The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 riders clinch fifth and seventh place in the closing moments of Q2.

Alvaro Carpe and Brian Uriarte had a solid Saturday at the British Grand Prix, albeit one in which they were unable to fully execute their strategy in Qualifying. The Red Bull KTM Ajo pair had to settle for fifth and seventh places on the grid, with Uriarte having been the fastest rider in Free Practice 2.

Following on from a strong Friday, Uriarte and Carpe started the second day with even better conditions than in Free Practice 1, with track temperatures reaching 19°C. This allowed the Moto3 riders to lap much faster than the previous morning.

Uriarte worked tirelessly from start to finish in FP2, aiming to find something extra for Sunday’s race. The rookie rode a series of laps on his own, holding third place until the final five minutes, when he moved into the top spot on used tyres. He took first place in Free Practice 2 with a time of 2:09.847, his third time leading a Free Practice session this season. He completed 14 laps in total. Carpe also focused his session on his setup for Sunday, working alone without reference points in order to concentrate on his own performance. With a long run throughout FP2, he finished tenth with a best time of 2:10.623.

In Q2, the two Red Bull KTM Ajo riders enjoyed ideal conditions that included a track temperature of 42°C, as they fought for positions high up on the grid. Uriarte and Carpe aimed to work as a team from the start, although they had to wait until the final minutes to set their first flying laps without traffic.

Carpe was able to climb to fifth position within just two laps, securing a place on the second row of the grid. He started off behind his teammate and other riders, with a perfect gap to set his pace comfortably. With a 2:09.585, his best time of the weekend, he rode two flying laps of his five laps overall, but made them count. Uriarte followed the same strategy as his teammate, but after a discreet first hot lap, the rookie headed the pack on his second and final attempt. On course for a provisional Pole Position, he lost significant time in the final sections, putting him seventh on the grid. His best time was a 2:09.851 after five laps.

All in all, positive results for the two Spanish riders from Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 team, who have the potential to fight for podium places in the race. The Moto3 British Grand Prix closes the weekend on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. (local time), with 15 laps of the longest circuit on the calendar.

Qualifying Results
1. Scott Ogden (KTM) | 2:09.126
2. Adrian Cruces (KTM) | 2:09.400 (+0.274)
3. Valentin Perrone (KTM) | 2:09.458 (+0.332)
4. David Almansa (KTM) | 2:09.461 (+0.335)
5. Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 2:09.585 (+0.459)
7. Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 2:09.851 (+0.725)

#83 ALVARO CARPE

“Today we achieved our goal. I worked with my teammate, but it wasn’t easy with such a large group. Fortunately, we managed to handle it quite well, and we’ll start from the second row of the grid. Tomorrow we want to fight for the win, so we’ll try to give it our best from the start and enjoy it to the fullest. The race will likely be run in a pack, so we’ll have to be very attentive from start to finish. I like close racing, so we’ll try to manage it in the best way possible.”

#51 BRIAN URIARTE

“This morning went very, very well. The race pace was very good; I think we’re among the fastest riders for that, so I’m very happy with it. For it being a new track, we’re adapting very well. Qualifying didn’t go as we expected, but seventh place isn’t too bad; we’ll just have to make up some ground tomorrow. I’m confident and I think we have what it takes to do well, so we’ll give it our all and enjoy it, because it’s going to be a tough and long race.”