The Turkish rider finishes 14th at Termas de Rio Hondo. Collin Veijer manages to complete his second race in the intermediate class.

The Argentinian Grand Prix had a positive end for Deniz Öncü and Collin Veijer, who rounded out a difficult weekend by taking the chequered flag on race day. Öncü struggled again at the start but was able to recover to reach the points. Veijer started well, but faded in the second half of the race to finish in 24th place.

It was a clean start at Termas de Río Hondo, although not entirely positive for Öncü, who, as in Thailand, once again struggled to stay in the group. After the first lap, the Turkish rider was in 23rd place, just ahead of his teammate. He managed to regain positions, allowing him to return to the Top 20 and begin his comeback. With his fuel tank now emptier and his tyres beginning to suffer, Öncü felt more comfortable than some of his rivals, even making contact with the Top 15 in the final third of the race. Finally, after overtaking Izan Guevara, he managed to cross the finish line in 14th, less than four seconds off the Top 10.

Veijer got off to a good start, fighting for the Top 20 positions in the wake of Öncü. His pace was good during the first third of the race, but he couldn’t maintain it for the final stretch. From the midpoint of the race onwards, the Dutchman made two mistakes that dropped him to last place, where he remained until the chequered flag. With this, Veijer has managed to finish both Moto2 races he has contested so far, an important step in continuing to gain experience and mileage on his Kalex.

After the first two Grands Prix, where both Deniz Öncü and Collin Veijer crossed the chequered flag, the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 team prepares to visit the United States. The third round of the season will be the Grand Prix of the Americas, which will take place in Austin from March 28-30^th.

Race Results
1. Jake Dixon (Boscoscuro) 35:48.793
2. Manuel Gonzalez (Kalex) +3.525
3. Celestino Vietti (Boscoscuro) +10.098
4. Aron Canet (Kalex) +10.508
5. Marcos Ramirez (Kalex) +11.009
14. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +23.216
24. Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +50.421

Moto2 World Championship Standing 2025
1. Manuel González (Kalex) – 45 points
2. Jake Dixon (Boscoscuro) – 34 points
3. Aron Canet (Kalex) – 33 points
4. Marcos Ramirez (Kalex) – 22 points
5. Senna Agius (Kalex) – 19 points
16. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – 6 points
26. Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – 0 points

Moto2 Teams World Championship Standing 2025
1. Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 64 points
2. Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 47 points
3. ELF Marc VDS Racing Team – 41 points
4. Team HDR Heidrun – 30 points
5. OnlyFans American Racing Team – 22 points
11. Red Bull KTM Ajo – 6 points

NIKLAS AJO – Team Manager

“After a promising start it ended up being a difficult weekend here in Argentina. Since the beginning of the weekend, both riders were struggling a little bit with the low grip level that we often find here. Both riders and the whole team was working really hard and we were able to make good progress during the weekend. Deniz was a bit unlucky on his Time Attack in Qualifying yesterday and unfortunately this was the maximum he could achieve today starting from 19th. Collin was struggling a little bit more today but, as I have said before, these kind of days are valuable lessons for the future. Now we just have to look forward and keep on working, and I’m sure that both Deniz and Collin are eager to do better in Austin in two weeks.”

#53 DENIZ ÖNCÜ

“We can take positive things away from this second Grand Prix of the year, but our biggest thing is still Qualifying. We need to work better during all the weekend to arrive at the race with our work done. It happened in Thailand and it happened also here, and the only person who suffers from this is myself. If we had been capable of starting from the first two or three rows, these two races would have been very different. These first weeks of the year have not been easy for me, but at least we know where we must improve, so we’ll try again in two weeks in the United States.”

#95 COLLIN VEIJER

“It was a difficult day today. We’ve been struggling all weekend. Yesterday it was a little bit better, but today we returned to the feeling from Friday. The start was not great but it was ok, and during the first laps I tried to maintain the pace, but I started struggling all through the second part of the race with my feeling with the front end. We need to find out what’s going on to see if we can improve this for Austin. It’s a shame because yesterday we took a step forward, so we need to solve this problem to be more competitive in two weeks’ time and have a good Round 3.”

Third place goes to the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider, who fought for victory until the final corner. Carpe crashes at the start of the final lap.

It was a bittersweet Sunday for Red Bull KTM Ajo in the Argentinian Grand Prix, as they maintained their lead of the Rider and Team standings with Jose Antonio Rueda’s podium finish, but also saw Alvaro Carpe crash out. The former led the Grand Prix into the penultimate corner, but a double overtake relegated him to third -his seventh podium finish as a Moto3 rider. Carpe also put in a strong performance, but crashed out at the first corner of the final lap just as he was closing out the Top 6 positions.

It was a perfect start to the race for both Red Bull KTM Ajo riders. Carpe quickly moved into second place, while Rueda settled in behind him to avoid problems on the opening laps. Carpe began to alternate positions with David Almansa, which nearly caused the first split in the pack. However, the significant slipstream at Turn 5 made it impossible to break away early.

From then on, Rueda was the one who never let go of the Top 3 positions. With Bertelle in the lead, the group finally broke up behind the eighth-placed rider.  However, with four laps remaining, a multiple overtake left Rueda in seventh, forcing him to fight back. He did that, catching all his rivals, including Bertelle and Piqueras, who had managed to open up a gap of a few metres in the lead. He reached the penultimate corner as the leader, but Piqueras caught him on the inside, including making contact, which caused him to lose positions to the race winner and also to Adrian Fernandez.

Despite leading on the opening laps, Carpe was caught up in the constant overtaking within the group. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rookie managed the situation perfectly and climbed into the Top 6 positions in the final third of the race. On the penultimate lap, aiming to move into the podium spots, he ran wide at Turn 5, which caused him to lose contact with the Top 3. From there, the rookie took a risk to make up time on the final lap and cut the outside of Turn 1 at the Termas circuit, which was dirty. Carpe suffered a highside, from which he escaped unhurt but left him unable to continue.

It was a third podium for Red Bull KTM Ajo in Moto3 at Termas de Río Hondo, in addition to the third places achieved by Jack Miller (2014) and Brad Binder (2016). Rueda maintains the lead in the overall standings with 41 points, whilst Red Bull KTM Ajo head the Team standings with 61 points. The World Championship returns to action in two weeks’ time at the Grand Prix of the Americas at Austin (28-29-30 March).

Race Results
1. Angel Piqueras (KTM) 32:31.938
2. Adrian Fernandez (Honda) +0.036
3. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +0.125
4. Matteo Bertelle (KTM) +0.373
5. Taiyo Furusato (Honda) +0.236*
DNF. Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) (+1 lap)

Moto3 World Championship Standing 2025
1. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – 41 points
2. Adrian Fernandez (Honda) – 36 points
3. Angel Piqueras (KTM) – 29 points
4. Matteo Bertelle (KTM) – 24 points
5. Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – 20 points

Moto3 Teams World Championship Standing 2025
1. Red Bull KTM Ajo – 61 points
2. Leopard Racing – 55 points
3. FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI – 36 points
4. SIC58 Squadra Corse – 34 points
5. Level UP MTA – 32 points

NIKLAS AJO – Team Manager

“We had a very successful weekend again here in Argentina. On the first day both riders found speed easily and they worked very well during all the weekend. I’m very happy about how they worked yesterday in Qualifying helping each other. Teamwork is the key here and they need to continue this way, working together. In the race, both were fighting at the front from the beginning. Unfortunately, Alvaro had a small crash at the end of the race but this is part of the learning process for him, so it was a valuable experience for him for the future. Jose Antonio again showed the process he is going through during this first part of the season. He’s very mature on track and doing everything he has to do at every moment. It was a shame about the final corners, but we’re extremely happy with his weekend overall.”

#99 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“I’m very happy to be able to place on the podium again. It wasn’t a weekend where I felt completely at my best, so third place is a good thing. I didn’t have good results here from the only time I competed before, but we leave here as leaders, and I’m eager to continue being consistent at the upcoming circuits, which will be key to staying in the title fight. It’s a shame about the last corner, but Moto3 races are like that; sometimes you win and other times you lose. The important thing is to be able to get there with a chance and leave here with 16 more points.”

#83 ALVARO CARPE

“It was a tough day today. We’re not happy with the result, obviously, but the work was good, so we should be satisfied with that. This weekend we were very consistent, and the team and I planned the weekend very well. Termas was another track I wasn’t familiar with, and we were fighting for the lead until the crash, so we have to take that away. I wanted to take a risk by entering the dirty section with a very worn tyre, and the bike threw me off. It’s time to learn from the mistake and focus on Austin.”

The Turkish rider (19th) was again just a breath away from Q2 while Veijer (25th) improved his Friday best time by one and a half seconds.

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 riders made improvements in Argentina on Saturday, but would just miss out on better grid spots. Deniz Öncü was denied a place Q2 after the chequered flag fell in Q1, and will start from 19th, whilst Collin Veijer was just four-tenths off the Q2 cutoff but had to settle for 25th.

After a somewhat difficult Friday, Saturday started with very positive feelings for both Red Bull KTM Ajo riders. In dry conditions, Öncü was able to shave nine-tenths off his time from the opening day, completing 14 laps and placing fifth with a best time of 1:41.826. Veijer had struggled to find a good feeling at Termas de Río Hondo on Friday, but took almost a second and a half off his best lap from Practice, clocking a 1:42.566. With 15 laps under his belt, the Dutchman halved the gap to the top spot, leaving him just one second behind in the session. He was 22^nd.

Whilst raindrops appeared earlier in the afternoon, rain stayed away for Moto2 Qualifying. Öncü led Q1 in his first outing and, after going through the pits, went back out to compete for the Top 4. However, his rivals upped their pace, leaving Öncü fifth and with no time to respond. He rode eight laps and improved his FP2 time with a 1:41.628, for 19th place on the grid. Behind him, Veijer, also racking up eight laps, set a 1:42.204, improving his morning time by another 3 tenths to take 25th on the grid. He, like his teammate, would not go into Q2.

Another day of learning for the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 team, who will have the opportunity to close the weekend in Termas de Rio Hondo tomorrow in the best possible way. The 21-lap Moto2 Argentinian GP will start at 1:15 p.m. on Sunday.

Qualifying Results
1. Manuel Gonzalez (Kalex) 1:40.870
2. Jake Dixon (Boscoscuro) 1:41.070 +0.200
3. Marcos Ramirez (Kalex) 1:41.096 +0.226
4. Alex Escrig (Forward) 1:41.114 +0.244
5. Diogo Moreira (Kalex) 1:41.156 +0.286
19. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:41.628 +0.758
25. Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:42.204 +1.334

#53 DENIZ ÖNCÜ

“Not a good day today. The Q1 didn’t go as planned. I did a small mistake in my last flying lap and this cost us the Top 4 and also the access to the Q2. Tomorrow it’s very important to do a good start to recover some positions in the beginning. We have a good pace, so it would be good to stay as close as possible to the Top positions during the first laps. As it happened in Thailand, we need to comeback, so we will do our best to catch all the possible points here in Termas.”

#95 COLLIN VEIJER

“We did a big improvement today in comparison with yesterday. On the morning, we did a good job during FP2 and we find something new for the rest of the weekend. On the afternoon, we improved a little bit more during the Q1, so we rode 1.6 seconds off than on Friday, which are very good news. Let’s try tomorrow to make a good race and to enjoy all we can. Feeling is getting much better than yesterday, and that’s all matters for now.”

Fifth and sixth positions for Carpe and Rueda, which were competitive both in the morning FP2 and in the afternoon Qualifying of the Argentinian Grand Prix.

There was a positive Saturday for the Red Bull KTM Ajo riders, as Alvaro Carpe and Jose Antonio Rueda took fifth and sixth on the grid, respectively. Earlier on in the day, in FP2, both riders worked on their race pace ahead of tomorrow’s Argentinian GP.

Saturday morning started with track conditions similar to those of Friday afternoon: Dry, but with overcast skies and mild temperatures. FP2 was productive for the two Red Bull KTM Ajo riders, who managed to return to the Top 10 at the end of the session. Rueda was the most active, leading for several minutes of the session. The current Moto3 World Championship leader completed a total of 14 laps, to finish fourth with a best time of 1:47.117. He was 3 tenths quicker than on Friday. Carpe also put in a positive 14 laps, although he was unable to improve on his Friday time. With a best lap of 1:47.430, the rookie focused on working on his race pace to conclude FP2 in ninth place.

In Q2, all riders were forced to make an early appearance on track, due to Q1 adverse weather conditions at Termas de Río Hondo. Carpe and Rueda worked together to try to consolidate a good grid position, pulling away from the main group and the slipstream and managing to run several tenths faster in the dry than in FP2. Finally, working alone, they secured places on the second row on the grid. Carpe completed eight laps during Q2, with a best time of 1:46.645, for fifth place. Rueda put in the same amount of laps as his teammate, and his 1:46.662 put him sixth.

After a positive Saturday, Red Bull KTM Ajo completed two thirds of the Thai Grand Prix with good results. The pair will defend their one-two positions in the rider standings in the 18-lap Moto3 Argentinian GP, which starts at 12pm local time on Sunday.

Qualifying Results
1. Matteo Bertelle (KTM) 1:46.034
2. Angel Piqueras (KTM) 1:46.266 +0.232
3. Ryusei Yamanaka (KTM) 1:46.330 +0.296
4. David Almansa (Honda) 1:46.363 +0.329
5. Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:46.645 +0.611
6. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:46.662 +0.628

#99 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“Q2 could have been very difficult due to the rain, but luckily we were able to ride in the dry. I felt strong and my teammate and I worked well again, so the feeling and starting position are good for tomorrow. We could have gained a few more places on the grid, but there are long straights here and we didn’t take full advantage of the slipstreams. I’m happy overall, so it’s time to focus on preparing for the race as best as possible.”

#83 ALVARO CARPE

“I’m very happy with today. This morning we were able to take a step forward and work well on the setup, both in terms of our Time Attack and race pace. The second row means a lot to us, as it reflects all the hard work we’ve done throughout the weekend. We’re very motivated for Sunday’s race and feel capable of being in the group to compete with the rest of the riders on equal terms.”

Deniz Öncü just misses out on Q2 in Argentina, with Collin Veijer is a second behind the Top 14.

Friday saw a successful start to the Argentinian GP for the two Red Bull KTM Ajo riders, who had their first experience of the track on a Moto2 bike. After a positive morning and a more difficult afternoon, the pair will try to continue making progress in FP2 before Qualifying, in order to prepare the Q1.

The track conditions improved for the intermediate class riders compared to Moto3, and they were able to complete FP1 in mostly dry conditions. Öncü had the same good feeling from Friday that he had enjoyed in Buriram, making a fast start at Termas de Río Hondo. The Turkish rider, with a best time of 1:45.229, finished 8th after twelve laps. Veijer focused on accumulating as many kilometres as possible to understand the Moto2 bike’s behaviour at the Argentinian track. With a time of 1:47.053, the Dutchman finished the first session of the weekend in 26th.

After the midday break, Practice took place without any moisture on the asphalt, albeit with grey skies. Öncü once again had a good feeling, although he had to battle until the end to make it directly into Q2. In those positions throughout the session, he was unable to improve on his Time Attack and had to settle for 14th. However, a lap given back to another rider finally relegated him to P15, so he will have to go through Q1. His best time was a 1:42.710, from seventeen laps. 

Veijer struggled slightly more to adapt to the track. In order to get better acquainted, he was one of the riders with the most laps completed on Friday, with 18 in the morning and 17 in the afternoon. In Practice his best time was a 1:43.885, placing him 27th.

The Moto2 riders will begin their Saturday activity with Free Practice 2, from 9:25 a.m. local time. In the afternoon, both Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 riders will be two of the protagonists in Q1, starting at 1:45 p.m. They will try to join Q2 at 2:10 p.m.

Practice Results
1. Manuel Gonzalez (Kalex) 1:41.713
2. Alonso Lopez (Boscoscuro) 1:41.873 +0.160
3. Jake Dixon (Boscoscuro) 1:41.888 +0.175
4. Marcos Ramirez (Kalex) 1:42.145 +0.432
5. Barry Baltus (Kalex) 1:42.276 +0.563
15. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:42.710 +0.997
27. Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:43.885 +2.172

#53 DENIZ ÖNCÜ

“The first day, with changing conditions, is over. In the morning the track was a little bit slippery, but at least in the afternoon we could ride in dry conditions. In Practice we managed to make into the Top 14, but an external change into the standings send us to Q1 . It wasn’t the session I wanted and we were a little bit unlucky, but we’ll try to do a good Saturday tomorrow. It will be important to improve small things in FP2 before going to Qualifying, so we’ll focus on the morning session.”

#95 COLLIN VEIJER

“We had a difficult feeling today. This morning the track was half-and-half, so we had to work with difficult conditions and try our best. In the afternoon, I didn’t have much feeling. I tried to push, but our pace wasn’t good, so we have to find our way to improve tomorrow. It’s important to get back a good feeling to fight during the entire weekend, so now we have to focus and work to stay closer during Qualifying -and also the race.”

The Red Bull KTM Ajo riders finish second and third, knocking one second off the track record.

There was a great start for Alvaro Carpe and Jose Antonio Rueda at Termas de Río Hondo. In the morning, the mixed conditions did not allow for any work on bike setup, although Rueda showed he had a good feeling in the wet, with second place. In the afternoon, the track dried out, with the two Red Bull KTM Ajo riders moving into the Top 3 in Practice.

The weekend at Termas de Río Hondo got off to a mixed start. With the asphalt somewhat cold and delicate, both Rueda and Carpe did not want to take excessive risks and gained confidence lap by lap.

Rueda emerged as one of the fastest riders throughout the session. The Spaniard was able to finish second with a best time of 1:57.624, achieved on his last lap of a total of 14. Carpe completed his first laps at a new track, but was forced to conclude the session earlier than expected due to a technical problem. The rookie, having completed eight laps of the Argentinian track, finished 21st with a fastest lap of 2:00.865.

In the afternoon, although the skies remained overcast, the track kept dry, and the Moto3 riders were able to work in perfect conditions. The Red Bull KTM Ajo riders were quick from the start, especially Carpe, who placed fourth early on, despite having barely ridden during the morning. In the final minutes, on fresh tyres, he clocked a 1:47.345 to take second place, putting in 17 laps. Rueda rode the same number of laps as his teammate, who finished third with a 1:47.451. With these times, both broke the circuit record set in 2022.

Aiming to go into Q2 even more prepared to fight for Pole Position, both Red Bull KTM Ajo riders will face Free Practice 2 at 8:40 a.m. In the afternoon, Rueda and Carpe will go straight into Q2 on Saturday at 1:15pm local time.

Practice Results
1. David Almansa (Honda) 1:46.981
2. Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:47.345 +0.364
3. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:47.451 +0.470
4. Valentin Perrone (KTM) 1:47.685 +0.704
5. Joel Kelso (KTM) 1:47.754 +0.773

#99 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“This morning the track was quite wet, but in the afternoon we were able to ride in dry conditions. It also gave us a chance to test out a few things, as it’s our first time riding at this circuit, both with this bike and with the new tyres. Overall, I’m quite satisfied with the work and the feeling we had, so tomorrow it will be important to take another step forward in FP2 and reach Q2 even better prepared to fight for the front rows.”

#83 ALVARO CARPE

“I’m very happy with today’s work. When I went for the Time Attack at the back of the pack, I was able to put in two very good laps. We’ve learned from what happened on the first day in Thailand, so that here we could go straight into Q2. Also, the teamwork with my teammate is very good. We get along very well and have a lot of feeling, and that makes things much easier when we go out on track. Tomorrow it will be important to set a good time to be able to start at the front of the grid -and avoid the problems on the first lap.”

The two Red Bull KTM Ajo riders aim to continue their progress at Termas de Río Hondo.

Deniz Öncü and Collin Veijer take on a second Grand Prix of 2025 when the series moves to Argentina this weekend. The Red Bull KTM Ajo pair want to accumulate kilometres and confidence after a positive start to the campaign in Thailand. Both competed at the Argentinian track most recently two seasons ago, when they were still Moto3 riders.

Öncü had a good weekend in Buriram, with a very consistent showing that included him leading a Moto2 practice session for the first time and lowering his best times in Thailand from 2024. A difficult Q2 made him have to start from the middle of the pack, and a collision on the first lap of the race relegated him out of the Top 20. The Turkish rider finished the weekend with a good feeling, with a comeback that took him to twelfth. Öncü raced in Argentina in 2022 and 2023 as a Moto3 rider, with a 14th place and then a DNF due to a crash when leading alone in the wet.

Veijer visits another track for the first time on a Moto2 bike. The Dutchman is a rookie in the intermediate category but had a positive round in Thailand, improving in virtually every session at Buriram. He was just 7 tenths off Pole Position in Qualifying. On the Sunday, he was able to finish his first Moto2 Grand Prix 20th, less than four seconds off the points. Veijer has only raced at Termas de Rio Hondo in 2023, in Moto3, where he finished 22nd in the rain.

Red Bull KTM Ajo have solid memories at this track in the intermediate class: Two podiums with Miguel Oliveira -second in 2017 and third in 2018, and two wins with Johann Zarco in 2015 and 2016.

Circuit information – Termas de Río Hondo, Argentina
Length: 4.81 km / 2.99 miles
Left corners: 5
Right corners: 9
Longest straight: 1.076 m / 0.669 miles
Width: 16 m / 52.49 ft.
Built: 2008

#53 DENIZ ÖNCÜ
“The second challenge of the year is here. I haven’t been to Argentina for two years. We’re fast and strong, but we have to work better on Saturday, especially in Qualifying, to start in a better grid position on Sunday. We believe in ourselves to have a good weekend in Argentina, so we will try to stay at the front with the fast riders.”

#95 COLLIN VEIJER

“I’m ready for this second weekend of the 2025 season. We will try to improve and learn again, as we did in Thailand. I’m very excited about Argentina, so we want to have a good Grand Prix, working step by step and moving forward with confidence. It’s important to adapt to the Moto2 bike as soon as possible and in Termas we will do that a little bit more. We’ll enjoy it as much as we can and we’ll hope for good weather.”

The Red Bull KTM Ajo duo arrive in Termas de Río Hondo off the back of a perfect first Grand Prix.

Argentina returns to the Moto3 World Championship calendar after a year away, and hosts Round 2 of the 2025 season at Termas de Río Hondo. Red Bull KTM Ajo riders Jose Antonio Rueda and Alvaro Carpe come into the event off the back of a stellar opening round in Thailand a fortnight ago with the aim of keeping their good results.

Rueda arrives in Argentina as leader of the Moto3 World Championship for the first time. After a very good preseason, he was able to carry that form over to Buriram and broke away for his second victory in Grand Prix racing. In addition, he set a new all track record in FP2 (1:40.350) on the Saturday, and was third on the grid. It was Red Bull KTM Ajo’s maiden win at the track. The Argentinian GP marks a return for Rueda to the first non-European circuit at which he raced as a Red Bull KTM Ajo rider, back in 2023. Then, he was thirteenth on the grid and placed 23rd in a wet race.

Carpe does not have experience at Termas de Rio Hondo, as is the case at a large number of circuits in his rookie season. He had a somewhat difficult first day in Thailand, with a crash in FP1 that undermined his confidence, but on the Saturday he was fastest in Q1 and earned sixth on the grid. In the race itself, he formed part of the chasing group and eyed up an attack on the final lap, finishing second. The Spaniard, with the confidence of being able to be fast again on a new track for him, will try for a similar performance in Argentina this weekend.

Red Bull KTM Ajo lead the Rider and Teams standings and have good memories in Argentina, with two podiums achieved in Moto3. Both have been third positions in Termas de Río Hondo: Jack Miller (2014) and Brad Binder (2016).

Circuit information – Termas de Río Hondo, Argentina
Length: 4.81 km / 2.99 miles
Left corners: 5
Right corners: 9
Longest straight: 1.076 m / 0.669 miles
Width: 16 m / 52.49 ft.
Built: 2008

#99 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“We are going to Argentina, the first non-European circuit where I raced in the World Championship. Termas de Río Hondo is a track that I like a lot, so we hope to have good weather conditions and enjoy the three days of the Grand Prix. Whatever happens, we will adapt to what we find and we will work as hard as possible to try to be as competitive as we were in Thailand and in preseason.”

#83 ALVARO CARPE

“Argentina is a very important Grand Prix for me and we want to continue doing things well. We have just finished on the podium and we have to show that we are capable of continuing to be consistent. I don’t see there being any more pressure than Thailand, and I just want to continue learning and gaining experience. I think I will like the track because of its characteristics: It’s a fast track with some hard braking points that can decide races.”

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 rookie is optimistic for 2025 after starting the season with second place in Thailand.

Alvaro Carpe followed up a great preseason with his first Grand Prix podium in Thailand, showing his rapid adaptation to Moto3. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rookie, last year’s winner of the JuniorGP and the Red Bull Rookies Cup, talks about his first months in Grand Prix racing and his aspirations for the year.

You made your debut at last year’s SolidarityGP and came close to getting your first points even then. Did you expect to be able to do what you did in Thailand, without knowing the track?

“Whilst I made my debut at the Solidarity GP at the end of 2024, for me it was completely different. In Barcelona I was hardly able to test anything on the bike, since I rode it for the first time on the Friday and it was all very new. With Thailand, I think that at first I didn’t expect it, because I’m a rookie and I didn’t know the circuit. In addition, the weather conditions were very, very extreme and the heat became a determining factor, so at first I didn’t see it as feasible to be able to get second place. Now I’ve changed my approach a little and I believe what happened on Sunday on the track a little more.”

What does this podium mean to you? How was the race?

“This podium means a lot to me. I’m very proud of the whole team, because as I have already said, it was our first race of the season together and at a track that I didn’t know. The race became very difficult on the opening laps, because every time I tried to overtake and couldn’t stay at the front of the group, I got frustrated, so I had to take things a little more calmly. From the fourth lap onwards, I settled down a bit and focused on overtaking riders one-by-one, until, in the end, the group was reduced to just three of us. I also had a hard time handling the heat, as I felt very dizzy in the second half of the race, but luckily I recovered for the last lap and was able to fight against Adrian Fernandez with confidence.”

How would you define yourself as a rider?

“As a rider, I would say that I am aggressive, clean and intelligent. I think these are three adjectives that fit me and my way of riding, of overtaking and of understanding the situations in every moment. Strategy is also a key element of racing, and in that respect my team help me to make the best decisions and to manage the races in the best possible way.”

 

“As a rider, I would say that I am aggressive, clean and intelligent. I think these are three adjectives that fit me and my way of riding.”

After this first very positive Grand Prix, what objectives have you set for yourself for the rest of the year?

“The objectives for the rest of the year could have changed, but that is not the case. At the beginning I wanted to focus a bit more on growing as a rookie, in order to eventually reach the front group and the top positions, and everything has come to me very quickly since we got to Thailand. To be honest, everything worked out immediately, but we have to continue along the same path if we want to go through each stage properly. I want to learn, gain experience, enjoy my first year and, if we do things well and can fight to be the Rookie of the Year, then all the better. Without a doubt, this is the dream start for any rider, but changing our goals would be a mistake.”

How did you prepare for your great preseason, and what role did your team play in it?

“Preseason was very tough, because I had an operation on my collarbone, but we dealt with it very well. We trained and we worked hard, and that has been reflected in the race and in the work we did throughout the weekend. Obviously my team helped me a lot and training with them has been fun and a real pleasure. We were always very focused on the tempo of a Grand Prix. I think the way that we managed preseason was excellent; we knew how to stay calm, focus on the most important priorities and work as a team.”

Your teammate, Jose Antonio Rueda, won the first race. What does it mean to you to have one of the title favourites as a teammate? How is your relationship with him?

“Jose Antonio Rueda is one of the favourites, one to keep an eye on in 2025. For me, having him on the other side of the box gives me motivation because, in addition to getting along very well with him, being able to work alongside him is wonderful. On the other hand, he also knows that I am fast too, so it is very interesting to sharing the box with him. When it comes to working, both on and off the track, he gives me lots of advice and helps me a lot. I can say with conviction that he’s the best teammate I could have.”

The move from JuniorGP to the World Championship is bigger than it seems. In what aspects have you noticed it the most?

“My adaptation has been very good, but JuniorGP is a different championship. I’ve noticed the step up a lot, because the pace here is much more demanding. The other riders don’t let you breathe on a single corner. You always have other rivals breathing down your neck, which forces you to always be alert, much more aware and much more focused. Overtaking a rival and having him try to recover the position on the next corner is something that also happens in JuniorGP, but not at every corner. You have to be aware of them closing the gaps, but at the same time, you also have to look for places to pass, as well as managing the race pace. It may not seem like it, but it is very difficult to make the jump up to the Moto3 World Championship.”

With the confidence of a much more experienced rider and his enthusiasm intact, the rookie is convinced that he can bring more good results to his team throughout the season. The second race of 2025 for Carpe, the Argentinian Grand Prix, will take place next week at Termas de Río Hondo (March 14-16th).

Twelfth place for Öncü, as Veijer finishes his first race inside the Top 20.

The opening Grand Prix of the season was completed by both Red Bull KTM Ajo riders on Sunday, with Deniz Öncü scoring his first points of the year after overcoming a bad start. Collin Veijer finished his first race in the intermediate class in 20th place. In addition, both were competitive at the end of the race with good lap times under very difficult and demanding track conditions.

Amidst the hot temperatures that had been present throughout the weekend, the Moto2 contest had a frantic start. Öncü was caught up in the bottleneck off the line, which meant he dropped several positions from 12th on the grid.

As the laps went by, he steadied himself in the Top 20 and began to show a consistent pace that allowed him to climb up the order. He returned to his starting position and was one of the five fastest riders on the closing laps, but was never able to close the gap to the Top 10, taking the chequered flag 12th and earning his first points of 2025.

Veijer was cautious at the start and stuck in the group with his teammate. He managed to progress up the field to slot into 20th position, overcoming some more experienced riders and also fighting with the other newcomers to the class. By the end, he was setting times similar to those of Öncü. Finally, he crossed the line in 20th, less than four seconds off the Top 15 and the points.

Red Bull KTM Ajo will try to continue their progress in a fortnight at the Argentinian Grand Prix at Termas de Río Hondo, from March 14-16th.

Race Results
1. Manuel Gonzalez (Kalex) 35:13.072
2. Aron Canet (Kalex) +.2.600
3. Senna Agius (Kalex) +6.491
4. Diogo Moreira (Kalex) +6.742
5. Marcos Ramirez (Kalex) +9.561
12. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +18.820
20. Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +24.309

Moto2 World Championship Standings
1. Manuel González (Kalex) 25 points
2. Aron Canet (Kalex) 20 points
3. Senna Agius (Kalex) 16 points
4. Diogo Moreira (Kalex) 13 points
5. Marcos Ramirez (Kalex) 11 points
12. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 4 points
20. Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 0 points

Moto2 Teams World Championship Standings
1. Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 41 points
2. Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 30 points
3. ELF Marc VDS Racing Team – 16 points
4. Italtrans Racing Team – 15 points
5. OnlyFans American Racing Team – 11 points
9. Red Bull KTM Ajo – 4 points

NIKLAS AJO – Team Manager

“We had a positive weekend overall in Moto2. Today’s results were not that successful, but it wasn’t a bad first Grand Prix. With Deniz, he worked very well during all the weekend in terms of his race pace and Time Attack, but the Qualifying in hot conditions didn’t work out for him. In the middle of the pack, as everyone knows, there’s a lot of action during the race, and he was very unfortunate during the first laps. After that, he set a good pace and he overtook a lot of riders, so he demonstrated that he has a good base to work from. Collin had a very positive weekend for a rookie. He was fighting with all the other new Moto2 riders, and considering his starting position, he achieved a good result today. We hope he can continue the same process during the next few races.”

#53 DENIZ ÖNCÜ

“The first race was a really hard one. I was clipped by another rider at Turn 5 during the first lap and I lost a lot of positions. Fortunately, we avoided a crash and could continue. It wasn’t easy to overtake riders with full tanks, so I had to wait a little bit. In the second part of the race, others started to struggle and I could start my comeback. I’m not really happy about the result, but it’s something that can happen when you don’t have a good Qualifying. For sure, we will be better in Argentina.”

#95 COLLIN VEIJER

“We have improved a bit more again, so I’m happy. We had a consistent race and we nailed the times on most of the laps, which was one of the objectives for today. We preferred to be patient and not push from the start, in order to preserve the tyres, and it worked well for us. Maybe we were too conservative, as we needed a few laps to recover some more positions, but in general it was a good race. Being in the Top 20 is good news, as it hasn’t been an easy weekend, so we close the first Grand Prix with positive feelings and now we will think about Argentina.”