Jorge Martin will join the Red Bull KTM Ajo team on a two-year deal, making his move up to the Moto2 class in 2019.

The 2014 Red Bull Rookies Cup Champion has ‘reconnected’ with KTM to continue his progression in Grand Prix racing. KTM and Ajo Motorsport identified Martin as one of the best options to replace the departing Miguel Oliveira in their Moto2 project, as the Portuguese moves to MotoGP in 2019. This will be Martin’s fifth season in the World Championship, and his first in the intermediate class.

The winner of the eighth edition of Red Bull Rookies Cup, Martin debuted in Moto3 in 2015, earning the first points of his career that year. Last season he claimed his first win, as well as 8 podium finishes, and placed fourth in the overall standings. The Spaniard is currently fourth, with three wins from the six Grands Prix held to date.

2019 will mark KTM and the Red Bull KTM Ajo team’s third season in Moto2. They debuted last year with third place overall, courtesy of Oliveira. So far, they hold 4 wins and a further 12 podium finishes in the class. Oliveira is currently second in the standings and teammate Brad Binder is eighth, whilst Red Bull KTM Ajo top the team ranking after seven races.

Pit Beirer – KTM Motorsports Director
“We are proud and happy to get this rider ‘back’! He was growing up in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and I think our philosophy is now clear to everybody. Having Jorge [Martin] in Moto2 is another milestone for us because he really is one of the upcoming talents in this paddock; it underlines the effort we are making. Together with Aki [Ajo] we are trying to have this combination of experience and adding one of the youngsters in Moto2. I think it is important that we have opened a cool line to show how a rider can make steps with us through the categories. I’m really happy to have Jorge on our side; he is too strong to be one of our competitors out there!”

Aki Ajo – Team Manager
“We can see that many riders can be quick when they move from Moto3 to Moto2. We have a lot of experience with this and there are many examples; so I get very excited when we have a top guy from Moto3 coming again into our Moto2 structure. I feel that Jorge is one of the biggest talents coming up and especially in Moto3. I’m really enthusiastic to welcome him into the KTM family.”

Jorge Martin – Rider
“I think this is an important move for my career and I’m really happy to have found this agreement with KTM and Red Bull. It is such a competitive brand and I already cannot wait to start working this winter to attack next season. I want to learn as much as I can in the first year and fight to be at the top in the second. Obviously I have good memories of KTM from the Red Bull Rookies Cup. It is important to be together again and I hope we can get the same sort of results we managed last time!”