After an excellent first half of the year, the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 rider has clear objectives for the second part of the season.

Brian Uriarte has burst into the scene in the Moto3 World Championship with strength and personality. Something he has demonstrated with two victories, a second-place finish and a Pole Position in only eleven Grands Prix, propelling him to second place in the overall standings. The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 rookie reflects on his season so far, and gives his goals for the remainder of the campaign.

– Your numbers are good enough to consider your landing excellent. Did you expect to adapt so quickly in your first season in the Moto3 World Championship?

I didn’t expect it to be so fast, but I think the team are proving what we’re capable of together. In the end, it’s not just me getting good results; they’re contributing a lot to my development. I think I quickly realised that this is a team with a lot of experience, and they’re clearly helping me grow very rapidly. We’re taking steps forward with each race, and I think the improvements are noticeable, but it hasn’t been easy to adapt.

– The preseason was not easy, but you’ve been demonstrating growth in no too much time. What do you think are the keys for it?

I think it’s down to me staying calm and adapting to both the conditions and the situations at each circuit, although that’s not easy for someone new to a series. It’s also vital to keep expectations low, not to get carried away so you don’t suffer if things don’t start off easy. In the end, when you expect too much, it might not be as easy as you anticipate, and that can also work against you. Another important aspect is my preparation with my team. There’s still work to be done in terms of my fitness, but I prepared very well during preseason, and thanks to that, we’re making the progress we’re making.

– Your main goal in winter was to achieve your first podium. Now, with two victories in the pocket, which is your main objective?

To have taken my first wins already was unexpected, both for me and for those around me. It’s been hard work, we’ve put in a lot of effort, and they’ve come as a result of that work. Now, my main goal is to be Rookie of the Year and fight for a Top 5 finish in the overall standings. I think both are realistic goals, since we are currently in a position to achieve them, so I’m very satisfied. Other important objectives for me are to show consistency and, of course, to keep learning and improving in every race. We still have things to learn, that’s clear.

– You’re sharing box with Alvaro Carpe, with whom you’ve a good relationship. What does Alvaro Carpe bring to the table to help you?

My teammate offers me a lot because, ultimately, he’s someone I can look up to and compare myself to, which is a positive thing. I’m also lucky that he’s a very fast rider; he’s third in the standings and fighting for the top spot, just like he did last year. Alvaro is helping me a lot in different aspects and I’m learning a great deal from him. In fact, I think I’m gradually getting closer to his level, and that allows us to help each other -which is very positive for both of us and, above all, for the entire Red Bull KTM Ajo team.

“Alvaro is helping me a lot in different aspects and I’m learning a great deal from him. In fact, I think I’m gradually getting closer to his level, and that allows us to help each other”

 – Five out of eleven Grand Prixs were held in unfamiliar circuits for you. How have you tried to adapt to all of them in such a short time?

Mainly, I try to rely on my team to help me arrive mentally prepared for the circuits I don’t know. It’s easier on the circuits I do know, because I have a clearer understanding of them from the start, but I’m also riding a different bike now, and it’s very different from the one from the Red Bull Rookies Cup. The most important thing is to arrive well-prepared on race day, in order to try and be close to the front of the race. It’s difficult to arrive at a circuit and find yourself so far from the front when you don’t know the track, but you have to make the effort to understand it yourself. Needing adaptation and having room for improvement is normal. Now we’re being more consistent so we can reach the front on Sundays, which is our main goal, and we’re achieving it, so I’m very happy with the progress we’re showing.

 – After Sachsenring, you’ve completed the 50% of the season so far. If you had to choose one Grand Prix as the best overall, which would it be? And which one was the most challenging?

In terms of the best, I would obviously choose the Italian Grand Prix, where I achieved my first victory. It was also a good weekend overall and I think I enjoyed it quite a lot. The German Grand Prix isn’t far behind, as we won again. If I had to choose a key moment of this season, it would be the Jerez Test after the Spanish Grand Prix, which is when we managed to find a solid base and a definitive path to start working on. I think we took a big step forward there, and since then we’ve shown clear improvements in adapting much better to all conditions.

There hasn’t been one circuit that has been more difficult than the rest for me, but I struggled quite a bit in Brazil and the United States. The circuits at the beginning of the season were tough, but right now we’ve managed to be solid and consistent wherever we go, so there hasn’t been a circuit that’s proved overly challenging for me.

 – Now is moment to rest a little bit. What do you like to do in the summer break?

In my free time, what I like most is cycling, and I already have several routes planned for this summer break. I’ll try to both enjoy myself and train to be ready for Silverstone, as the second half of the season is just around the corner. When I have time off, I also like to get on a motorbike: We’re obsessed with this sport, and I think it shows. I’ll train as much as possible, disconnect with my family and friends, go on vacation, and have a good time before getting back into things. We still have many races ahead, and the end of the season is very important for us. We have to keep working the way we have been; I’m sure we can continue to spring some surprises from time to time as well.

With plenty of confidence after a very solid first half of the season, Uriarte is now approaching the second one more motivated than ever. With not too much pressure in his rookie year, Brian wants to continue making significant progress alongside Alvaro Carpe and his team, with whom he comfortably occupies second place in the team standings. Next up for Uriarte will be a trip to Silverstone, another completely new circuit for him, where he will try to continue his progress. This takes place on August 7th to 9th at the British Grand Prix.