Alvaro Carpe and Brian Uriarte will arrive at the Buriram aiming to start the new season with a strong weekend.

The 2026 season has arrived for Red Bull KTM Ajo, who head to Thailand this weekend ready to repeat last year’s successes at Buriram and the rest of the venues on the calendar. Alvaro Carpe and Brian Uriarte will try to start the season in the best possible way at the Chang International Circuit, known as Buriram, which holds fond memories for the team: last year it achieved a one-two finish, with Jose Antonio Rueda and Carpe himself coming in first and second.

Carpe arrives in Thailand as one of the favourites for the top positions. The Spanish rider, who placed fifth in the 2025 overall standings in his rookie year, took second place in Thailand exactly a year ago. He did so with a stunning double overtake on the final lap, completing a Red Bull KTM Ajo one-two finish with Jose Antonio Rueda. Among the fastest riders at the recent Jerez Official Test – leading the first day and finishing seventh on the second – the Spanish rider wants to start strong like last year to demonstrate his potential and begin as consistently as possible, something essential to fight for the top spots throughout 2026.

On the other side of the garage, Uriarte also wants to start the year in style. However, the circumstances are very different than those for his teammate, with him having no prior experience of the circuit or the country. With the goal of making a good impression, the rookie will be doing his official debut with the team in his first full season in the Moto3 World Championship. His strategy will likely involve learning from Carpe to adapt quickly, just as his compatriot himself did last year. Facing a very particular track and extreme conditions of high humidity and heat, he will try to build on the progress made during preseason testing and start the year with a result that can serve as a springboard for a great 2026.

In short, the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 team, formed by Alvaro Carpe and Brian Uriarte, are more than ready to face the first of the twenty-two races that the season will bring. The first session for the Spaniards will take place from Friday, February 27th, at 9:00 a.m. (local time) with Free Practice 1. The 19 lap Moto3 Thai Grand Prix itself gets underway on Sunday at 12 p.m. 

Circuit information – Chang International Circuit
Length: 4.554 m / 2.830 miles
Left corners: 5
Right corners: 7
Longest straight: 1000 m
Width: 12 m / 39.37 ft.
Constructed: 2014

#83 ALVARO CARPE

“We’ve come to Thailand motivated to start the season in the best possible way. Preseason testing has gone well, we’re getting along well with the team, and we’re ready to give it our all in Buriram. I have good memories from last year, when I competed in my first race here and it ended with a great result, so we’ll try to repeat that and fight as possible. It is very important to start the season on the right foot and with good momentum.”

#51 BRIAN URIARTE

“I’m very happy to be able to start this challenge with my team. It’s a pleasure to be part of this family, so I’ll try to give my all to repay their confidence in me. Thailand is a country I don’t know, and Buriram is a new track for me, so we’ll have to work hard to adapt as quickly as possible to both the circuit’s characteristics and the weather conditions we might encounter. We’re going to take it calmly, but it’s important to start well, so we’ll give it our all.”