Rueda and Carpe aim to secure the team’s fourth consecutive rostrum finish this weekend, as well as maintaining the lead in the overall riders and teams standings.

The Lusail International Circuit hosts the fourth round of the 2025 MotoGP World Championship this weekend. The usual Qatari track will once again host a Grand Prix in the afternoon, as has been the case in recent years. The Qatar GP sees Jose Antonio Rueda and Alvaro Carpe aiming to extend Red Bull KTM Ajo’s strong run in the team standings, with the pair also top of the Rider and Rookie classification, respectively. However, it will not be an easy task: Rueda has not yet scored points in Lusail and Alvaro does not know the track.

Rueda has an affinity for the Lusail International Circuit, but has not had great results in either of his two previous visits there. In 2024, he qualified on the front row but crashed on the second lap of the race, while in 2023 he missed out on the points by placing 16th. Leading the way in the Moto3 World Championship, he is looking for a fourth consecutive podium finish before the series moves on to Europe. His convincing victory in Austin a fortnight ago has given him additional confidence to continue at the top of the standings.

Carpe faces a fourth unfamiliar track in a row at the start of his rookie campaign. Having trained in Spain between races, he is prepared for a round equally as positive as the previous three. In fact, despite the final crash at Termas de Río Hondo, the #83 Moto3 rider has managed to reach the final laps of the first three races with options to fight for the top positions against much more experienced riders, demonstrating an efficient ability to adapt to unfamiliar circumstances. The top newcomer in Moto3 to date in 2025, leads the Rookie of the Year ranking with 30 points, 19 more than his closest rival.

With plenty of confidence and speed, the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider arrives in Qatar with the motivation to have a great weekend to add to the three they have had so far. Red Bull KTM Ajo have two victories in Qatar in the last 10 years, through Jaume Masia and Pedro Acosta in 2021, as well as second places for Acosta and Brad Binder in 2021 and 2016, plus third place for Deniz Öncü in 2023.

Activity at the Lusail International Circuit will begin on Friday at 2:00 PM (local time) with the first Moto3 Free Practice session. The race takes place on Sunday at the 5:00 PM (local time).

Circuit information – Lusail International Circuit 
Length: 5.38km / 3.34 miles 
Width: 12 meters / 39.37 ft.
Left corners: 6
Right corners: 10
Longest straight: 1.068 meters / 3503.94 ft.
Built: 2004 

#99 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“We’re coming to Qatar very eager after how well Austin went. Lusail is a track I really like, and we’ll have to work from the start of the weekend to get everything under control. Last year, we weren’t lucky enough to be able to really race here, as I crashed out on the second lap, so we’ll have to prepare as best we can for Sunday’s race from the very first session of the Grand Prix. The race time here is different, and that’s always an extra motivation, as the afternoon start makes it a special weekend.”

#83 ALVARO CARPE

“I’m really looking forward to getting to know the Lusail track, and also the country, as I’ve never been there. Since I was very young, I’ve watched a lot of races in Qatar, and it looks very beautiful. Given its characteristics, I think we can do it well. We’ve worked hard this winter on aerodynamics, an aspect that will be important in Lusail, so we’re confident about our abilities. We know the weather will make things difficult for us, especially the heat and humidity, but we’ve trained to be at our best, so I hope to be up to the task and competitive”.