The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 duo bid farewell to the year with the first test of the 2025 season.

The Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto hosted two days of private testing this week, to begin preparations for the 2025 season. Deniz Öncü worked with his crew to continue progressing ahead of his second year in Moto2, while Collin Veijer completed his first laps with the Moto2 bike and his new team.

After completing his rookie season in Moto2, Öncü participated in a productive day of testing on Friday. The Turkish rider continued to work with the team to fine-tune details and establish a good starting point for 2025. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider was very satisfied with the work done and, after 85 completed laps, goes into the winter break with a very good feeling.

Veijer moves up to the intermediate class with Red Bull KTM Ajo. The Dutch rider participated in the two days of testing with the aim of getting to know the team and starting to gain a feel for the bike. Veijer was one of the riders who completed the most laps, with a total of 183 laps. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider showed great progress and ends the year eager to get 2025 underway.

Niklas Ajo – Racing Manager
“Both of our Moto2 riders did a very good job in Jerez. With Deniz we focused on trying new things out for next season. Basically, the package in Moto2 is going to change quite a lot for next year and we were doing a lot of work with the new bike. It looks like the new Kalex package is very good. He improved his best time and was really consistent with used tyres. He had a small crash yesterday, but nothing major. He made good progress with every lap, with not too many mistakes, adapting to the Moto2 bike especially. We are, of course, very happy with both riders. I think the test was very, very good and promising for next year.”

#53 Deniz Öncü
“We have finished the first test here in Jerez and the final day of the season. It was a very positive test, we did a lot of work today and we tried a lot of different things. We have a good base for next year and we were really fast as well. It will be a long winter break and entering it feeling good is really nice. We are happy with these results, so thanks to the team for all of their energy this year.”

#95 Collin Veijer
“I think we had a productive two days. We improved a lot on many things. Yesterday morning was a bit difficult, because it is a new bike, so we need to get used to it, but during the day we made a lot of progress , so I’m very happy with the team and with the people I’m working with. We did a great job and we started to create a good base for next year.”

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 duo bid farewell to the year with the first test of the 2025 season.

The Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto hosted two days of private testing this week, to begin preparations for the 2025 season. Deniz Öncü worked with his crew to continue progressing ahead of his second year in Moto2, while Collin Veijer completed his first laps with the Moto2 bike and his new team.

After completing his rookie season in Moto2, Öncü participated in a productive day of testing on Friday. The Turkish rider continued to work with the team to fine-tune details and establish a good starting point for 2025. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider was very satisfied with the work done and, after 85 completed laps, goes into the winter break with a very good feeling.

Veijer moves up to the intermediate class with Red Bull KTM Ajo. The Dutch rider participated in the two days of testing with the aim of getting to know the team and starting to gain a feel for the bike. Veijer was one of the riders who completed the most laps, with a total of 183 laps. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider showed great progress and ends the year eager to get 2025 underway.

Niklas Ajo – Racing Manager
“Both of our Moto2 riders did a very good job in Jerez. With Deniz we focused on trying new things out for next season. Basically, the package in Moto2 is going to change quite a lot for next year and we were doing a lot of work with the new bike. It looks like the new Kalex package is very good. He improved his best time and was really consistent with used tyres. He had a small crash yesterday, but nothing major. He made good progress with every lap, with not too many mistakes, adapting to the Moto2 bike especially. We are, of course, very happy with both riders. I think the test was very, very good and promising for next year.”

#53 Deniz Öncü
“We have finished the first test here in Jerez and the final day of the season. It was a very positive test, we did a lot of work today and we tried a lot of different things. We have a good base for next year and we were really fast as well. It will be a long winter break and entering it feeling good is really nice. We are happy with these results, so thanks to the team for all of their energy this year.”

#95 Collin Veijer
“I think we had a productive two days. We improved a lot on many things. Yesterday morning was a bit difficult, because it is a new bike, so we need to get used to it, but during the day we made a lot of progress , so I’m very happy with the team and with the people I’m working with. We did a great job and we started to create a good base for next year.”

Celestino Vietti crashes out early and Deniz Öncü finishes 22nd.

Red Bull KTM Ajo’s 2024 season did not finish in the way the team had hoped, as both Celestino Vietti and Deniz Öncü’s great starts in Barcelona were cancelled out by a crash and long lap penalties, respectively. Öncü concluded the Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona in 22nd place.

Vietti started the race from the third row of the grid, and moved up to sixth place early on. Unfortunately, his hopes of a podium challenge were ended by another rider at the start of the second lap, as their collision ended with a heavy crash at Turn 1. The Italian injured his left collarbone and was later taken to hospital, where further tests will be carried out to determine the extent of the injury.

Öncü made his best start of the season, rising to seventh position from 20th on the grid. The Turkish rider was very confident in the early stages, although unfortunately he was caught up in the same incident as his teammate. Although he avoided crashing, Öncü dropped several positions and tried to stay in the points -until he was handed two long lap penalties that relegated him to 22nd.

Despite Sunday’s results, both riders made great progress throughout the season. Red Bull KTM Ajo would like to thank Celestino Vietti for his hard work and dedication, wishing him a speedy recovery, as well as Deniz Öncü and the entire team that made this season possible. In addition, we would like to thank all our partners for their support throughout 2024.

Moto2 Results Race
1. Aron Canet (Kalex) 36:29.282
2. Manuel Gonzalez (Kalex) +0.091
3. Diogo Moreira (Kalex) +1.124
4. Ai Ogura (Boscoscuro) +1.167
5. Filip Salac (Kalex) +3.450
22. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +29.727
DNF. Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo)

Moto2 World Championship Standing 2024
1. Ai Ogura (Boscoscuro) – 274 points
2. Aron Canet (Kalex) – 234 points
3. Manuel Gonzalez (Kalex) – 195 points
4. Sergio Garcia (Boscoscuro) – 191 points
5. Fermin Aldeguer (Boscoscuro) – 182 points
7. Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – 165 points
20. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – 49 points

Moto2 Teams World Championship Standing 2024
1. MT Helmets MSI – 465 points
2. Sync Speed Up – 361 points
3. Only Fans American Racing Team – 290 points
4. Gresini Moto2 – 275 points
5. Fantic Racing – 234 points
8. Red Bull KTM Ajo – 214 points

AKI AJO – Team Manager

“In Moto2 we didn’t have the end we wanted to this season with Deniz. The final races are always very exciting and that was the case this time as well. Deniz has been with us for many years, but with Celestino we also had a great year. We had some ups and downs with injuries, but I have to say that Celestino will really be missed by the team going forward, as he has been a great character and a great person to have around. It was a very fun year working with him. His injury makes us very sad, but we really hope for a quick recovery for Celestino and of course a good future for him in his new challenges. At the start of the race, it seemed very good for us, and that both of our riders could even fight for the podium. However, unfortunately, after the other rider’s mistake, the race was over for both riders. With Deniz, we have improved all the time and he has been learning a lot this year; I’m especially happy with his attitude and how much he has improved during these last two years. I’m very excited for next year and I’m sure he will be one of the best in the Moto2 class.”

#13 CELESTINO VIETTI

“It was a shame to end the season and my time with the team like this. I wanted to end the season as well as possible but another rider made a mistake and we crashed. We had a great start and I felt very comfortable -and that I could be fighting for the podium here in Barcelona. We have done a great job together this year, so I want to thank everybody for their work. I have learned a lot from them and we have achieved great things together.”

#53 DENIZ ÖNCÜ

“We have finished the season here in Barcelona. This last GP has been very hard for me, because since Friday I have struggled so much with the weather conditions, the grip and everything else. I started the race in 20th, but at the end of Lap 1 I was already fighting for the Top 5, so I did a really good first lap. Today I was strong, but at the beginning of the second lap another rider hit me and my teammate. I am so sad to hear that Celestino has been injured, so I wish him a fast recovery. That incident cost me a lot of positions, and after that I received two long lap penalties. Basically, the race was really hard, with lots of ups and downs. I tried to manage the situation but it was not easy for me. It wasn’t the end we wanted, but I want to thank the team for all the hard work they have done and we are like a family, so thanks to everybody.”

The Spanish rider finishes the Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona in fourth position, with Alvaro Carpe 19th and Xabi Zurutuza 22nd.

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 team concluded their 2024 season on Sunday at the Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya, with Jose Antonio Rueda taking fourth place in the race. Xabi Zurutuza completed his last race with the team in 22nd, while Alvaro Carpe made his debut in the Moto3 World Championship in 19th.

Rueda had a difficult challenge ahead of him, and tried to catch up with his rivals to get into the points as early as possible. After the opening laps, he moved into fifteenth place and continued to improve his pace until he was close to the Top10. As one of the fastest riders, running a pace quicker than the leading riders, he made a final push in the closing laps in pursuit of his first podium of the year. Rueda eventually placed fourth, with one of his best showings of 2024.

Zurutuza started his farewell race with the team from the back of the grid. He gained several positions on the initial laps and joined a very large group, with a high pace at the same time. He pushed his rivals hard lap after lap, with constant changes of positions. He finally came home in 22nd.

Carpe completed his first race in the Moto3 World Championship, with the reigning Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion moving up as high as 16th during the contest. As part of the second group, he crossed the line 19th, gaining experience and learning for the 2025 season that he will contest with Red Bull KTM Ajo.

Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 thank Rueda and Zurutuza for their work this season, as well as the entire staff and the team’s partners in 2024.

Moto3 Results Race
1. David Alonso (CFMOTO) 32:27.723
2. Daniel Holgado (GASGAS) +0.417
3. Angel Piqueras (Honda) +1.210
4. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +1.352
5. Ryusei Yamanaka (KTM) +1.685
19. Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +13.437
22. Xabi Zurutuza (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +16.645

Moto3 World Championship Standing 2024
1. David Alonso (CFMOTO) 421 points
2. Daniel Holgado (GASGAS) 2256 points
3. Collin Veijer (Husqvarna) 242 points
4. Ivan Ortola (KTM) 224 points
5. David Muñoz (KTM) 172 points
7. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 157 points
23. Xabi Zurutuza (Redd Bull KTM Ajo) 13 points

Moto3 Teams World Championship Standing 2024
1. CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team – 466 points
2. MT Helmets MSI – 355 points
3. Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP – 333 points
4. Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 – 322 points
5. Leopard Racing – 311 points
7. Red Bull KTM Ajo – 173 points

AKI AJO – Team Manager

“In Moto3 we had a special weekend, as for the first time in a long time we had three riders in our box. It even brought back some memories from when we had a three-rider team here, many years ago. It was nice to end the season like that, with our new rider, Alvaro Carpe, alongside us with our permanent riders Jose Antonio and Xabi. I have to say that the weekend was not so bad. Finally, for Jose Antonio, the last two races have been very positive. We see that we need to improve a little bit in terms of our starting position and our starts, but at the end of the race he was very strong, and even close to getting on the podium again here. Our young riders, Alvaro and Xabi, also had a good fight and both finished the race. It was a positive end to the season and I’m really excited to fight for the top positions again with Jose Antonio and Alvaro next year.”

#99 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“I felt very good. The only thing I was missing to be able to fight a little higher up was a better feeling with the hard tyre, which is what has been difficult for us all season. Especially because using the soft tyre in the cold was impossible and we had to use the hard compound. After the first four laps it was very difficult for me to overtake, and on the last laps I had to take advantage when others were overtaking to stay there. I’m really happy to finish the season with a fourth place. Ending the season on the podium would have been great, but we tried and fought until the end. I wanted to thank all the people who have helped me this year to be where I am: The team and everyone else, because without them we would not have been able to have had such a beautiful season. Despite the problems, I think we have managed to recover in the second part of the season. We finished seventh, a very good position considering everything that has happened this year. Thank you all for this year and I hope that next year we can enjoy ourselves a bit more at the top.”

#85 XABI ZURUTUZA

“It was a race I really enjoyed, as the feeling with the bike improved a lot compared to yesterday. It was a very hard-fought race, in which we had to push to be able to catch the group in front of us. It was a very emotional race, because we were riding for Valencia, it was the last race of the year and also my last with this team. But anyway, we’ve closed this chapter and a new one begins now.”

#83 ALVARO CARPE

“I’ve been getting better and better with the bike, and also improving my feeling compared to yesterday. We had a really good time today. We learned a lot in this race, especially about the wear and tear of the laps and the aggressiveness of the other riders. I have learned a lot about how to manage the first lap and we have to keep learning to improve next year. We will test the bike more at the Jerez tests and keep getting better.”

The Italian rider will start the race from eighth position, while Deniz Öncü will do so from 20th.

Saturday’s qualifying in Barcelona featured an intense fight for the top positions in the intermediate class. Celestino Vietti fought for pole position in the final minutes, although he finally took eighth position. Deniz Öncü was unable to make the cut in Q1 and will be 20th on the grid.

Practice 2 in the morning was once again carried out amidst low temperatures at the Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya. Vietti continued to feel very comfortable with his riding and his bike, trying to improve as much as possible for his last race with the team. The Italian rider, despite not improving his time from Friday, remained in the Q2 positions until the end. His 1:43.336 placed him eighteenth (sixth on the combined timesheets) after his best time was cancelled. Öncü was able to improve his Friday times by a few tenths, although he continued to struggle with his feeling. The Turkish rider sought to up his pace and avoid going through Q1, but in the end he missed out by just one tenth and his 1:43.201 -from his ninth lap of 13- placed him thirteenth, in fifteenth overall.

In Qualifying 1, Öncü pushed until the final laps, setting his best time on the penultimate attempt. He was again unable to make the cut, as his 1:43.070 put him in sixth place. He will occupy 20th on the grid. Vietti managed a good qualifying session and, after a pit stop, was even in contention for pole position in the final moments. The qualifying run was very close between the top riders, almost all of them within the same second. Vietti was finally eighth with a time of 1:42.619, his best of the weekend.

The Moto2 Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona will take place on Sunday at 12:15pm local time.

Results Qualifying
1. Aron Canet (Kalex) 1:42.003
2. Manuel Gonzalez (Kalex) 1:42.149 +0.146
3. Zonta vd Goorberg (Kalex) 1:42.215 +0.212
4. Jake Dixon (Kalex) 1:42.235 +0.232
5. Ai Oigura (Boscoscuro) 1:42.370 +0.367
8. Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:42.619 +0.616
20. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:43.070 +0.256 *Q1 Time

#13 CELESTINO VIETTI

“It hasn’t been too bad today. For sure we have improved in some parts, but maybe it wasn’t enough to get onto the front row. But we are all very close together. We need to analyse the data very well to see if we can improve more for tomorrow. It will be a very important race, especially in terms of tyre management. So we need to analyse everything and be prepared for a fight. As it will be my last race, I will fight to get the best result possible.”

#53 DENIZ ÖNCÜ

“We have finished the last qualifying session of the year. Honestly, this weekend has been very hard for me and I am struggling to find good speed on track. Tomorrow we will start the race from 20th, so I will give it my best and see if it’s possible to get into the points and maybe the Top 10. Let’s be positive and enjoy the last race of the year.”

Jose Antonio Rueda will start from the sixth row of the grid, with Alvaro Carpe on the seventh row and Xabi Zurutuza from the eighth.

The second day of the Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona saw Jose Antonio Rueda become the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider to make it through to Q2, although a yellow flag on his last lap prevented him from improving his time and he will start the race in 17th place. Xabi Zurutuza and Alvaro Carpe will start from 24th and 19th, respectively.

Practice 2 featured low temperatures that have been a constant in Barcelona, meaning the riders were not able to improve their times from Practice 1. Rueda continued to feel good, predominantly riding alone to work on his race pace. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider set a time of 1:47.039 on his penultimate lap, which put him in tenth place. Zurutuza tried to secure a direct place in Q2 in his final weekend with Red Bull KTM Ajo, and whilst he made a leap forward in terms of his feeling, in the end he could not put together a good lap that would place him in the Top14. With a time of 1:48.457 he was 24th. Carpe focused on fine-tuning his setup after the positive start to the weekend. The rookie improved his times by more than a second, and his 1:47.494 left him in 13th, just outside the cut for Q2.

In Q1, Zurutuza continued to improve in terms of his feeling although, unfortunately, his 1:48.235 -set on his second lap- only gave him tenth place in the session. He will start from 24th on Sunday. Carpe completed a solid qualifying session and continued to show great progress. Just outside the Top4 after a great final lap, his 1:47.713 was the fifth best time, and his debut in Moto3 will come from 19th on the grid. In Q2, Rueda pushed the frontrunners until the last lap, when he went all-out to improve his times. Unfortunately, a crash by another rider prevented him from improving, due to yellow flags leading to an aborted hot lap. His 1:47.409 gives him 17th place.

The last Moto3 race of the season will take place at 11:00am local time on Sunday.

Results Qualifying
1. David Alonso (CFMoto) 1:45.905
2. Collin Veijer (Husqvarna) 1:46.252 +0.347
3. Ivan Ortola (KTM) 1:46.276 +0.371
4. Angel Piqueras (Honda) 1:46.473 +0.568
5. Daniel Holgado (GASGAS) 1:46.550 +0.645
17. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:47.479 +1.504
19. Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:47.713 +0.412 *Q1 Time
24. Xabi Zurutuza (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:48.235 +0.934 *Q1 Time

#99 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“I thought that qualifying would go better and in the end we were not able to put together a good lap. Then, on the last lap, we came up against the yellow flag. It wasn’t one of my better qualifying sessions, but that’s no excuse. We will start a little far back and tomorrow we’ll have to fight back to climb the order. We have to do our best, especially because it’s the last race of the year. It will be important to finish it on a high note to end the year well and start next season with a good feeling.”

#85 XABI ZURUTUZA

“Tomorrow is a special day, as it is the last race of the season and my last with this team. We will try to give 100% and get the best possible result. We know it will be a difficult race, as we will start far back. The feeling today improved, but we still have to improve in some aspects. We will try to get a good start and give it our best.”

#83 ALVARO CARPE

“As expected, we have continued to improve the bike and take steps forward, and they have been increasingly bigger steps. I’m happy with the work we have done today, as getting a fast time when riding alone is more difficult -especially because of the long straight. I’m happy because I have improved my time, and I’m riding alone. I’m a little upset that we were so close to going through and didn’t do it. But I know that tomorrow I can have a good race, make up a lot of positions and have fun, which is the most important thing.”

The Italian rider places fifth, while Deniz Öncü claims 17th.

The Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona, the last round on the Moto2 calendar, left mixed feelings for the Red Bull KTM Ajo duo. Celestino Vietti was very comfortable and fought for the top spot during Practice 1, finally setting the fifth best time of the day. Deniz Öncü did his best to get a good feeling, taking seventeenth place on the timesheets.

Free Practice took place in low temperatures, with conditions very different from both those of recent rounds and the CatalanGP earlier this year. Vietti quickly went into the top positions, managing the track conditions well and going from strength to strength, adjusting his setup and putting down a good pace throughout. He completed a total of 18 laps, setting a best time of 1:43.823, which placed him in seventh. Öncü did not have such a positive start and found it more difficult to get a good feeling with his bike. The Turkish rider struggled to lower his times, and his 1:44.561 on his 16th attempt of 19 put him 23rd.

In the afternoon, a slight rise in temperatures allowed the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 duo to increase their pace. Vietti made a big step up and challenged at the top of the timesheets. After 19 laps, he finished fifth and showed great solidity in his riding, going just +0.3 slower than the pacesetter with his 1:42.814. Öncü, who was just thousandths of a second away from improving his time from the morning, was looking to secure a place among the Top15. However, despite closing the gap, his 1:43.570 only allowed him to finish seventeenth. On Saturday he will have another opportunity to secure a direct route into Q2.

Qualifying for the Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona will take place on Saturday at 1:45pm, local time.
 

Results Practice 1
1. Aron Canet (Kalex) 1:42.426
2. Jake Dixon (Kalex) 1:42.657 +0.231
3. Manuel Gonzalez (Kalex) 1:42.719 +0.293
4. Jorge Navarro (Kalex) 1:42.724 +0.298
5. Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:42.814 +0.388
17. Deniz Öncü (Res Bull KTM Ajo) 1:43.570 +1.144

#13 CELESTINO VIETTI

“We started today with a good feeling. The bike was still really good. We worked a bit on some things that we have to improve, especially in these conditions, because it is really important to manage things well. We also need to be prepared to set a fast lap. We have to continue working in this same way and see what we can do tomorrow, but I think we are quite competitive and we will try to have a good qualifying to get a good position for Sunday.”

#53 DENIZ ÖNCÜ

“It hasn’t been an easy day for me, especially coming off very hot flyaway races with a return to colder conditions. I struggled a lot to get a good feeling with the bike and be able to push. Anyway, hopefully tomorrow I can adapt better to these conditions and improve. I want to go directly into Q2, so our goal for tomorrow is that. I’m looking forward to qualifying.”

Rueda, Zurutuza and Carpe improve their times in the first sessions of the Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona.

Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 had a positive start to their weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya, despite the low temperatures and lack of grip experienced during the morning. Jose Antonio Rueda, Xabi Zurutuza and Alvaro Carpe all improved their times and finished the day 7th, 23rd and 26th, respectively.

The morning Free Practice began with low temperatures and little grip on the track, making it difficult for the Moto3 riders early on. Rueda and Zurutuza worked on fine-tuning their setups and gradually gaining a good feeling, whilst debutant Carpe focused on adapting to a new bike and team. Rueda tried to close the gap to the leading riders in the opening stages and, after completing 16 laps, he was eighth, less than a second behind the leader, with a time of 1:48.235. Zurutuza has worked to get a good pace ahead of Sunday’s race -his last with Red Bull KTM Ajo. He took a big step up compared to recent rounds and, whilst challenging for the Top10, achieved the twelfth best time thanks to his 1:48.513 -on his 13th lap of 16. Carpe makes his debut this weekend as a wildcard in the Moto3 World Championship, and Friday saw him try to get a good feeling in his first practice sessions with his new bike and team. His adaptation was quickly reflected in his first laps, and he even managed to ride in the Top10 at one point, before finally earning 20th with a time of 1:49.048.

In the afternoon, the increase in temperatures allowed the Red Bull KTM Ajo trio to lower their times from the morning. Rueda remained among the fastest on the very tight timesheets, with ten riders all within just half a second of each other. He slashed over a second off his best lap and secured a provisional spot in Q2, with a 1:46.919 that put him in seventh place. Zurutuza pushed for a spot in the Top15 and improved his best time to 1:48.401, but was only able to finish 23rd. Carpe put in 14 productive laps, fine-tuning his setup to further increase his feel for the bike. Despite the gap to the leading riders having increased, Carpe was satisfied with his work and the progress made, finishing the day in 26th.

Moto3 qualifying takes place on Saturday from 12:50pm, local time.
 

Results Practice 1
1. Daniel Holgado (GASGAS) 1:46.568
2. David Muñoz (KTM) 1:46.649 +0.081
3. Angel Piqueras (Honda) 1:46.742 +0.174
4. Joel Kelso (KTM) 1:46.810 +0.242
5. Collin Veijer (Husqvarna) 1:46.855 +0.287
7. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:46.919 +0.351
23. Xabi Zurutuza (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:48.401 +1.833
26. Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:48.115 +2.002

#99 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“In the first practice session the track was quite cold and it was quite noticeable. But in the second practice the temperature was a bit higher and there was a bit more rubber on the track than for the other two classes. It helped us to ride better and to get a better feeling here in Barcelona. I’m happy with how we are working, the initial sensation with the bike was very good, so we have to keep working to fine-tune a few things to continue improving our pace.”

#85 XABI ZURUTUZA

“The track conditions could be better, as we have a weekend ahead with quite cold weather and a track that didn’t have a lot of rubber down. The feeling in the morning was quite good, in the afternoon too, but we were missing a fast lap. We worked a lot on our race pace with used tyres, so I am happy with the work that we have done, as it sets us up for tomorrow. The objective is to go straight into Q2, try to find a pace that I feel comfortable with for the race and try to finish the weekend in the best possible way.”

#83 ALVARO CARPE

“I felt very good today and was improving in each session. We tried different things on the bike, because at the beginning I had a neutral setup. I have also been getting a feel for the bike itself, since I had never ridden it before. I was gaining confidence with the mechanics and the technicians as well. We are realising that the pace in the World Championship is really demanding, so we will try to improve our times tomorrow.”

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 riders go to the Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya for the last round of the year.

Celestino Vietti and Deniz Öncü are ready to close the 2024 season at the Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona. The Italian rider is coming off his third win of the year in Malaysia, while Öncü still has a chance of being Rookie of the Year.

Vietti is fully focused on completing his last race with Red Bull KTM Ajo. The Italian rider has had an intense season, in which injuries hindered him at times. However, he has managed to recover and take three wins, the last of which was at the Malaysian Grand Prix. Vietti will fight to be among the fastest in the season finale, and with 165 points, he is in seventh place overall.

Deniz Öncü is about to end his first season in the intermediate class. The Turkish rider has made progress throughout the year and has worked hard to get the best feeling with his bike. At the last Grand Prix he finished in the Top10 once more, and remains in the fight to be crowned best Moto2 rookie. He currently occupies 20th position, with 49 points.

Red Bull KTM Ajo are sixth in the Team standings with 214 points. The intermediate class race will be held this Sunday, November 17th, at 12:15 pm local time.

Circuit information – Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya
Length: 4.6km / 2.8 miles
Width: 12 m / 39.37 ft.
Left corners: 6
Right corners: 8
Longest straight: 1km / 0.6 miles
Built: 1991

#13 CELESTINO VIETTI
“I have a very good feeling about the final race of the season, although our thoughts will also be with all those affected by what happened in Valencia. It will be strange not to race there, but Barcelona is also a circuit I like. We were competitive there earlier this year, although we had a bit of bad luck too. I think we can do well, and even more so after the last victory. I hope we have good track conditions; we will see how far we can go over the weekend.”

#53 DENIZ ÖNCÜ
“We are ready for the last GP of the year, but first of all I want to say that I am very sad about what happened in Spain, especially in Valencia, two weeks ago, so I send my love and support to everyone there. This weekend we are racing for them. I just want to finish the year with the best possible results and I will do everything possible to achieve that. I want to thank the whole team for the work they have done this season and for making my adaptation to Moto2 easier. It is going to be a great weekend, we will enjoy it and have the best time possible.”

Jose Antonio Rueda and Xabi Zurutuza will be accompanied by the young Spanish rider, who will compete as a Wildcard.

Red Bull KTM Ajo will close the 2024 Moto3 season this weekend with the Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona. Jose Antonio Rueda and Xabi Zurutuza will end an intense campaign accompanied by wildcard debutant Alvaro Carpe, who will be part of the team in 2025.

Jose Antonio Rueda returns to the Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya, where he was on the podium in the Grand Prix held this past May. After a very demanding series of flyaway rounds, the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider wants to close the year in the best possible way. The Spanish rider had a solid performance at the last round in Malaysia, where he was on the rostrum in third. With 144 points, he is seventh in the overall standings.

Xabi Zurutuza took a step forward in recent rounds, and managed to finish in the points in Malaysia after gaining several positions in a very physically demanding race. The Moto3 rookie has had a season of ups and downs, although he has consolidated his progress and gone from strength to strength as the year had gone by, and this weekend races in front of his home fans. Zurutuza is 23rd overall, with 13 points.

This weekend, the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 team will run three riders, with the inclusion of Alvaro Carpe. The young Spaniard is the current Red Bull Rookies Cup champion, and will compete with the team next season on a full-time basis.

Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 are seventh in the Teams standings, with 160 points. The Moto3 race will be held this Sunday, November 17th, starting at 11:00 am local time.

Circuit information – Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya
Length: 4.6km / 2.8 miles
Width: 12 m / 39.37 ft.
Left corners: 6
Right corners: 8
Longest straight: 1km / 0.6 miles
Built: 1991

#99 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA
“It’s the last race of the season and Montmeló is a circuit that I like a lot. I’m looking forward to getting started, to close the year in the best possible way. We’ve done well there in previous years, so we’ll fight for another good result. We should have been racing in Valencia, but unfortunately it wasn’t possible due to the situation there, so this weekend we’ll race for them.”

#85 XABI ZURUTUZA
“I’m going to Barcelona really looking forward to it, as this is a special weekend of the season. I’m really keen to continue to fight and try to do my best. It’s also a family weekend as it’s the last round of the year, so we’ll do it for them too.”

#83 ALVARO CARPE
“I’m very excited about this race, as it will be my debut in the World Championship. It has been a dream since I was little, and also racing with this great team – Red Bull KTM Ajo – with all their history, makes me even prouder. I’m very happy with how I’ve been doing this season; we have been achieving great things and closing the year like this will be an extra source of motivation. It is a very important moment and a great opportunity to show what I am capable of doing.”