The Dutchman talks about the first part of the season and explains the keys to improving during the last part of the year.

Collin Veijer is tenth in the Moto2 overall standings at the halfway point of the 2026 season. The Dutch rider, who has one Pole Position and one podium finish to his name, reflects on how his second season in the intermediate class has begun and outlines the key factors needed to take another step forward in the second half of the year with Red Bull KTM Ajo.

With the first half of 2026 over, what mark would you give yourself?

At the moment, I would give the season a 5 out of 10. We’re not exactly where we want to be yet, so for me it’s not enough when we look at what we wanted to do this year. I would give only a 5, that way I have extra motivation for the second part of the year.  

Last year you suffered an injury that prevented you from becoming regular during the first part of the year.  Do you think you’ve managed to take a step forward with your fitness?

I still have a little injury to my shoulder from the US Grand Prix, but we’re managing it quite well and it’s gradually getting way better. Every time we’re on track there have been big improvements overall, so I’m very happy in general. I’m 100% sure we are much better physically than we were last year. 

You’re regularly in the Top 10 during all the weekend. What do you think is missing to make that final leap into the Top 5?

The final thing that we need to solve is my riding style, so for sure that’s one of the key points that we still need to change. I think that if we can fix that, we can make big steps forward. So, as soon as we fix those things, I think there could be a next nice chapter waiting for us.

Which do you consider to have been your best weekend so far, overall? 

Jerez and maybe Assen are probably two of the best ones so far. I think Jerez was the best experience of the year and I think we had one of the best weekends so far there, so let’s hope we can have more of them in the next few rounds. 

Some weeks ago, you enjoyed a very special home GP. How does it feel to be such an inspiration to so many people from your country?

A home round is a very nice thing to have, and the Dutch GP was a special event. It’s one of my favourites, experience wise; it’s amazing seeing a lot of people from your country supporting you. It’s always a very nice feeling. I really enjoyed Assen and I really hope next year we can make it an even bigger party.

“It’s amazing seeing a lot of people from your country supporting you. It’s always a very nice feeling. I really enjoyed Assen”

This year you’re sharing box with Rueda, who’s also had a difficult start as a rookie. Now that he’s taken his first solid step forward, what advice would you give him for the second half of the season?

The advice I would give to Rueda is to just keep going in the same way. He shouldn’t stress too much and try to keep his progress going. He’s doing a really good job and I was in the same situation as him last year, where you start to learn and sometimes you encounter a little bit of a dip. I’d tell him to stay focused, don’t think too far ahead, and try to be as consistent as possible, as that’s one of the real keys of the class.

And the final one, now you’re sitting in 10th place in the overall standings, and having scored far more points than in the first half of 2025. Which are your goals for the rest of the season?

The rest of the goals for the second half of the season are clear: We want to try to improve the things that we have been talking about already, since the start of the year, in terms of my riding style. We just need to get a better feeling and get into a flow on track. We will use the summer break to try to get to the front more regularly -or at least fight for the top positions again. I feel that we are able to do that if I keep my focus and find a good feeling .

In short, with 55.5 points to his name after the first eleven Grand Prix races, Veijer is keen to take another significant step forward before the end of 2026. To begin working towards that improvement, the Dutchman is already focusing on the next round of the Moto2 World Championship, which will take place next week at Silverstone as part of the British Grand Prix (7–8–9 August).

After an excellent first half of the year, the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 rider has clear objectives for the second part of the season.

Brian Uriarte has burst into the scene in the Moto3 World Championship with strength and personality. Something he has demonstrated with two victories, a second-place finish and a Pole Position in only eleven Grands Prix, propelling him to second place in the overall standings. The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 rookie reflects on his season so far, and gives his goals for the remainder of the campaign.

– Your numbers are good enough to consider your landing excellent. Did you expect to adapt so quickly in your first season in the Moto3 World Championship?

I didn’t expect it to be so fast, but I think the team are proving what we’re capable of together. In the end, it’s not just me getting good results; they’re contributing a lot to my development. I think I quickly realised that this is a team with a lot of experience, and they’re clearly helping me grow very rapidly. We’re taking steps forward with each race, and I think the improvements are noticeable, but it hasn’t been easy to adapt.

– The preseason was not easy, but you’ve been demonstrating growth in no too much time. What do you think are the keys for it?

I think it’s down to me staying calm and adapting to both the conditions and the situations at each circuit, although that’s not easy for someone new to a series. It’s also vital to keep expectations low, not to get carried away so you don’t suffer if things don’t start off easy. In the end, when you expect too much, it might not be as easy as you anticipate, and that can also work against you. Another important aspect is my preparation with my team. There’s still work to be done in terms of my fitness, but I prepared very well during preseason, and thanks to that, we’re making the progress we’re making.

– Your main goal in winter was to achieve your first podium. Now, with two victories in the pocket, which is your main objective?

To have taken my first wins already was unexpected, both for me and for those around me. It’s been hard work, we’ve put in a lot of effort, and they’ve come as a result of that work. Now, my main goal is to be Rookie of the Year and fight for a Top 5 finish in the overall standings. I think both are realistic goals, since we are currently in a position to achieve them, so I’m very satisfied. Other important objectives for me are to show consistency and, of course, to keep learning and improving in every race. We still have things to learn, that’s clear.

– You’re sharing box with Alvaro Carpe, with whom you’ve a good relationship. What does Alvaro Carpe bring to the table to help you?

My teammate offers me a lot because, ultimately, he’s someone I can look up to and compare myself to, which is a positive thing. I’m also lucky that he’s a very fast rider; he’s third in the standings and fighting for the top spot, just like he did last year. Alvaro is helping me a lot in different aspects and I’m learning a great deal from him. In fact, I think I’m gradually getting closer to his level, and that allows us to help each other -which is very positive for both of us and, above all, for the entire Red Bull KTM Ajo team.

“Alvaro is helping me a lot in different aspects and I’m learning a great deal from him. In fact, I think I’m gradually getting closer to his level, and that allows us to help each other”

 – Five out of eleven Grand Prixs were held in unfamiliar circuits for you. How have you tried to adapt to all of them in such a short time?

Mainly, I try to rely on my team to help me arrive mentally prepared for the circuits I don’t know. It’s easier on the circuits I do know, because I have a clearer understanding of them from the start, but I’m also riding a different bike now, and it’s very different from the one from the Red Bull Rookies Cup. The most important thing is to arrive well-prepared on race day, in order to try and be close to the front of the race. It’s difficult to arrive at a circuit and find yourself so far from the front when you don’t know the track, but you have to make the effort to understand it yourself. Needing adaptation and having room for improvement is normal. Now we’re being more consistent so we can reach the front on Sundays, which is our main goal, and we’re achieving it, so I’m very happy with the progress we’re showing.

 – After Sachsenring, you’ve completed the 50% of the season so far. If you had to choose one Grand Prix as the best overall, which would it be? And which one was the most challenging?

In terms of the best, I would obviously choose the Italian Grand Prix, where I achieved my first victory. It was also a good weekend overall and I think I enjoyed it quite a lot. The German Grand Prix isn’t far behind, as we won again. If I had to choose a key moment of this season, it would be the Jerez Test after the Spanish Grand Prix, which is when we managed to find a solid base and a definitive path to start working on. I think we took a big step forward there, and since then we’ve shown clear improvements in adapting much better to all conditions.

There hasn’t been one circuit that has been more difficult than the rest for me, but I struggled quite a bit in Brazil and the United States. The circuits at the beginning of the season were tough, but right now we’ve managed to be solid and consistent wherever we go, so there hasn’t been a circuit that’s proved overly challenging for me.

 – Now is moment to rest a little bit. What do you like to do in the summer break?

In my free time, what I like most is cycling, and I already have several routes planned for this summer break. I’ll try to both enjoy myself and train to be ready for Silverstone, as the second half of the season is just around the corner. When I have time off, I also like to get on a motorbike: We’re obsessed with this sport, and I think it shows. I’ll train as much as possible, disconnect with my family and friends, go on vacation, and have a good time before getting back into things. We still have many races ahead, and the end of the season is very important for us. We have to keep working the way we have been; I’m sure we can continue to spring some surprises from time to time as well.

With plenty of confidence after a very solid first half of the season, Uriarte is now approaching the second one more motivated than ever. With not too much pressure in his rookie year, Brian wants to continue making significant progress alongside Alvaro Carpe and his team, with whom he comfortably occupies second place in the team standings. Next up for Uriarte will be a trip to Silverstone, another completely new circuit for him, where he will try to continue his progress. This takes place on August 7th to 9th at the British Grand Prix.

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 rider, after 4 podiums and a Pole Position, reflects on the first half of 2026 in a mid-season interview.

Alvaro Carpe has always been a talented and fast rider with a strong desire to improve, day by day, race by race, and year by year. Following his debut in 2025, the Spaniard finished fourth in the overall standings, with five podium finishes – a truly remarkable achievement for a rookie rider in the Moto3 World Championship. Now, with the first half of the 2026 season completed, Carpe has four podium finishes and 126 points, which puts him third in the overall standings. One thing that still eludes the Spaniard is a first Grand Prix win, which is his main objective for the second half of the campaign, apart from showing consistency until the last round.

– One Pole Position and four podiums later, you are third on the standings. Was this the start to the season you were hoping for?

In some ways, yes. We’ve worked well, we’ve continued to evolve, we’ve had some pretty good races, and I’m sure there are more to come. On the other hand, we’re still waiting for our first victory, but these things happen, and sometimes everything doesn’t quite align. I know we’ve been having some very good Sundays, and in addition to four podium finishes we’ve been quite consistently in the leading group, so in that respect, I think we’ve delivered on what we set out to do.

– In the US Grand Prix, you seemed incredibly hungry after repeating P4 in Thailand and Brazil. How did you approach that weekend?

In the United States, the weekend went quite well for me overall. I really liked the circuit last year, and this year we were able to enjoy it a lot as well. I felt very good and was comfortable and fast on the bike. Whether I was riding alone or in a group, I felt like one of the strongest riders there. On the Sunday, we went for the win, and we almost got it. I think we should have done a bit better on that last lap. I arrived in Austin really motivated after just missing out on the podium in the previous two races. I wanted to do well and show our potential, and we came very close to finishing the weekend in the best possible way.

– How important is it for you to achieve your first win?

That win would help me a lot mentally, I think, but as I always say, we shouldn’t stress about it too much, since I’m clear about the potential we have. The most important thing is to maintain consistency and keep fighting for the win whenever possible; that way, it is sure to come. Obviously, you always want to win and do better than before, but that victory is something that can come at any moment, even when you least expect it. And if it doesn’t, it’s okay; you have to keep working and keep believing in yourself, because there are many people behind us who will be doing that.

“Obviously, you always want to win and do better than before, but that victory is something that can come at any moment, even when you least expect it. And if it doesn’t, it’s okay; you have to keep working and keep believing in yourself”

– The team showed a strong performance during the first half of the year. You’re working also with Brian, especially on Q2. What is your relationship like with him?

My relationship with my teammate is pretty good. We get along very well, and we can work together a lot now that he’s taken such a solid step up to be competitive at any circuit. I’ve known Brian for years; we’ve been competing against each other for a long time, but now that we share a garage, I think we learn from each other, and that’s vital for both of our growth. Overall, I’m quite happy to have a teammate like him and that the level he gives us is so competitive.

– This season you already know all the circuits, except Brazil. How have you approached the Grands Prix now?

Arriving at a circuit you know and where you already have experience in the World Championship is vital, so you have to try to take full advantage of that, both in practice and in the races. It’s actually in that final stretch of the race where that experience is most noticeable. Undoubtedly, arriving at a circuit with knowledge of it in the class you’re competing in is a huge benefit.

– Which race so far this year stands out for you, and which race would you change if you could?

I think I’d choose Barcelona because getting a podium finish in a race like that, at home in Spain, is always very enjoyable and important. The weekend wasn’t easy, but we were able to fight back well, especially on the last two laps. It was a pretty tough end to the race, but I was able to dig deep. As for what I would change, I think I’d prefer not to change any outcome, since you always learn from any situation and any decision, whether right or wrong.

– With 126 points, you’re third on the standings, with the team in second place. After a positive start of the season, what are your goals for the rest of the season?

We maintain the same objective for the remainder of the season, which is to achieve our first victory, in addition to our usual goals: Trying to be at the front in every race, as well as showing consistency, improvement in our work, and progress in our project with the team. You always have to push yourself to keep working hard, improve in every possible area, and minimise any weaknesses to get better every day.

With more experience, maturity and consistency than last year, Alvaro will try these things could work in his favour in the second half of the season, where he experienced some ups and downs last year. With victory firmly in his sights and the aim of leading the team back to the top alongside Brian Uriarte, the Spaniard is already prepared to face the final eleven Grand Prix of 2026. After the summer break, the Spaniard will return to action at Silverstone, where last year he achieved a remarkable one-two finish alongside Jose Antonio Rueda in Qualifying. This year’s British Grand Prix will take place from August 7th to 9th.

The first half of the season ends with Rueda’s best result in Moto2 -and Veijer just behind.

A great way to round off the first half of 2026 for the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 team, securing their first double Top 10 finish in a race. On the one hand, Jose Antonio Rueda secured eighth place, his best result to date as a rider in the intermediate class, whilst Collin Veijer, after battling it out with his team-mate throughout the race, finished in ninth place, showing consistency after his home round two weeks ago.  

The Moto2 German Grand Prix was contested with a 26°C ambient temperature and 41°C on track.

Rueda managed to stay close to the Top 10 from the outset, despite the tricky nature of a first lap at the tight Sachsenring. He quickly moved back into his starting position of 11th, then up to 10th by the fifth lap. In a group of riders battling for seventh place, including his teammate Veijer, Rueda patiently waited for the opportune moment to continue moving up the order. It wasn’t until the final six laps that he caught up with Deniz Öncü and Veijer, and he then took eighth position and had a chance to fight for seventh. He came home in eighth place, for his best result as a Moto2 rider. The reigning Moto3 World Champion heads into the summer break as the intermediate class’ top rookie with 27 points, while climbing to 16th place in the overall standings.

Veijer held his grid position of ninth place early on, as he continues to make improvements with his starts in Moto2. As the early laps passed, he settled into the group battling for seventh place, alongside his teammate. Holding onto ninth place until almost the very end, the Dutchman was overtaken by Rueda in the final five laps. Although he tried to close the gap, he had to ease off due to tyre wear and dropped to ninth place before the chequered flag. The result secured him points for the third consecutive race, and was his third Top 10 finish in the last five rounds. Veijer currently remains 10th in the overall standings, with 55.5 points.

All in all, it was a Sunday of optimism and good results for Jose Antonio Rueda and Collin Veijer, who managed, for the first time this season, to finish together in the Top 10. With these important 15 points together, Red Bull KTM Ajo move up to seventh place in the Team standings, with 82.5 points. The Moto2 World Championship will resume at the British Grand Prix, which will take place at Silverstone on August 7-9th.

Race Results
1. Ivan Ortola (Kalex) | 35:00.119
2. Daniel Holgado (Kalex) | +0.614
3. Izan Guevara (Boscoscuro) | +3.229
4. Senna Agius (Kalex) | +7.430
5. Taiyo Furusato (Kalex) | +7.489
8. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | +10.205
9. Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | +11.237

Moto2 World Championship Standing 2026
1. Manuel Gonzalez (Kalex) | 195.5 points
2. Izan Guevara (Boscoscuro) | 144 points
3. Senna Agius (Kalex) | 136 points
4. David Alonso (Kalex) | 116 points
5. Daniel Holgado (Kalex) | 115 points
10. Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 55.5 points
16. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 27 points

Moto2 Teams World Championship Standing 2026
1. Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP | 331.5 points
2. CFMoto Azul Marino Aspar Team | 231 points
3. BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 | 158.5 points
4. MB Conveyors SpeedRS Team | 126 points
5. QJMotor -R.O.M.E.A – MSI | 117.5 points
7. Red Bull KTM Ajo | 82.5 points

NIKLAS AJO – Team Manager

“It was a solid weekend in general. Friday didn’t start well, but I felt we were stronger with both riders all the time, as they where closer and closer to the front during the weekend. They worked very hard during all three days to improve our performance overall, so it was a nice way to end an important round for both of them, after some difficult weekends. Obviously, this is a good way to end the first half of the season, so we’re looking forward to more during the second half when it gets underway in a few weeks”.

#95 COLLIN VEIJER

“I’m happy with today’s result. We took a big step forward with the setup, so the feeling during the race was much better than over the rest of the weekend. We got a great start, but we lacked something during the early laps. I felt much better in general in comparison to yesterday, we solved some problems and we gained a lot of confidence, so this is very important for us ahead of the second part of the season. We have more solid points, so we’ll focus on our weak spots to be as competitive as possible from Silverstone onwards.”

#98 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“I’m very happy to have finished the first half of the season like this. Going into the summer break with this feeling is excellent, especially after the race. It was a tough challenge this Sunday with so many left-hand corners and the resulting tyre wear, but I think we pulled it off very well. It was important to regain our feeling after Assen, so I’m very satisfied with today’s race and also with the weekend in general. Now it’s time to enjoy the break and prepare for the second half of the season.”

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 rider leads from start to finish at Sachsenring. Alvaro Carpe has a scare while fighting for a podium finish, and places 11th.

Brian Uriarte put in a dominant showing at Sachsenring to earn a second win in the Moto3 World Championship, gradually leaving rivals in his wake after starting from pole position. Meanwhile, Red Bull KTM Ajo teammate Alvaro Carpe had to settle for eleventh place, shaken by a close call while battling for a rostrum spot.

Similar conditions to those from the rest of the weekend carried over into the Moto3 German Grand Prix raceday, with an ambient temperature of 25°C and a track temperature of 39°C.

Uriarte got a perfect start from pole, taking the holeshot and already stretching out the field by the end of the first lap. He established an initial gap of 0.8 seconds, although later on a chasing pack caught up with him. Holding onto the lead, Uriarte kept pushing with a blistering pace, allowing him to extend the advantage again, as only series frontrunner Maximo Quiles was able to stay with him. On the final lap, Uriarte made a definitive push without response, to clinch his second win of 2026. He now sits in second place in the overall standings, with 127 points after eleven races.

Carpe also got off the line well, moving from fifth to fourth on the first lap. Consistently within the leading group, he tried to chase down his teammate at the front, and remained in the Top 5. Behind Uriarte and Quiles, he unsuccessfully attempted to prevent them from pulling away. This was followed by a scare on the entry to Turn 9, which sent him off-track. He rejoined in eleventh place, almost 10 seconds behind the leader and with a mountain to climb in his pursuit of a rostrum. Carpe caught up with the chasing pack, battling for eighth position, but wasn’t able to improve his position and had to settle for eleventh. His five points take him to third in the overall standings with 126 points, just one point behind Uriarte.

Red Bull KTM Ajo now have two victories and seven podium finishes in eleven races, and are second in the Team standings with 253 points, trying to repeat last year results with both riders, who are second and third on the standings after the first half of the season. The series now heads into the summer break, returning for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on August 7-9th.

Race Results
1. Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 33:02.694
2. Maximo Quiles (KTM) | (+0.063)
3. Matteo Bertelle (KTM) | (+5.053)
4. Marco Morelli (KTM) | (+5.060)
5. Rico Salmela (KTM) | (+5.139)
11. Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | (+15.928)

Moto3 World Championship Standing 2026
1. Maximo Quiles (KTM) | 231 points
2. Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 127 points
3. Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 126 points
4. Marco Morelli (KTM) | 115 points
5. David Almansa (KTM) | 109 points

Moto3 Teams World Championship Standing 2026
1. CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team | 346 points
2. Red Bull KTM Ajo | 253 points
3. Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP| 167 points
4. Red Bull KTM Tech3 | 130 points
5. AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI | 108 points

NIKLAS AJO – Team Manager

“We’re very satisfied with Brian and his victory. He had a pretty much perfect weekend, with no mistakes in any Practice, Qualifying or the race, so we couldn’t ask for much more in what is his rookie season. We’re very happy with him and his progress over the last few races. Alvaro had a good weekend as well, but unfortunately today he was suffering a little bit more than expected during the race. We’ve ended a very positive first part of the season, with the riders second and third in the standings and consistently improving, so we can’t wait to start the second half of the year”.

#83 ALVARO CARPE

“It’s a shame about today’s result. I had the scare in the worst possible race for it, but that’s racing. We have to learn from what happened and try to improve for the next one. I felt strong in the group, battling for the podium and with a serious chance of finishing third. I’m disappointed because I think we could have fought for it with a good setup, but once again, luck wasn’t on our side. The weekend went well; we worked very consistently from the start, so we have to focus on the positives and take a break to come back stronger.”

#51 BRIAN URIARTE

“I’m so happy to have taken another win. We gave it our all today. The work this weekend from the whole team has been incredible, so I only have words of gratitude for them. I pushed hard from the start and we were able to run a very strong pace, although I had to wait until the end to confirm the win when battling with the World Championship leader. It wasn’t easy, as we had some difficulties on the final laps, but we took some risks and secured this victory. It’s been an incredible Sunday for everyone, a great learning experience, and now it’s time to rest, because a very interesting second half of the year awaits us.”

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 duo will start from the third and fourth rows at the German Grand Prix.

Saturday at the German Grand Prix went well for the Red Bull KTM Ajo riders. Collin Veijer took a place on the third row, with the ninth fastest time in Q2, and Jose Antonio Rueda made it both into Q2 and into eleventh on the grid.

The Moto2 FP2 session was similar in terms of temperatures to Friday morning, reaching 30ºC on track.

Rueda’s session was divided into two parts, allowing him to complete a short run focused on the race first of all. For his second stint, the Spaniard changed tyres to look for a more competitive single lap time, which led him to finish tenth with a 1:22.737. He improved his best time by almost 3 tenths of a second after a session in which he put in 18 laps. Veijer also had steady improvement during FP2, which he divided into two distinct parts. In the first stint, the Dutchman was able to work on his race pace. In the second, he followed a similar plan to his teammate, lowering his time to 1:22.902 after a total of 18 laps. Finishing in 15th place, he was 1 tenth of a second faster than in Practice.

Track conditions for qualifying saw an ambient temperature of 23°C and a track temperature of 37°C.

Rueda rode smartly in Q1, and whilst he was in contention to make it through early, he upped his pace in the final moments with a 1:22.351, which put him in third place. He was 4 tenths quicker than his FP2 time, and made it out of Q1 for the second time this year. It meant a fourth appearance in Q2 in 2026.

In Q2, the Spaniard undertook a good first run that kept him within the Top 5. After a pit stop, and with the advantage of having accumulated more track time than most of his rivals, he went back out to shave further tenths off his best lap. He set a 1:21.949, 4 tenths of a second faster than in Q1 and 1.1 seconds quicker than his quickest lap from Friday. With nine more laps under his belt, he secured 11th position on the grid at Sachsenring.

Veijer also took a step forward in Q2. After a positive start, during which one of his hot laps was cancelled due to the presence of yellow flags, he managed to improve his time on his second run. With an eventual 1:21.903, which also lowered his best time from Friday by 1.1 seconds, he claimed ninth, just half a tenth of a second shy of a Top 5 finish.

In conclusion, it was another positive day of progress for Collin Veijer and Jose Antonio Rueda, who managed to improve on their Friday results to secure places on the third and fourth rows of tomorrow’s starting grid. The Red Bull KTM Ajo pair will contest the 25-lap Moto2 German Grand Prix at 12:15 p.m. (local time) on Sunday.

Qualifying Results
1. Ivan Ortola (Kalex) | 1:21.493
2. Manuel Gonzalez (Kalex) | 1:21.531 (+0.038)
3. Izan Guevara (Boscoscuro) | 1:21.671 (+0.178)
4. Daniel Holgado (Kalex) | 1:21.720 (+0.227)
5. Senna Agius (Kalex) | 1:21.848 (+0.355)
9. Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 1:21.903 (+0.410)
11. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 1:21.949 (+0.456)

#95 COLLIN VEIJER

“After yesterday’s crash, this morning we tried to recover our feeling again. Overall, Free Practice 2 wasn’t so bad, so we knew we could achieve a better position in Qualifying. We pushed a lot on our first stint in Q2, but we needed to wait until the second one to improve our time. We still have some details to tweak, but we have time to do it. The pace is not so bad, so we’ll try to make a good start, enjoy the race, and come back to the box with important points for the standings.”

#98 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“This was a very positive day at Sachsenring. I felt better from the very beginning of the morning, so the rest gradually fell into place. We were able to analyse where we had the most room to do better, and I think the improvement is evident. Times were very fast in Q1, and we managed to get through, which was vital. Then in Q2, the level rose even more. There was a lot of competition, as always, but we were able to secure a good grid position. Tomorrow we’ll have to push hard to get a strong start and fight for a Top 10 finish, which is my main objective for this race in Germany.”

The Red Bull KTM Ajo’s rookie will lead the front row of the grid, with Alvaro Carpe in fifth after a great Q2 together.

Red Bull KTM Ajo will have a rider on pole this weekend for the second time this season, as Brian Uriarte used teamwork with Alvaro Carpe to set an unmatched time in Q2 for the German Grand Prix. It was the first Pole Position of his career in Moto3, and whilst he took the top spot, Carpe will be close behind in fifth place after completing a good Q2 with his teammate.

Similar conditions to those of Free Practice 1 were experienced on Saturday morning, as the riders had to contend with a 19°C ambient temperature and 26°C track temperature.

Uriarte showed great grit from the start, both over single laps and in a long run that occupied the entire 30 minutes of the session. With Sunday in mind, he carried out a race simulation that included him setting his best time on his fifth lap, improving his best time from Friday by 8 tenths of a second. After 21 laps completed, the rookie finished second with a 1:25.566. Carpe had an important session, also putting in a long run that lasted throughout the entire duration. Towards the back of the Top 10, he rode both alone and in a group to prepare for the race, but wasn’t able to find his rhythm, having to settle for a 1:26.192 which was slower than his FP1 marker. With 21 laps completed –making him, along with Uriarte, one of the riders with the most track time in the session– he ended up in 14th place.

Conditions were slightly warmer for qualifying with an ambient temperature of 23°C and a track temperature of 36°C. However, this was still not as high as the scorching Friday afternoon heat at Sachsenring.

Uriarte stormed to a provisional Pole Position riding alone in the opening moments of the session, clocking a time of 1:25.225 and coming close to improving it on two other occasions thereafter. When he went out for his second stint, he did so with his teammate alongside him to work together, and their collaboration went perfectly. He went on to set a 1:24.880 that secured his first ever Moto3 Pole, having run 10 laps in Q2. Carpe also rode 10 laps, and will start from the second row of the grid at Sachsenring. He was helped by his teammate on his second run, and laid down a time of 1:25.147 for an important fifth place on the grid.

In conclusion, the second day of the German GP has been successfully completed for Red Bulll KTM Ajo, with the second Pole for the team this year and with both riders finishing in the Top 5. Tomorrow, Brian and Alvaro take part in the 23-lap Moto3 German Grand Prix race on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. (local time), to conclude the first half of the 2026 season.

Qualifying Results
1. Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 1:24.880
2. Marco Morelli (KTM) | 1:24.904 (+0.024)
3. Hakim Danish (KTM) | 1:24.909 (+0.029)
4. Maximo Quiles (KTM) | 1:25.102 (+0.222)
5. Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 1:25.147 (+0.267)

#83 ALVARO CARPE

“It was a very complete day overall. Our pace was good in the morning, and in the afternoon we managed to get a good grid position, although the level was extremely high in general amongst the riders. We took a step forward between the two sessions, and I know we can still fine-tune a few details for the race, but I think we have a good base with which to fight at the front of the pack tomorrow. I feel comfortable and confident, so we’re going to give it our all to finish this first half of the season at the front, with a good result for the team and for the overall standings.”

#51 BRIAN URIARTE

“I won the watch, so I’m very happy about that. The idea is always to work as a team in Qualifying, so that’s always appreciated. I was also able to set the pace alone, so the feeling is fantastic. We worked really well this morning and were able to take a big step forward, and things went more smoothly this afternoon. I think we’re maturing little by little, both on and off the track, and that’s also helping us a lot to get results. We’ll see how the race goes tomorrow. I know we have a good pace, so we’ll try to make it a fast race and avoid having too many riders in the group.”

An unusual situation for Red Bull KTM Ajo sees the Dutchman make it into Q2 in 14th position, while the Spaniard will have to go through Q1, in 15th.

Practice for the German Grand Prix produced something of a rarity for the Moto2 field and for Red Bull KTM Ajo, as both Collin Veijer and Jose Antonio Rueda clocked 1:23.007 laps. The identical times led them to finish 14th and 15th respectively, with Veijer’s second fastest lap giving him the nod and sending him directly into Q2 at the expense of his teammate.

With more favourable and comfortable weather conditions than those experienced during the recent double-header at Brno and Assen, the Moto2 riders were able to take to the track for Free Practice 1 with a manageable ambient temperature of 18°C ​​ambient and track temperature of 26°C.

Veijer demonstrated consistency early on, and showed that he has fully recovered for this weekend. After the first fifteen minutes of the session, the Dutchman was already seventh, comfortably within the Top 10 and less than 4 tenths of a second off his best time from last year -his rookie campaign at the Sachsenring in Moto2. After a pit stop, he tried out new setup details, clocking a 1:23.208, his best time ever time at the German circuit. After 22 laps, Veijer finished 10th.Rueda also racked up 22 laps in FP1. He took a more cautious approach, gradually improving his understanding of how to work on a Moto2 bike at such a unique circuit. He remained just over a second off the pace during his first stint, finishing in the Top 20. After his pit stop, the Spaniard was able to shave more tenths off his laps, reaching a 1:23.747 and finishing 19th -just 1.2 seconds off the pacesetter.

In the afternoon, conditions were conducive to a good Practice session, with an ambient temperature of around 24°C and track temperature of 43°C.

Veijer focused on developing his race pace. Low down the order during the first part of the session, the Dutchman upped the pace as it entered its final 20 minutes, reaching 18th. Later, after a tyre change, he improved his time to secure what would prove to be the 14th fastest lap. Unfortunately, he then suffered a minor crash at Turn 3, which took him off the track in the final laps. His 1:23.007 keeps up his perfect record of direct spots in Q2 so far in 2026. Rueda posted the exact same time, finishing 15^th. He missed out on Q2 as his second-best lap was slower than that of his teammate. The Spaniard followed the same strategy as Veijer, and was behind him for much of his first run. Confident and with good pace, he climbed to 16th place, and was 4 tenths faster than his best morning lap. On his second stint, he used fresh tyres to try and grab a place in Q2, but fell just short. He had to settle for 15th place after 21 laps -two more than Veijer.

In conclusion, it was a positive first day for Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 guys at the Sachsenring, although they were unable to get both straight into Q2. On Saturday, the intermediate class will undertake Free Practice 2 at 09:25 a.m. (local time), whilst in the afternoon, Rueda will take part in Q1 from 1:40 p.m. and Veijer Q2 at 2:05 p.m.

Practice Results
1. Izan Guevara (Boscoscuro) | 1:22.260
2. Ivan Ortola (Kalex) | 1:22.296 (+0.036)
3. David Alonso (Kalex) | 1:22.475 (+0.215)
4. Senna Agius (Kalex) | 1:22.562 (+0.302)
5. Manuel Gonzalez (Kalex) | 1:22.567 (+0.307)
14. Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 1:23.007 (+0.747)
15. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 1:23.007 (+0.747)

#95 COLLIN VEIJER

“It was a little bit of an unfortunate day. We managed to go through to Q2, but the feeling was not amazing. We still need to improve some tenths in Sectors 2, 3 and 4, but overall we tried our best and we will work hard this afternoon to take another big step tomorrow. My shoulder is getting much better than it was at the races before this one, and that’s also because we have fewer right corners here. It’s another positive thing to take away from today.  I’m sure we will achieve better results tomorrow with hard work and confidence, so we’ll give it 100% from the beginning.”

#98 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“Today I felt really good on track, at a circuit that’s a lot of fun on a Moto2 bike. We took a very solid step forward from Free Practice 1 to Practice, so I’m happy about that. It’s a shame I couldn’t go directly into Q2; I’ve never had anything like this happen to me before, matching my teammate’s time, but these things can happen. Collin helped me understand the lines during Practice, so I’m very grateful to the team for everyone’s great work. Tomorrow I’ll have to grit my teeth and get into Q2, which is now the main objective.”

Both Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 riders earn their places in Q2 after a good first day at Sachsenring.

Friday was a successful day at the Sachsenring for Alvaro Carpe and Brian Uriarte. The two Red Bull KTM riders secured spots in Q2 and will fight for Pole Position at the German GP on Saturday. Carpe topped Free Practice 1 and was fifth in Practice, while Uriarte finished the day with eleventh.

There was fine weather for the start of the German Grand Prix, with temperatures cooler than in the Czech Republic and the Netherlands at recent rounds. Track temperature was 25°C for Free Practice 1.

Carpe began with a positive feeling, and he managed to climb into the Top 5 early. After a solid first run that kept him among the fastest riders throughout the session, the Spaniard headed to the pits to adjust some details for the final minutes of FP1. He then made another leap forward, taking the top spot with five minutes remaining and even improving his time once more. After 21 laps, Carpe topped the timesheets in FP1 for the fourth time this season, bringing his total to eight first places in Free Practice sessions. His time of 1:25.996 left him just five tenths of a second off his best lap from last year at Sachsenring. Uriarte had an excellent start, beginning the session among the Top 5. Less than ten minutes into the session, he had even taken the lead. After a good initial run alongside the Moto3 World Championship leader, he headed to the pits. When he reemerged, the Spaniard improved his time, achieving a 1:26.481 which ultimately placed him tenth. His 22 laps were more than any other rider in the class.

Later in the afternoon, the ambient temperature of 22°C and track temperature of 41°C created a warmer session in Practice.

Carpe worked alone for the first part of the session, focusing on improving his feeling on the bike and gathering data for Sunday’s race. Having settled into seventh place during his first run, he then went out for his Time Attack and clinched his place in Q2. With several improvements made in the final laps, the Spaniard comfortably settled into fifth place, with a best time of 1:25.967. He was just 1 tenth of a second off the pacesetter and accumulated 21 laps. Uriarte replicated his FP1 form, topping the timesheets on his third lap out and holding the position until the Time Attacks in the final ten minutes. His initial time was already more than 3 tenths of a second faster than his morning marker, demonstrating a solid step forward from Free Practice 1. After returning to the garage, the key moment of the session arrived, but he couldn’t lower his time any further on his second run, having to settle for his 1:26.110. The result put him 11th after 21 laps, securing his place in Q2.

All in all, it was a positive start for the Spanish duo from the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 team, who have shown not only speed but also good pace as they look to have a successful weekend on German surface. On Saturday, both riders will take part in Free Practice 2, starting at 08:40 a.m. (local time), and then Q2 from 1:10 p.m. with the clear goal of securing good positions on the grid.

Practice Results
1. Veda Pratama (Honda) | 1:25.848
2. Joel Esteban (KTM) | 1:25.856 (+0.008)
3. Eddie O’Shea (Honda) | 1:25.883 (+0.035)
4. Jesus Rios (Honda) | 1:25.904 (+0.056)
5. Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 1:25.967 (+0.119)
11. Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 1:26.110 (+0.262)

#83 ALVARO CARPE

“The day went really well overall. From the very first thing this morning, I felt very comfortable, and we were able to improve our feeling throughout the two sessions. We tried out different things, and I think we found some interesting details, so tomorrow we’ll try to finalise the setup to be strong on Sunday. The work has been good; we feel fast and have a good pace to start building on, so we’re going to continue the same way to take another step forward tomorrow.”

#51 BRIAN URIARTE

“I’m happy with this first day at Sachsenring. Today we managed to work on our own  quite a bit, which is what we’ve been struggling with the most at the start of this season. The fastest lap we set wasn’t bad, but it’s not perfect, and everything is very close at this circuit. Now we have to analyse the areas where we can be more precise and try to take another step forward tomorrow. It’s a very peculiar circuit, with many left-hand corners, so we have to be very mindful of tyre wear.”

The German Grand Prix sees the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 riders in action before the summer break.

Collin Veijer and Jose Antonio Rueda will take part in the eleventh Grand Prix of the season in Germany this weekend, in what marks the final round of the Moto2 season before the summer break.

Veijer arrives in Germany following the Dutch TT, where he had an intense weekend at his home event. After solid results over the first two days at Assen, he managed a commendable ninth place on Sunday -the second-best result ever for a Dutchman at Assen on a Moto2 bike. Aiming for a consistent run, he goes to the Sachsenring having never scored points there in either Moto3 or Moto2. Veijer has also competed at the tight and twisty circuit twice previously as a Red Bull Rookies Cup rider, achieving a second-place finish in 2022. Currently, Veijer sits tenth in the overall standings with 48.5 points.

Rueda is in good form, despite failing to score points in the Netherlands. He made steady improvement at a demanding circuit in extreme heat, taking a step forward heading into Sunday’s race, but it wasn’t enough to extend his four-race streak of consecutive Top 15 finishes. His 17th place at Assen came after he was off the pace on Friday and advanced significantly over the course of the weekend. In Germany, he secured a third-place finish last year, narrowly missing out on the victory in Moto3, whilst he has triumphed at the Sachsenring in the 2022 Red Bull Rookies Cup. Currently, leading the Rookie of the Year standings, Rueda sits in 17th place overall with 19 points.

Back after a 15-day break following the double-header in the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, Red Bull KTM Ajo are eighth in the Team standings with 67.5 points, just three points shy of seventh place. In previous editions of the German Grand Prix, Deniz Öncü secured a resounding victory one year ago. Sachsenring is one of the tracks where they have the best record in the series, with five wins through Johann Zarco (2016), Brad Binder (2018). Remy Gardner (2021), Augusto Fernandez (2022), and Pedro Acosta (2023), in addition to four further podium finishes by Zarco (2015), Miguel Oliveira (2017), Binder (2019), and Acosta (2022).

The German GP gets underway this Friday at 9:50 a.m. (local time), with Free Practice 1. The 25-lap race will take place on Sunday at 12:15 p.m.

Circuit information – Sachsenring
Length: 3.671 m / 2.281 miles
Width: 12 m / 39.37 ft.
Left corners: 10
Right corners: 3
Longest straight: 700 m / 0.435 miles
Constructed: 1996
Modified: 2003

#95 COLLIN VEIJER

“I’m very happy to be back for another race weekend. I feel ready for Sachsenring. We tried to solve my shoulder problem, so let’s see how it goes in Germany this time. We will try to give it 100%, and I’m feeling stronger again. We have been training hard, I’m feeling great and getting better day by day, so I’m very excited to get started at this special, unique track before the summer break begins. Let’s try to enjoy to the maximum and bring back a good result to the box.”

#98 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“Sachsenring is an anti-clockwise circuit that I really like because of its characteristics and its unique nature: It’s small, narrow, and short. I’m very curious to try it out on a Moto2 bike, as it certainly won’t be easy and we’ll have to be very precise in everything we do. It’s the last race before the summer break, so it’s vital to carry over the momentum from the last few races and try to find that feeling that’s so necessary in such extreme heat. I hope to have a good weekend and go into my holidays with a positive feeling.”