The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 duo want to recover from a bittersweet Sunday in Qatar and fight for a good result.

Jose Antonio Rueda and Vicente Perez travel to the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve to compete in the second race of the Moto3 season this weekend. After a tough end to the Qatar Grand Prix, in which both riders crashed out of the race, the Red Bull KTM Ajo duo are ready to show what they are capable of in Europe.

Rueda wants to continue being one of the most competitive riders in the smallest cylinder class. He was one of the standouts in the season opener, leading the way during many sessions and starting the race from the second row of the grid. However, a crash on Lap 2 in the race ended his chances of fighting for the victory. Rueda knows Portimao well and has great previous results there, including fourth place in his first race with the team in 2023. He also has the benefit of positive work done in preseason to draw upon.

Perez faces his second race with Red Bull KTM Ajo this weekend. He had a solid weekend at Lusail, going from strength to strength and putting in an outstanding performance in the Qatar Grand Prix race itself. Unfortunately, a crash for another rider in front of him caused him to go to ground on the last lap, when he was fighting for the Top 5. Perez is eager to achieve a good result befitting his fast adaptation to the team.

Red Bull KTM Ajo achieved victory at Portimao in 2020 with Raul Fernandez in the Moto3 class, as well as in 2021 with Pedro Acosta at both the Portuguese and Algarve Grands Prix. In 2022, Jaume Masia got on the podium with a second position. The 19-lap Moto3 Portuguese Grand Prix will begin at 11:00 AM on Sunday at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve.

Circuit information – Autodromo Internacional do Algarve
Length: 4,600 metres / 2.85 miles
Width: 18 metres / 59.06 ft.
Left corners: 6
Right corners: 9
Longest straight: 969 metres / 3179.13 ft.
Built: 2008

#99 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“This is a circuit where we have already ridden in preseason and we know it very well, so we can do well here. We have a good base setup for the bike from the tests and the first race, although I hope the weather holds out since the conditions there are very changeable. After the Qatar Grand Prix I want to have a good weekend and get my first points of the season.”

#21 VICENTE PEREZ

“I am very motivated for Portugal, because we did a good job in Qatar. I found it a bit hard to adapt, but we managed to find a good setup and felt comfortable, although in the race the crash meant that this was not reflected. This weekend I hope to be higher up the order from the start. I am very happy to be back on the bike and we deserve a good result after the work we have been doing.”