Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 duo will compete this weekend at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo.

After 19 races, the 2023 season comes to an end this weekend with the Valencia Grand Prix. The Circuit Ricardo Tormo will once again be the stage for the finale to the campaign. Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Deniz Öncü arrives at the event off the back of a podium in Qatar, and will participate in his last race in the class before moving up to Moto2. Jose Antonio Rueda will finish his first season as a World Championship rider and will be looking to end the year with a great result.

Öncü had an unexpected start to his race at the Lusail International Circuit. After receiving a double long lap penalty for a jump start, the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider put in one of his best performances of the year, climbing from 22nd to 3rd. The Turkish rider arrives in Valencia with a lot of motivation after his best season to date, wanting to at least match his 2022 result in Valencia  secondplace. He is currently fifth in the overall standings with 212 points, tied for fourth place.

Jose Antonio Rueda had a tough contest in Qatar, in which he was also forced to come back after incurring a penalty. Although he finished just short of the points, he has taken a big step forward in recent races, becoming more competitive and improving significantly in his rookie campaign. Rueda is about to finish his first year in the category, full of progress and learning.  Rueda has 111 points and is ninth in the overall standings.

Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 occupy third position in the Team Standings with 323 points. In 2021, Jaume Masia placed third in Valencia, whilst in 2020 Raul Fernandez was first and second in the two GPs held at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo. Previously, in 2018 the duo formed by Can Öncü and Jorge Martin finished in first and second position respectively.

The 20-lap Moto3 Valencia Grand Prix race will begin at 12 PM this Sunday, 26th November.

#53 DENIZ ÖNCÜ

“Now it’s time for the final GP of the season. I want to finish the year in the best way, so I will fight for the victory in my last Moto3 race. Thanks to my last few results I feel confident. In 2022, the victory was so close for us, so let’s enjoy this weekend in Valencia and see how we get on.”

#99 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“We arrive in Valencia after races at many circuits that we did not know. Valencia is a track that we do, where we have had many races. I’m happy with how we are doing and the feeling we have with the bike, and we believe that in Valencia we can do well, fighting to finish as high up as possible and ending the season well – after several races in which we weren’t able to finish as we would have liked. Returning home will help us recharge our batteries and be motivated for this last event of the season, and we are already thinking about next year.”