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).
