The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider crosses the line in seventh position, while Xabi Zurutuza places eighteenth.

The Austrian Grand Prix came to an end with a fast race for the Red Bull KTM Ajo riders. Jose Antonio Rueda  was able to cap the weekend with a seventh place finish, whilst Xabi Zurutuza was eighteenth.

Rueda started the race from the second row of the grid, and focused on staying in the leading group off the line. After several laps he took fourth place and increased the pace in the chase for the podium. The high pace imposed by the frontrunners continued throughout, and in the closing stages Rueda lost positions, although he remained in the leading group until dropping to seventh before the end. Nevertheless, it was a positive weekend for the Spaniard.

Zurutuza completed his first race at the Red Bull Ring on Sunday. The Moto3 rookie, who achieved one of his best results in qualifying, tried to keep up the high pace in the contest, although he would be relegated to sixteenth. From that moment on, he focused on returning to the points, but a long lap penalty late on prevented him from reaching the goal and he took the chequered flag in eighteenth position.

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 duo will return to action in two weeks’ time, at the Aragon Grand Prix.

Results Race
1. David Alonso (CFMOTO) 33:40.607
2. David Muñoz (KTM) +0.121
3. Daniel Holgado (GASGAS) +0.126
4. Angel Piqueras (Honda) +0.211
5. Collin Veijer (Husqvarna) +0.303
7. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +2.790
18. Xabi Zurutuza (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +19.272

Moto3 World Championship Standing 2024
1. David Alonso (CFMOTO) 224 points
2. Ivan Ortola (KTM) 153 points
3. Daniel Holgado (GASGAS) 149 points
4. Collin Veijer (Husqvarna) 142 points
5. David Muñoz (KTM) 108 points
8. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 74 points
22. Xabi Zurutuza (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 3 points

Moto3 Teams World Championship Standing 2024
1. CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team – 265 points
2. MT Helmets MSI – 238 points
3. Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 – 195 points
4. Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP – 190 points
5. BOE Motorsports – 180 points
7. Red Bull KTM Ajo – 80 points

Aki Ajo – Team Manager

“It was a hectic race in Moto3, as always. We cannot be completely happy with this weekend, as we feel that we have the potential to be much higher up with both of our riders. Xabi had good practice sessions and got directly into Q2, but in the race we are still making some mistakes and even got a track limit penalty. With Rueda we of course expected to fight for the podium and even for the win. His fighting in the race was not enough and that’s the part that we really need to improve: Riding on the slow corners and being strong in groups during the race. He is always one of the fastest riders, but in terms of race performance we need to work on things to have a chance to fight for the podium.”

#99 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“In today’s race we made a good start and we were in the Top 5. From the beginning, I had a hard time turning the bike and, above all, keeping up with the other riders. We finished in seventh position, which is a fairly good result, as this circuit has always been difficult for me. The objective was to be further up and fight for the front positions, and now it’s a bit tough. Since the tests we have been improving, but we still need a bit more to fight up front in the race. It’s bittersweet, but at Aragon we will get better and better.”

#85 XABI ZURUTUZA

“We’ve finished KTM’s home GP, where we’ve taken a step forward. I’m very happy overall. The race didn’t go as I would have liked, but I’m happy with the pace in the first half of the race. It’s a shame about the long lap due to exceeding the track limits, because I was fighting for the Top 10. But we have a clear idea and a good feeling with the bike for the Aragon GP in two weeks.”