Important twelfth place for Rueda at Red Bull Ring

20.09.2026

A very positive race sees the Red Bull KTM Ajo rookie take four points at KTM’s home Grand Prix to keep the Moto2 rookies lead.

Jose Antonio Rueda finished twelfth at the Austrian Grand Prix, returning to the points after three challenging rounds, keeping his lead in the rookies’ standings and rounding off a very positive weekend at KTM’s home race.

Conditions were among the best of the weekend for the Moto2 race, with track temperatures slightly above 20°C.

Rueda made a great start, moving from ninth on the grid to eighth at the first corner, although a bottleneck at turns 2A and 2B pushed him back to 13th place. After settling into the pack following a tense opening few laps, on a circuit featuring heavy braking areas, the Spaniard found himself battling Aaron Canet for twelfth place. There was a gap of over three seconds to the group behind them, allowing plenty of breathing room to secure a Top 15 finish.

Past the halfway mark, the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider managed to overtake Canet and lead the duo, and on the final three laps he had to fend off his compatriot for 12th place. A small error by his rival allowed Rueda to consolidate the position and finish in the points for the seventh time this season, matching his fourth-best result in the class in the process. With these four points, the Spaniard reaches a total of 31 in the overall standings, where he remains 18th. He has a 8.5-point lead over his closest rival in the Rookie of the Year ranking.

Red Bull KTM Ajo leave their home Grand Prix with four more points on the board, following three difficult weekends for Rueda. They hold ninth place in the Team standings with 106.5 points. Hoping for a speedy recovery from the injured Collin Veijer, they now have a week off before heading to Asia, where the season’s overseas leg begins. Mobility Resort Motegi will host the first of these rounds, the Japanese Grand Prix, from October 2nd to 4th.

Moto2 Teams World Championship Standing 2026
1. Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP | 394.5 points
2. CFMoto Aspar Inde Team | 301 points
3. BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 | 227.5 points
4. QJMotor – Campolor – MSI | 172.5 points
5. OnlyFans American Racing Team | 172 points
9. Red Bull KTM Ajo | 106.5 points

NIKLAS AJO – Team Manager

“It was a very bittersweet weekend here at our home round in Austria. Collin, unfortunately, got injured already in the first Practice and that meant that we were only fighting with one rider here. However, I think Jose Antonio had a positive weekend. He managed to qualify really well in 9th position yesterday and also finished the race in good shape. Maybe he lacked something on the first lap of the race and lost a few positions, but after that, he was able to maintain the pace to fight for the positions close to the Top 10. We hope Collin will have a successful surgery tomorrow in Barcelona and we are wishing that he can be back already in Japan. In any case, we hope for a speedy recovery for him and hope he’s back as soon as possible.”

#98 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“I didn’t feel quite as good today as I did yesterday on the bike. I think we were missing a little something to really fight for the Top 10. I got a good start and moved up to eighth, but I left the door open at Turn 3 and a few riders got past me; that caused me to lose some touch with the group fighting for tenth place. From that point on, we managed to settle in, stay consistent, and secure some important points, so the overall assessment is very positive. Getting back into the Top 15 after some tough races is vital and something to be really pleased about, so I’m highly motivated heading into the overseas rounds coming up over the next few weeks.”

Historic first Austrian GP podium double for Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3

20.09.2026

Uriarte and Carpe take second and third place at the Red Bull Ring, as KTM clinch the Constructors’ Championship at the factory’s home circuit.

The Austrian Grand Prix provided a weekend to remember at the Red Bull Ring. Brian Uriarte and Alvaro Carpe finished second and third, for Red Bull KTM Ajo’s first-ever podium double at the factory’s home track. Furthermore, KTM were crowned the 2026 Moto3 Constructors’ Champions, capping off a perfect home event for the Finnish structure in Spielberg.

The best conditions of the weekend were experienced on Sunday, with track temperatures just above 20°C for the Moto3 Austrian Grand Prix.

Uriarte got off the line well and held firm on the opening corners, before recognising Almansa’s strong pace and tucking in behind him to ensure the lead group would stretch out. In the end, the pack split up, leaving four riders at the front, before Almansa and Quiles broke away. Working together with Carpe, Uriarte stayed slightly ahead of his teammate to pull them both away from the chasing pack. When the race leader crashed out, that automatically put the pair into the podium spots. With the final third of the race underway, the rookie began to push harder, closing the gap to the new leader while pulling away from Carpe, ultimately securing second place. It was his fifth podium of the season and extended his lead in the Rookie of the Year ranking to 73 points. He remains fourth in the overall standings with 174 points, just one point shy of second place.

Carpe got off to a strong start from third place. The Spaniard held his position, staying close behind Almansa and Uriarte to capitalise on the leaders’ pace and stretch out the pack. Within just three laps, the leading group had thinned out to four riders, and whilst Carpe was slightly behind, a crash for Almansa briefly altered the dynamic. Despite the fierce pace set up front, Carpe stood firm for the first two-thirds of the race before losing touch in the closing stages. Fortunately, with an advantage of over 15 seconds, he simply needed to maintain his pace to comfortably secure his sixth podium of the season. This brings his total in the category to 11 and sees him reclaim second place in the overall standings with 175 points.

All in all, it was a perfect Sunday – and weekend – for the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 team, which leaves its home Grand Prix with a double podium finish that takes its tally to eleven this season. Red Bull KTM Ajo now have 11 rostrums in 2026, and with the 36 points scored by the Spanish pair, continue in second place in the Team standings with 349. Following this successful final European round, the team next travel to Asia for a series of four overseas races. The first of these will be Japan, at Mobility Resort Motegi, from October 2nd–4th.

NIKLAS AJO – Team Manager

“I think overall it was a very, very positive weekend. Starting from the front row and with both riders finishing on the podium, means I can’t be unhappy. Obviously, the target is always to win and today that was not posible, but I see the project as being very positive at the moment. Brian and Alvaro are constantly fighting for the podium every weekend and we are still very much in the chase for second place in the World Championship with both riders. We will keep on pushing, keep on learning and keep trying to get that victory again at the next race in Japan.”

#83 ALVARO CARPE

“Overall, today has been a positive day. It’s important to add another podium to our tally, but I think there’s still room for improvement. We lacked a bit of pace in the final part of the race to really challenge my teammate. Admittedly, once I saw I couldn’t keep up with him, I backed off a bit to ensure I secured third place. We’re on the right track to take that final step forward, so we’ll aim to do that during the Asian rounds in the coming weeks. The overall standings don’t matter to us right now; we need to focus on ourselves -on working, improving, and scoring as many points as possible to finish strong in this final stretch, which is where titles are always decided.”

#51 BRIAN URIARTE

“Today went really well. We learned a lot during the race, adjusting a few details lap by lap, and finishing second is a very positive result. We tried to push for the win, but it was difficult, so the smartest move was to secure the podium. The main thing was to score important points, get another podium, and learn -which is our top priority looking ahead to next year. Now it’s time to focus on the Asian rounds. We’re heading to Japan this week to unwind a bit, train, and acclimatise to the time difference; I’m really happy with where we are right now and hungry for more.”

Rueda takes 9th in Q2 at Red Bull Ring for best result of the season

19.09.2026

The Spaniard produces a brilliant final lap to secure a spot on the third row of the grid for the Austrian Grand Prix.

Jose Antonio Rueda claimed ninth place in Q2 at the Austrian Grand Prix. Following a strong Friday afternoon, the Spaniard took another crucial step forward with a solid qualifying performance -matching his best result of the season. After Collin Veijer’s withdrawal due to a broken collarbone, Rueda will be Red Bull KTM Ajo’s sole participant in Sunday’s race.

In Free Practice 2, conditions at the Red Bull Ring were tricky for the intermediate class, with a track temperature of 16°C. Due to uncertainty regarding the surface, only thirteen riders -including Rueda- decided to head out.

The Spaniard chose to start the session the moment the clock began ticking, completing five laps before returning to the pits. Facing difficult conditions caused by wet patches around the circuit, he opted not to take unnecessary risks. His 1:48.900 put him 12th -well off his times from the previous day. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider preferred to save his efforts for Q2 and avoid the unpredictable nature of FP2.

Later in the afternoon, Rueda took part in Q2 for the first time in six Grands Prix. He made the most of the session, amidst sunny conditions at the Red Bull Ring and 17°C track temperatures.

At the start, he used a reference from a group on his first run. However, the strategy didn’t work out perfectly, leaving him far off his best time from Friday and provisionally in 17th place. After a tyre change, Rueda went back on the attack; once again well-positioned within the pack, he clocked an impressive time on his final attempt to move up to seventh. Although other riders subsequently improved, pushing him back to ninth, he still matched his best-ever Q2 result as a Moto2 rider, set at the Catalan Grand Prix earlier this year. His 1:32.885 was 3 tenths faster than his best time from Friday, and just 5 tenths off pole position.

After a great Saturday overall and with a Top 10 finish firmly in his sights for Sunday’s race, Rueda will compete in the 23-lap Moto2 Austrian Grand Prix from 12:15 p.m. local time.

Qualifying Results
1. Filip Salac (Kalex) | 1:32.381
2. Manuel Gonzalez (Kalex) | 1:32.502 (+0.121)
3. Alex Escrig (Forward) | 1:32.527 (+0.146)
4. Ivan Ortola (Kalex) | 1:32.594 (+0.213)
5. Izan Guevara (Boscoscuro) | 1:32.669 (+0.288)
9. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 1:32.885 (+0.504)

#98 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“I’m very happy with how things felt today. The morning session wasn’t easy at all, as we encountered mixed conditions -which are never straightforward- so I opted to do just a few laps before heading back to the pits. Then, in the afternoon, I managed to set a really good time in qualifying. To be honest, I didn’t expect it; it’s not a circuit that particularly suits my riding style, and we hadn’t come off a great race in Misano either. But that’s how this class goes sometimes, and today we managed to pull it off. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s race. I hope to get a good start, enjoy the experience, and learn as much as possible from everything that happens.”

Pole Position for Uriarte with Carpe third in Austrian GP Qualifying

19.09.2026

An excellent Saturday for Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 will see their riders start first and third on the grid for their home Grand Prix.

Brian Uriarte secured Pole Position for the Austrian Grand Prix thanks to a perfect final lap in Q2. The Spaniard has broken the all-time lap record and will start from first on the grid for the second time this year. Brian will be joined on the front row by teammate Alvaro Carpe in third in the KTM home round. It is the team’s first front row double of 2026.

Conditions were challenging for Free Practice 2, mirroring the situation at Misano just a week ago. Whilst there was no rain in Spielberg, a wet track surface was accompanied by a track temperature of 16°C.

Uriarte was one of the few riders who chose to go out for almost the entire session. The Spaniard gradually lowered his lap times as a dry line began to form on the track, establishing himself among the top three fastest riders. Unable to use slick tyres, he completed the session in a single run, improving his time consistently. Following a very strong final few minutes, Uriarte topped the session with a 1:47.740, having put in 13 laps. Carpe completed seven laps, and opted not to take any risks, waiting in the pits to see how the session unfolded before heading out for the final ten minutes. He decided to take to the track for a single run, through to the chequered flag. Showing steady improvement, the Spaniard shaved more than 7 seconds off his initial best lap to place 13th.

The heat rose during Q2 as the sun came out, with a track temperature of 16°C.

Uriarte was the first to head out on track, riding alone and displaying great form at the Red Bull Ring. Initially sitting in second place, he slightly improved upon his Practice time during his first run, before returning to the pits for a tyre change while in third place. Upon his return, trailing Quiles and Carpe, he began to close the gap. He made up time in the third and fourth sectors on his last lap to snatch pole position, clocking a 1:39.544. It was his second pole of the season and a new circuit record at KTM’s home track.

Carpe saw all his attempts on his first run cancelled, forcing him to leave the job for the end with his second set of tyres. With no lap time recorded until the final two minutes, he had to go back out quickly to avoid running out of time. However, far from being conservative, the Spanish rider clocked a great time, moving up to fourth place -though that lap was also cancelled, forcing him to wait for his final attempt. It was then, using a good reference point, that he managed to climb to third place, securing his fifth front-row start of the season. With a best time of 1:39.859, he completed 7 laps in total.

In conclusion, it was a brilliant Saturday for the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 team, which made the most of the final minutes of Q2 to secure both bikes a place on the front row of the grid. The Spanish duo have their sights firmly set on the podium. The 20-lap Moto3 Austrian Grand Prix will be held on Sunday, starting at 11:00 a.m. (local time).

Qualifying Results
1. Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 1:39.544
2. David Almansa (KTM) | 1:39:608 (+0.064)
3. Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 1:39.859 (+0.315)
4. Maximo Quiles (KTM) | 1:39.981 (+0.437)
5. Matteo Bertelle (KTM)| 1:40.317 (+0.773)

#83 ALVARO CARPE

“Having reference points is crucial when hunting for a fast lap here, and I think we executed that plan perfectly. We’ll have to see what the tyre degradation is like tomorrow, as the track conditions this weekend haven’t really allowed us to do much work with Sunday’s race in mind. We’ll need to give 100% from the very first lap to try and keep pace with the fastest riders, so the plan is to get a good start and fight as hard as possible to secure a strong result.”

#51 BRIAN URIARTE

“We struggled a bit more yesterday, but today we found some details that made us feel faster and more comfortable. I was really surprised when I crossed the finish line and saw the time I’d set, because I think there’s still room for improvement in certain parts of the circuit. Tomorrow, I’ll try to take another step forward and keep learning; that’s the most important thing this year. I’m motivated and looking forward to this Sunday at KTM’s home race. We’re going to fight for the win, so we’ll give it absolutely everything.”

Rueda secures spot in Q2 at Red Bull Ring

18.09.2026

The Spaniard makes significant improvements during Practice, whilst teammate Collin Viejer will undergo surgery after an injury suffered in FP1.

Jose Antonio Rueda sprung a surprise during Practice for the Austrian Grand Prix. The Spanish rider took a major step forward in the afternoon, shaving nearly 1.3 seconds off his Free Practice 1 time to clinch a Q2 spot at the very last moment. It was his first time going directly into Q2 after a six-race drought. Teammate Collin Veijer was forced to withdraw from the Austrian Grand Prix after fracturing his left collarbone in a heavy crash at Turn 6, during the final minutes of FP1. The Dutchman is set to undergo surgery in the coming days.

Despite the rain that fell at the Red Bull Ring on Thursday, the intermediate class was able to contest Free Practice 1 for the Austrian Grand Prix in dry conditions, albeit with low track temperatures of 14°C.

Veijer did not hold back in FP1, comfortably breaking into the Top 10 right from the start. After his first ten laps, he headed back to the pits to analyse his initial run, with more than half the session still remaining. When he returned to the track for the final stretch, he racked up two consecutive fast laps, but when on course to further lower his time, he suffered a heavy crash exiting Turn 6 with three minutes remaining. Following a check-up at the Medical Centre, it has been confirmed a fracture in his left collarbone, so he has been ruled out of the AustrianGP for the rest of the weekend. Collin will travel to Barcelona tomorrow, Saturday, where he is likely to undergo surgery next Monday. Veijer finished FP1 in 12th place with a best time of 1:33.834 and 15 laps completed.

Rueda opted not to take excessive risks following the three crashes he suffered last weekend at Misano. Employing a strategy of gradually building up speed, the rookie standings leader was just over a second off the pace early on, undertaking a long initial run. For his second stint, he managed to improve his time on his penultimate attempt, gaining extra confidence for his final lap, where he shaved another three-tenths of a second off his time. His 1:34.401 put him 21st, just 1.2 seconds off the fastest time of the session. Rueda completed a total of 19 laps.

For Practice, the sun was somewhat less intense and track temperature at 17°C. The circuit record was broken during the session.

With Veijer sidelined, Rueda was the sole Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 representative. He had worked intensively with data from Free Practice 1, and headed into the afternoon session with a clearer direction, allowing him to make a solid leap forward during his first run: He was in 18th place after 12 laps, and had improved by nearly 8 tenths of a second compared to the morning session. For his second stint, he made a slight initial improvement and then took 3 tenths of a second off his time just as the chequered flag was being waved. His 1:33.163 gave him14th place, and he was just 7 tenths behind the fastest rider. The rookie completed 19 laps of the Austrian circuit.

In conclusion, it was a bittersweet Friday for the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 team, which appears to have turned its run of bad luck around with Jose Antonio Rueda but has lost Collin Veijer for this weekend – due to injury. Rueda will be the only Ajo’s rider participating in the remainder of the Austrian GP action, which continues with Free Practice 2 on Saturday at 9:25 a.m. (local time). He will return to the track at 2:05 p.m. to compete in the intermediate class Q2 session.

Practice Results
1. Filip Salac (Kalex) | 1:32.402
2. Ivan Ortola (Kalex) | 1:32.499 (+0.097)
3. Daniel Holgado (Kalex) | 1:32.600 (+0.198)
4. Tony Arbolino (Kalex) | 1:32.625 (+0.223)
5. Izan Guevara (Boscoscuro) | 1:32.638 (+0.236)
14. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 1:33.163 (+0.761)
DNS. Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo)

#95 COLLIN VEIJER

“We were coming off big weekends at Aragon and Misano, so what happened today is very unfortunate. To be honest, it was not a big mistake, but the impact was hard. We were feeling good this morning, improving on every lap, so it’s a shame to not take part in any more of this Grand Prix, as it could have been a good one again. Fortunately, it seems that the fracture is clean, so we’ll get the surgery as soon as possible and then start our recovery process. I want to be back for Japan, but we will see what happens. Now I have to focus on myself and try to recover 100%.”

#98 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“Overall, the day went pretty well. The feeling was good despite the cold track conditions, especially in the morning. This circuit has a lot of right-handers, so the tyres take a beating when we hit the left-handers. We took a progressive approach to the session. We tweaked a few details for the afternoon, and it worked really well. I felt very comfortable, and we managed to make it into Q2 -albeit only just. The pace here in Austria is very fast, so we’ll see what we can do tomorrow.”

Top 5s for Carpe and Uriarte on strong opening day in Austria

18.09.2026

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 pair place in the Top 5 in both Free Practice 1 and Practice.

Alvaro Carpe and Brian Uriarte placed third and fifth, respectively, in Practice on the opening day of the Austrian Grand Prix. The Red Bull KTM Ajo riders thus guaranteed their spots in Q2 following a successful Friday; both consistently ran in the Top 5 across the two sessions held.

With no rain or standing water on the track, the Moto3 riders were able to contest Free Practice 1 in dry conditions, albeit with cold temperatures on track of just 14°C. The Red Bull KTM Ajo duo approached their first outing on the Austrian circuit with a mix of confidence and caution.

Carpe had a positive session, making significant strides during his initial flying laps and showing much greater consistency than he had the previous weekend in San Marino. Although the Spaniard was running within the Top 10 regularly, he had several laps cancelled due to track limit violations. After a strong final stint, he climbed from 11th to 4th place, just thousandths of a second behind the rider in second. He completed 16 laps, with a best time of 1:41.300. Uriarte was initially among the Top 3. While at the head of a group during the opening laps, the Spaniard had to sit up following a close call at Turn 9, but managed to get back on track without issue. After his first run, he adjusted his setup with his crew and set another solid lap, working alone for his final stint. He improved once again on his last attempt, with his 1:41.349 just 49 thousandths slower than his teammate and putting him fifth. The rookie completed 16 laps.

By the afternoon, the sun had come out in Spielberg, warming the track conditions up to 18°C for Practice.

Carpe was inside the Top 5 after his first run, then returned to the pits earlier than planned to prepare for his time attack; this allowed rivals to move above him, temporarily dropping him out of the Q2 spots. However, in the closing minutes, he managed to find a good reference point on track, and rose to third place. With no improvements from his rivals, the Spaniard secured the position with a time of 1:40.171 -faster than his previous personal best at the Red Bull Ring by 2 tenths of a second. Carpe completed 17 laps. Uriarte set out to establish his pace riding alone, focusing on preparations for Sunday’s race at the Red Bull Ring. Although sitting in third place, he continued to make solid progress before heading back to the pits to prepare for his time attack. Already assured of a spot in Q2 due to his previous laps, he tried to improve his time further but was unable to do so, finishing fifth with a 1:40.278. The lap was more than a second faster than his morning effort, and one of18 he put in at Spielberg in the afternoon.

All in all, it was a very positive Friday for the Spanish duo from the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 team, who remained in the Top 5 throughout both Free Practice 1 and the Practice session at the Red Bull Ring. With the aim of keep the momentum, both will face tomorrow Free Practice 2, which will take place at 8:40 a.m. (local time), while in the afternoon, the Red Bull KTM riders will take part in Q2 to battle for Pole Position starting at 1:10 p.m.

Practice Results
1. David Almansa (KTM) | 1:39:668
2. Maximo Quiles (KTM) | 1:39.863 (+0.195)
3. Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 1:40.171 (+0.503)
4. Matteo Bertelle (KTM) | 1:40.190 (+0.522)
5. Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 1:40.278 (+0.610)

#83 ALVARO CARPE

“It’s certainly not a bad way to start in Austria. It was very cold today and the track was somewhat tricky, both in the morning and the afternoon, which forced us to be extra cautious at all times. However, I think we did a good job, putting in some quality laps to secure a spot in Q2. We still have plenty of room for improvement heading into tomorrow and Sunday, so we’re going to try to fine-tune the details so we can ride more safely without having to push quite so close to the limits.”

#51 BRIAN URIARTE

“Our feeling is very good. We were quite fast today, and our pace for Sunday isn’t bad, so it’s a solid starting point. I’m happy with the work by the team and looking forward to taking another step forward tomorrow; we still have room for improvement in a couple of areas. The key is getting everything dialed in for the race and securing a good grid position -so we don’t have to take unnecessary risks during the opening laps on Sunday.”

Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 take part in home round in Austria

16.09.2026

Veijer and Rueda visit the Red Bull Ring for the fifteenth round of the season -a special race for KTM- to round off the European rounds before travelling to Asia.

Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 go to the Red Bull Ring this weekend for the Austrian Grand Prix. With Collin Veijer in top form after a great Sunday in San Marino, the team have a date with KTM’s home circuit at which to continue his run. Jose Antonio Rueda has had several weekends of steep learning curves, and is ready to tackle the round with confidence in order to travel to Asia with more optimism.

Veijer comes into the race off his second podium of the season at Misano. He capped off a stellar weekend by finishing second at the San Marino GP, equaling his best-ever result in Moto2. Having also battled for the podium at MotorLand, he aims to build on this significant step forward at the Red Bull Ring, a circuit he enjoys and knows very well. Last year, during his rookie season in the class, he delivered a strong performance, finishing in eighth place -just seven seconds off the win- after qualifying ninth in Q2. In previous editions, he has a pole position in Moto3, as well as fourth and fifth-place finishes in 2023 and 2024. Currently, Veijer is back in tenth place in the overall standings, with his points tally at 75.5.

Rueda has struggled during the second half of the season to date. Following surgery on his right hand during the summer he has managed to finish all three races, though without breaking into the Top 15. He had a turbulent weekend in Misano, forced to fight his way up from 29th on the grid; ultimately, after battling a strong group for 18th place, the Spaniard finished 21st. He had a fifth-place finish in Moto3 in Austria last year, as well as eleventh and seventh in his first two appearances there previously. His only podium finish at the Red Bull Ring came in 2022, when he took second place in the Red Bull Rookies Cup. Rueda currently sits 18th in the overall standings with 27 points, continuing to lead the Rookie of the Year ranking.

With the aim of continuing to pick up points at Spielberg, Red Bull KTM Ajo have 102.5 points in the Team standings, and are in ninth place, near than ever from 7th and 8th. KTM’s home circuit has historically been a positive venue for the team in the intermediate class, yielding five victories: Johann Zarco (2016), Brad Binder (2019), Jorge Martin (2020), Raul Fernandez (2021), and Celestino Vietti (2024). Furthermore, they have three second-place finishes: Miguel Oliveira (2018), Jorge Martin (Styrian GP, 2020), and Pedro Acosta (2023).

In short, the fifteenth round of the Moto2 World Championship is now a reality, and it is the last to be held on European soil before the start of the traditional end-of-season tour of Asia, that will start in Japan, as last year. Moto2 Free Practice 1 begins on Friday at 9:50 a.m. (local time), and the 23-lap race takes place on Sunday starting at 12:15 a.m.

Circuit information – Red Bull Ring
Length: 4.348 m / 2.701 miles
Width: 12 metres / 39.37 ft.
Left corners: 3
Right corners: 8
Longest straight: 810 m / 0.503 miles
Built: 2022

#95 COLLIN VEIJER

“We’re coming off a very necessary weekend at Misano, so I’m highly motivated for this next round in Austria -the home race for both the factory and the team. We managed the weekends in San Marino and Aragon quite well, so we just need to do our job again and try to demonstrate the consistency we’ve been aiming for over the last few months. The Red Bull Ring is a great track, so we’ll try to have a strong weekend overall and enjoy it to the fullest before we head to Asia.”

#98 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“We’re coming off a tough weekend, although we did manage to show a more positive side during the race. Now it’s time to hit the reset button, start afresh, and work at 100% with my team in Austria -a circuit that’s always special thanks to the atmosphere and the fact that it’s the home Grand Prix for the team and the factory. We know this is a process and that some rounds will go better than others, so we need to focus and keep giving our all so we can continue making reliable progress at any track.”

Carpe and Uriarte gear up for an important challenge in Austria

16.09.2026

Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 head to the Red Bull Ring eager for a good result at the factory’s home Grand Prix before starting overseas.

Alvaro Carpe and Brian Uriarte complete a European double-header at the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend. Following a somewhat bittersweet San Marino Grand Prix for the team, they move on to the factory’s home race, boosting motivation for both Alvaro Carpe and Brian Uriarte.

Carpe arrives in Austria after a tough weekend at Misano. He had been second in the World Championship standings prior to the San Marino GP, but encountered a string of bad luck. On the Saturday, he had to go through Q1 and qualified ninth, only to be demoted to 21st on the grid due to a penalty. On the Sunday, he was taken down by another rider on the opening lap, with his recovery limited to a climb from 26th to 17th place. Carpe is aiming for his sixth podium of the season on the visit to the Red Bull Ring, a circuit where he holds fond memories from his time in the Rookies Cup: Across two rounds (2023 and 2024), he achieved three wins and a second-place finish from four races. Last year, during his rookie season in the Moto3 World Championship, he finished tenth in the race. He currently sits third in the overall standings with 159 points.

Uriarte faces Austria with optimism after achieving a great result last weekend. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rookie finished third at Misano, breaking away with the other two podium finishers. In addition to taking his fourth podium of the season, he also claimed his fifth front-row start of 2026, after qualifying second in Q2. Following strong weekends at both Silverstone and MotorLand prior, Brian seems to have established itself as one of the leading names in the class. Last year, he achieved a double victory in the two Red Bull Rookies Cup races held at Spielberg, which gives him good memories and extra motivation for the upcoming weekend. Now, he sits fourth in the overall standings with 154 points, firmly leading the Rookie of the Year classification.

In conclusion, the Red Bull Ring hosts the fifteenth round of the championship, bringing this European double-header to a close and paving the way for the Asian leg of the tour. Red Bull KTM Ajo have 313 points, lying second in the Team standings. In recent visits to Austria, the team earned a win with Deniz Öncü in 2023 and a second-place finish with Brad Binder in 2016.

With no significant changes to the weekend schedule, the Moto3 class will get things underway this coming Friday morning at 09:00 a.m. (local time) with Free Practice 1. The 20-lap race is on Sunday starting at 11:00 a.m.

Circuit information – Red Bull Ring
Length: 4.348 m / 2.701 miles
Width: 12 metres / 39.37 ft.
Left corners: 3
Right corners: 8
Longest straight: 810 m / 0.503 miles
Built: 2022

#83 ALVARO CARPE

“Austria is a circuit I really like and where I have great memories from the Red Bull Rookies Cup. We’ve won there before -though we struggled a bit more last year during our Moto3 debut- so we’ll aim to do a good job and get back to achieving strong results. As always, we’ll give 100% to try and wrap up this European run on a high note. We had a bit of bad luck at Misano, so now it’s time to keep our confidence up and show what we’re capable of.”

#51 BRIAN URIARTE

“We’re coming off a good weekend in San Marino, where the level of competition was very high and we came very close to staying in the mix at the front until the end. We’ve started the second half of the season much more settled and consistent, so I’m really looking forward to Austria -a circuit I enjoy and where I have fond memories from last year’s Red Bull Rookies Cup. The bar will surely be set high once again, so we’ll need to work well all weekend and really fine-tune the details, as that’s where the difference will be made.”

Second place for Veijer after exceptional San Marino Grand Prix

13.09.2026

A superb race from the Dutchman sees him battle for the win right up to the final laps. After a positive race, Rueda battles his way back to 21st.

It was a great Sunday for Collin Veijer at Misano in the San Marino Grand Prix. The Dutchman led the opening laps before spending the rest of the race chasing the championship leader, placing second in the contest. Jose Antonio Rueda managed to finish the race after a difficult weekend, climbing from 28th to 21st place.

After two mornings of mixed conditions, the intermediate class was able to race the San Marino Grand Prix in ideal conditions: no overnight rain, dry asphalt, an ambient temperature of 27°C, and a track temperature of 38°C.

Veijer had an ideal race throughout. He got off to a perfect start, gaining a position before Turn 1 and inheriting the lead after a multi-rider crash at the end of the straight involving the top four competitors. Veijer then established his pace, gradually stretching out the pack. After the first four laps, he was overtaken by the championship leader, but latched onto the slipstream to battle head-to-head for the win until the closing stages. He took second place despite a challenge from Manuel Gonzalez, who maintained a strong pace right to the end, and earned his second podium of the season -his third as a Moto2 rider. Veijer moves up to 75.5 points, reclaiming 10th place in the overall standings.

Rueda got off to a good start from 28th place, making up several positions through clever overtaking and other riders retiring; this allowed him to break into the Top 20 within just a few laps. After the halfway point of the race, he settled into 19th place, though he was far behind the group fighting for points. Unfortunately, the Spaniard was handed a Long Lap penalty in the closing stages for exceeding the track limits too many times, forcing him down to 22nd. He maintained a steady pace on the final laps, and managed to catch the rider in 21st late on, finishing close to the Top 20 after a very challenging weekend. Rueda remains in the lead in the Rookie ranking for another week with 27 points to his name, sitting 18th in the overall standings.

After an important Sunday for the team, Red Bull KTM Ajo continue in ninth in the Team standings with 102.5 points, less than ten points off seventh place. Aiming to build on this strong showing at the San Marino Grand Prix, both Collin Veijer and Jose Antonio Rueda now head to the Austrian Grand Prix from September 18–20th, for KTM’s home race at Red Bull Ring.

Moto2 World Championship Standing 2026
1. Manuel Gonzalez (Kalex) | 232.5 points
2. Izan Guevara (Boscoscuro) | 185 points
3. Ivan Ortola (Kalex) | 157.5 points
4. Senna Agius (Kalex) | 149 points
5. David Alonso (Kalex) | 139 points
10. Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 75.5 points
18. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 27 points

Moto2 Teams World Championship Standing 2026
1. Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP | 381.5 points
2. CFMoto Aspar European Privilege Team | 276 points
3. BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 | 202.5 points
4. QJMotor – Green Power – MSI | 161.5 points
5. OnlyFans American Racing Team | 151 points
9. Red Bull KTM Ajo | 102.5 points

NIKLAS AJO – Team Manager

“We are very happy about Collin’s podium. It’s been a long time coming and there’s been some unfortunate DNFs in the last few races, so I think it’s a very nice moment for him. I hope this really gives him confidence, extra motivation and calmness, to be able to keep this kind of level up for the rest of the season. Jose Antonio had a very difficult weekend overall. He didn’t really find his speed at any moment at Misano. For a rookie, sometimes this class is like this. There are some tracks that are easier than others, and I think this one, looking at previous years, has always been very tricky for a rookie. So I think it’s nothing to be too disappointed about. We just have to look ahead and work even harder now. I’m sure that soon he’ll be back at the same level he was before the summer break.”

#95 COLLIN VEIJER

“We rode a very decent race. Overall, I think we had quite good pace, as we demonstrated during Qualifying yesterday. I’m very happy with how we managed the race today. Of course, we got a bit lucky at the start and at Turn 1, but after that, I just focused on sticking to my line and maintaining my pace. When Manu passed me I tried to stick with him, which worked out quite well. I think we had the pace to keep up with him during the final laps, but I didn’t want to take too many risks after the crashes at the last races. The most important thing was getting back on the podium and giving the team a nice gift after a few difficult weeks.”

#98 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“It was a tough race today. The feeling wasn’t great at any point, but at least we managed to finish, which was the main thing. We tried everything, but we just couldn’t quite find our rhythm. That said, I’m satisfied with how we approached the weekend and how we handled things this Sunday. The first two days were very difficult, but today we turned things around and gathered a lot of data -which is the most valuable takeaway from Grands Prix that don’t go quite as planned. Now it’s time to look ahead to Austria; getting a good result there is important, given that it’s KTM’s home race.”

Solid third place for Uriarte at Misano

13.09.2026

The Spaniard secures his fourth podium of the season to be more leader in the rookies standings. Carpe crashes on the opening lap but fights back for 17th place.

Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 celebrated their ninth podium of the season at Misano, with Brian Uriarte taking an excellent third place after a very fast race. After breaking away with two other riders, he managed to round out the podium at the San Marino Grand Prix. Alvaro Carpe crashed on the opening lap but climbed back up the order from 26th to 17th, only three seconds away from the points.

Conditions were perfect for the Moto3 race, with no overnight rain and the track surface in excellent shape; the track temperature hit 29ºC at the beginning of the contest.

Uriarte got off to a good start and latched onto the slipstream of polesitter Almansa, helping to stretch out the lead group from the very first lap. Employing a very intelligent strategy, he shadowed his rival and, after the first third of the race, only the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider, Almansa and Quiles remained at the front, narrowing the battle for victory down to three contenders. Maintaining a blistering pace throughout and holding a nearly ten-second lead over the chasing pack, the rookie tried to keep up with the two leaders, but began to lose momentum in the final third of the race. Ultimately, he had to settle for third place, adding 16 points to his tally. With his fourth podium of the season, Uriarte remains fourth in the overall standings with 154 points and is the series’ top rookie.

Carpe started well from 21st on the grid, making up several places in the opening corners. However, contact from another rider upon exiting Turn 4 sent him to the ground, dropping him to the back of the field. Fortunately, the Spaniard was able to remount, losing only 10 seconds to the rider ahead of him, which allowed him to begin his recovery attempt. He broke into the Top 20 after the halfway point of the race and continued to catch up with riders who had fallen off the lead pack, moving up to 17th place with three laps remaining. With the Top 15 somewhat out of reach, he was unable to catch up before taking the chequered flag. It was Carpe’s first race finish outside the points and he drops to third place in the overall standings with 159 points.

Red Bull KTM Ajo solidify their second place position in the Team standings with 313 points. The Factory home circuit, the Red Bull Ring, hosts the next round of the season: the Austrian Grand Prix from September 18–20th, where the Spanish pair will try to round off the European rounds with two good results.

NIKLAS AJO – Team Manager

“Obviously it was a very bittersweet Sunday. Alvaro was very unlucky today after yesterday’s penalty, starting from the back and then unfortunately having another rider hit him on the first lap. There were no points for him today, which was obviously very disappointing. Now we have to look forward and bounce back in Austria. Brian had a very decent weekend in general. He was fast in all conditions and, of course, he was quick today. He was lacking just a little bit to fight for the win today, but it was a very strong weekend in general for a rookie and important lessons for the future.”

#83 ALVARO CARPE

“It’s a shame because, overall, the race was good. Our pace was strong enough to be at the front, and we could have salvaged the weekend to a large extent. The start wasn’t bad, but contact with another rider sent me down right at the beginning, and that marked the start of a completely different kind of Sunday. We tried to fight our way back into the points, but we fell just three seconds short. The feeling on the bike was good, and the improvement compared to the previous two days was notable, so we’ll take away the positive progress we made throughout the weekend.”

#51 BRIAN URIARTE

“Today’s race was very, very fast. The pace at the front was extremely high, but I felt very comfortable halfway through the race. However, I lost 2 tenths of a second on one of the final laps, and it became impossible to make that time back up. To win a race this year, you can’t afford to make a single mistake, so we need to keep fine-tuning the details to stay in the mix with the leaders. My assessment of the weekend is very positive; we secured an important podium and good points for the overall standings, so I’m very happy about that. Now it’s time to wrap up the double-header in Austria before shifting out focus to the overseas rounds.”

Partners