0.855

Moto3 World Championship Standing 2023
1. Jaume Masia (Honda) 209 points
2. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 193 points
3. Daniel Holgado (KTM) 192 points
4. David Alonso (GasGas) 180 points
5. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 155 points
8. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 111 points

Moto3 Teams World Championship Standings 2023
1. Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intanct GP 269 points
2. Red Bull KTM Ajo 266 points
3. Leopard Racing 259 points
4. Angeluss MTA Team 248 points
5. Gaviota GasGas Aspar Team 243 points

Aki Ajo – Team Manager

“We have to be happy with how things went in these extreme conditions here in Mandalika. Both Deniz and Jose Antonio finished the race in the Top 10, so we are pleased, as in these conditions many things can happen. It was a hectic race in Moto3 and it wasn’t easy for them to keep everything under control all the time. A lot happened on the last lap and, as I said, we are happy because it was a battle for survival. Of course, we are really hungry to go to Phillip Island and fight for the podium once again.”

#53 DENIZ ÖNCÜ

“Today was a tough race for me. This is a circuit where we struggle a lot with acceleration. We did our best as a team and we had a really good speed during the whole weekend. We were able to catch the frontrunners again but I was blocked on the final laps. It was tough to make a pass, but on the last lap I lost some positions because of an incident in front of me. We are consistent, we have earned some points and we will learn from this race. Now it’s time to think about Australia.”

#99 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“We were able to make a good start and gain positions. I’m very happy because it was one of the races in which we had the best start. The pace was very high and the group at the front was pushing very hard throughout the race. I lost touch a little, but on the last lap I was able to latch on again and fight. After the way this weekend went, I’m very satisfied with the result, I have learned a lot and now it’s time to think about the next race.”