The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 duo will start their first campaign as a teammates at Buriram this weekend.

Red Bull KTM Ajo riders Collin Veijer and Jose Antonio Rueda will contest their first Grand Prix as Moto2 teammates this weekend. With the Thai Grand Prix on the horizon, the two riders travel to the Chang International Circuit with very different goals but with one thing clear: to compete from start to finish. After a short preseason for both riders, 2026 begins with a very demanding challenge on Buriram.

Veijer arrives in Thailand in good form after a strong winter of testing and training. The Dutchman, who debuted last year in the intermediate class at Buriram with a 20th-place finish, wants to be one of the title contenders after his impressive late charge last season. Last week, he was eighth and thirteenth fastest on the two days of the Official Test at Jerez, demonstrating consistency and experience after finishing his rookie year on the class. All in all, #95 is entering his second season in the category with a solid winter preparation which gives him much more confidence for this first round of the year. On previous visits to Thailand, Veijer has solid results from his time in Moto3, with two third place finishes from two appearances in the smaller cylinder class.

On the other hand, Rueda faces a very different situation to that of his teammate. Discomfort in his hand, a result of an injury at last year’s Malaysian GP, forced him to start preseason somewhat later than his rivals, putting him at a slight disadvantage at the beginning of 2026. Since the turn of the new year, however, he made consistent improvement with each day of testing. At Jerez, he was just two seconds off the fastest time of the Official Test. In addition, the Spaniard has fond memories of the Buriram circuit, where last year he achieved a majestic victory in Moto3. The reigning World Champion of that class will now move up to Moto2 at one of the most demanding tracks on the calendar -where extreme heat and humidity are forecast-, with the goal of finishing his first ever race in the class.

In conclusion, Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 is ready to start a new season in the intermediate category. Although the preseason has been shorter than expected for both riders, Collin Veijer and Jose Antonio Rueda will try to get off to a good start. The team have previously achieved great results in Thailand, such as the podium finishes of Miguel Oliveira (3rd), Brad Binder (2nd) and Pedro Acosta (2nd) in 2018, 2019 and 2023 respectively.

The Moto2 riders will kick off their season this coming Friday at 9:50 a.m. (local time) with Free Practice 1. 22 laps Sunday’s race will take place at 13:15 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

#95 COLLIN VEIJER

“The first race of the year is always important, as it makes you know where you’re starting from. We worked very well during preseason, both on the track and at home, so we’re more than ready to fight for a good position there. We know that riding in Thailand is never easy because of the heat and humidity, but we’re in good shape, so we can try to use that to our advantage. Of course, the season will be long and we haven’t won anything here yet, but we want to be competitive from the beginning, so we will try our best in Buriram.”

#98 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“We’re starting our journey in Moto2 at a unique circuit, with conditions that won’t be easy to manage. We’re very excited to make our debut, but we know where we’ve come from and we’re going to work hard to enjoy it to the fullest. Our preseason has been somewhat short, so we’re going to approach these first races as a learning experience to try and get closer to the more competitive riders in the group. We hope to have a complete and competitive weekend in Buriram.”