The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 duo, close to repeat yesterday Practice results, will start from the third and fifth rows of the grid at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Saturday saw a continuation in performance for the two Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 riders at Balaton Park. Collin Veijer secured seventh in Q2, just 2 tenths of a second off Pole Position, whilst Jose Antonio Rueda will start from the middle of the fifth row, repeating his 14th position from Friday.

There were ideal conditions on Saturday morning in Hungary, with temperatures slightly higher than Friday and much more sunshine over Balaton Park. However, the Moto2 riders encountered 30ºC track temperatures and just over 50% humidity in Free Practice 2, where the circuit record was once again broken.

Veijer focused on working on his race pace from start to finish. To do so, the Dutchman completed only one 18-lap run, and set his best time on his eighth lap, which moved him up to second place. However, the Time Attack strategy employed by many of his rivals ultimately relegated him to twelfth place, with a best time of 1:40.588 -slightly faster than in Practice. Rueda’s performance was very similar, and he opted for the same strategy as Veijer. Both completed 18 laps, the Spaniard setting his best time on his tenth attempt, placing him third behind his teammate at that point in the session. However, as he did not push for a fast lap, he was also overtaken by several rivals, dropping to 14th place with a time of 1:40.651, just 60 thousandths of a second behind the Dutchman. The time was 3 tenths better than his best from Friday’s Practice, demonstrating his progress without needing to use new tyres.

In Qualifying, track temperatures reached 42°C, with only 42% humidity, conditions a little bit more extreme that all the previous ones.

Veijer’s first run in Q2 took him to the top spot initially, although he gradually lost positions before heading back to the pits, as his rivals put down their laps. After changing tyres, he went out for his second Time Attack, managing to lower his time again on his final attempt, which left him seventh on the grid with a 1:40.526 -just 9 thousandths of a second off his Q2 time from last year which earned him fifth. He completed eight laps. Rueda also completed a solid first run. Still with room for improvement in the final minutes, he managed to shave tenths off his best lap at the last moment, setting a 1:40.924. Just 6 tenths of a second off pole position, the Moto2 rookie will start from 14th on the grid, aiming to score points for the third consecutive time this season.

All in all, it was a good Saturday for Red Bull KTM Ajo, who built on Friday’s results to virtually replicate them on the second day of the Hungarian Grand Prix. Collin and Jose Antonio will take part in the 22-lap Moto2 Hungarian Grand Prix from 12:15 p.m. (local time) on Sunday.

Qualifying Results
1. Izan Guevara (Boscoscuro) | 1:40.280
2. Filip Salac (Kalex) | 1:40.304 (+0.024)
3. Senna Agius (Kalex) | 1:40.315 (+0.035)
4. Manuel Gonzalez (Kalex) | 1:40.341 (+0.061)
5. Alex Escrig (Forward) | 1:40.445 (+0.165)
7. Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 1:40.526 (+0.246)
14. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 1:40.924 (+0.644)

#95 COLLIN VEIJER

“My feeling was very good today. We will start from seventh, so I’m not ecstatic, but neither am I very sad. I know we could do it better, but it was all very close, so it could be worse. I’m very satisfied with the long run we did this morning in Free Practice 2. We’re one of the fastest in terms of pace, so tomorrow we will give it our all to be at the front. Of course, it will be very important to get a good start, so we’ll begin with this and then we will fight to be closer than at Mugello.”

#98 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“Today went very well and my feeling has improved a lot compared to yesterday, so I’m very satisfied with that. This morning, with the race in mind, we made some changes and they worked quite well. This afternoon, in Qualifying, we changed a few more details, but they didn’t quite work as we expected, so we’ll adjust that for the race. I’m very motivated for tomorrow, where we’ll have to get a good start to fight for the positions we want. Let’s hope luck is also on our side and we can come back with a good result.”

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 duo finish sixth and tenth, respectively.

The Japanese Grand Prix started well for the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 riders. After completing the first two practice sessions, both Deniz Öncü and Jose Antonio Rueda made steady progress and find themselves sixth and tenth, respectively.

The Friday morning session took place with good track conditions. Öncü started the weekend making steady progress, finding a good feeling and breaking into the Top 3 just before his first visit to the garage. After going back out on track, Öncü continued to improve his times, although it was not enough for him to remain in the top spots and, after 14 laps, he finished tenth with a time of 1:58.111, set on his eleventh attempt. Rueda once again faces a new circuit for him this weekend, and quickly found a good feeling. He went on to lower his times in the second part of the session, and would go on to place nineteenth with a 1:58.736, set on his penultimate lap.

In Practice 2, both riders managed to take another step forward with their preparation for Sunday’s race. Deniz Öncü and Jose Antonio Rueda improved their times and both entered the Top 10 overall. Öncü fought to gain a foothold in the top spots, placing fifth thanks to his 1:57.277 time on his 12th lap of 14. Jose Antonio Rueda continued working on his adaptation to the track, and in the afternoon session he seemed much more comfortable, working to earn a spot in Q2 with 10 minutes remaining. The Moto3 rookie was eventually eighth after having lowered his fastest time by more than a second, setting a 1:57.473. With these results, Öncü and Rueda finished the day sixth and tenth on the combined timesheets.

Moto3 qualifying will take place on Saturday from 12:50 PM at Mobility Resort Motegi.

Results (Combined practice times P1 – P2)
1. Jaume Masia (Honda) 1:57.068
2. Ivan Ortola (KTM) 1:57.176 +0.108
3. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 1:57.191 +0.123
4. Daniel Holgado (KTM) 1:52.226 +0.158
5. Diogo Moreira (KTM) 1:57.260 +0.192
6. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:57.277 +0.209
10. José Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:57.473 +0.405

#53 DENIZ ÖNCÜ

“We have started the weekend pretty well. My riding is good, the speed is there and we are ready to fight for the win. Our corner speed is not great, so this is our weak point for the weekend because of the lack of acceleration on the straights, but we can manage it and we will try again tomorrow.”

#99 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“We have completed the first day in Japan. It is another new circuit but I really liked it. On the last two sectors it was a little more difficult, but the first contact this morning helped us to be able to find our references. In Practice 2 we made some changes and we took a big step forward: I noticed it a lot and I have a better feeling. I think we can do well tomorrow, but we will have to keep an eye on the weather.”

Jose Antonio Rueda is tenth, while Deniz Öncü finishes fourteenth.

Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 competed in the Indian Grand Prix race this Sunday. Deniz Öncü and Jose Antonio Rueda went from strength to strength in an intense race in which they managed to enter the points, with Öncü in fourteenth position and Rueda tenth.

Öncü was forced to start the race from last position on the grid due to a penalty. The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 rider made a good start and completed the long lap on the first opportunity in order to lose as little time as possible. From that moment on, he increased the pace and began to climb up the order throughout the 16 laps. Öncü had shown his ability to adapt during the weekend and gained 14 positions in the race, to finish in a creditable fourteenth position. With this result he occupies fifth in the overall standings with 146 points.

Rueda started from sixteenth place, on the sixth row of the grid. Despite losing some places when the lights went out, the Spanish rider managed to recover and tried to ensure that the front group did not escape. Rueda fought against demanding conditions and continued closing the gap with each lap. After the first half of the race, The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 rider reached the Top 10, and held tenth position at the chequered flag. He is eighth in the series with 94 points.

The team now travel to Motegi to compete in the Japanese Grand Prix, from September 29th to October 1st.

Aki Ajo – Team Manager:
“Finally both riders were in the points and they finished the race. It was positive after the challenging conditions with heat and humidity. Of course our expectations were a bit higher and we need to analyse why our riders weren’t so happy about the grip today, ahead of next week in Japan. Unfortunately Deniz was hindered quite a lot by the penalty and this didn’t help us in the race. In any case. we still have many races to go and we need to be fully focused for next week in Japan. Rueda was again in the Top 10 in his rookie season, but I’m sure he expected more in this race. As I said, in Japan we will have a good chance to fight for higher positions.”

Results (Race)
1. Jaume Masia (Honda) 1:58.245
2. Kaito Toba (Honda) +5.477
3. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) +5.784
4. Daniel Holgado (Honda) +8.117
5. David Alonso (GasGas) +8.240
10. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +16.106
14. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +22.933

Moto3 World championship Standing 2023
1. Daniel Holgado (KTM) 174 points
2. Jaume Masia (Honda) 174 points
3. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 173 points
4. David Alonso (GasGas) 151 points
5. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 147 points
8. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 94 points

Moto3 Teams World Championship Standings 2023
1. Red Bull KTM Ajo 250 points
2. Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intanct GP 231 points
3. Leopard Racing 224 points
4. Angeluss MTA Team 217 points
5. Gaviota GasGas Aspar Team 206 points

#53 DENIZ ÖNCÜ

“India has been a circuit where I have really enjoyed riding. We had one of our hardest weekends of the season because I struggled to adapt to the circuit at the beginning and then I had the penalty. I did my best during the race and I tried to get as many points as I could, although I didn’t have the pace that I had hoped for. Next week we will travel to Japan and we need to fight again.”

#99 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“Throughout the whole weekend we have been doing well. In the race we started a little far back, and on the second lap there was a crash in front of me that made me lose the front group. It was a bit of a strange day and I didn’t have a good feeling since the rear was stepping out. It was a race to learn a lot and make progress for the next few races. A Top 10 is not a bad result, we know what to work on to improve and move further ahead. Now it’s time to focus on Japan, another new circuit for me and where we will work to adapt well.”

Jaume Masia finishes in ninth position overall, with Dani Holgado fifteenth

The British GP got underway on Friday, as the Moto3 World Championship returned after the summer break. Both Red Bull KTM Ajo riders had a good feeling and improved their times in the afternoon session on the opening day: Jaume Masia finished in ninth position and Dani Holgado was fifteenth on the combined timesheets.

Jaume Masia led the way in FP1 after the first laps, followed by Dani Holgado. Both riders gave their best to improve their times and find a good feeling. After fighting to improve his times, Masia placed eleventh with a time of 2:13.336, set on his penultimate lap. Holgado, who made his debut at Silverstone, rounded off FP1 in thirteenth position, with a 2:13.411 his best time after putting in 11 laps.

In FP2, Masia improved his times immediately and set a good pace during the session and went on to clock the ninth fastest time of the day on his last attempt with a 2:11.735. Holgado, like his teammate, upped his pace after returning to the pits and he fought until the last lap to finish into Q2 positions. The Moto3 rookie concluded the session in fifteenth thanks to a best time of 2:12.333. Masia provisionally made it into Saturday’s Q2 session, while Holgado will look to secure a place in Q2 during FP3 on Saturday morning.

Moto3 qualifying sessions will take place on Saturday, 6th August. Q1 will start at 12:35 PM local time, with Q2 at 1 PM.

Results (Combined practice times FP1 – FP2)
1. John McPhee (Husqvarna) 2:10.939
2. Izan Guevara (GasGas) 2:11.372 +0.433
3. Xavi Artigas (CFMoto) 2:11.523 +0.584
4. Tatsuki Suzuki (Honda) 2:11.549 +0.610
5. Lorenzo Fellon (Honda) 2:11.683 +0.744
9. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 2:11.735 +0.796
15. Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 2:12.333 +1.394

#5 JAUME MASIA

“The track conditions were good and we worked well. I improved my lap time in FP2 and we have a good pace going. We hope to continue moving forward and take another step up ahead of qualifying tomorrow. The important thing is to take small but firm steps, so tomorrow we will go out there and give it our all.”

#96 DANI HOLGADO

“It’s the first time I’ve ridden at Silverstone and it’s been quite positive today. We were fast in both sessions, although in the afternoon we were missing a little something on our hot lap. I have a good feeling, which is the important thing. We’re strong and this afternoon we’ll continue working to take that step that we need.”

Jaume Masia to start from sixth position at Assen, with Dani Holgado in twelfth place

Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 took part in qualifying for the Dutch GP on Saturday at Assen, where Jaume Masia earned sixth position on the grid. Teammate Dani Holgado was the fastest man in Q1, and moved into twelfth position in Q2.

The third Free Practice of the weekend was held in dry conditions. Masia found a good feeling and climbed positions lap after lap, finally placing eleventh with a time of 1:42.505, achieved on his last lap. Holgado took a big step forward in the morning, lapping in sixth position before his first stop in the pits. However, a crash late on prevented him from initially making the cut for Q2, as he finished 18th with a time of 1:42.652.

The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider thus went into Q1, and after two laps he set the best time of the session with a 1:41.633.

Both riders entered Q2, with Masia leading the way early on. He maintained a good pace throughout, and was in the battle for the front row, his 1:41.811 time eventually taking sixth to close out Row 2. Holgado will begin the race from the fourth row, in 12th thanks to a time of 1:42.134.

The 22-lap Moto3 Dutch GP race will be held on Sunday tomorrow at 11 AM local time.

Results (Qualifying)
1. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 1:41.296
2. Tatsuki Suzuki (Honda) 1:41.362 +0.066
3. Izan Guevara (GasGas) 1:41.502 +0.206
4. David Muñoz (KTM) 1:41.664 +0.368
5. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 1:41.765 +0.469
6. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:41.811 +0.515
12. Dani Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:42.134 +0.838

#5 JAUME MASIA

“I am happy with this second row for tomorrow. We fought for the front row from the beginning and it’s a good result that will allow us to get a good start in the race. We have to continue working to finish improving some details, but I feel very good on the bike. We will have to keep an eye on the weather for the race.”

#96 DANI HOLGADO

“The day went quite well. In FP3 I made a mistake, for which we were hit with a long lap penalty – which was completely fair. Even so, our feeling was very positive, because we rode many laps with the same tyre and we have a good pace. I was able to set a very good lap time in Q1 and we worked hard. However, in Q2 I was not able to put a complete lap together due to the yellow flags. Tomorrow we will do our best after this step forward that we have taken.”

Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 begin back-to-back run in Germany and the Netherlands.

As the Moto2 World Championship season closes in on its halfway point, Red Bull KTM Ajo travel to Sachsenring this weekend for the German Grand Prix. The duo begin a run of two consecutive weeks of racing, which will start in Germany and end in the Netherlands. Augusto Fernandez and Pedro Acosta are eager to get another good result and continue the positive work from recent rounds.
At the Catalan Grand Prix, Fernandez had a great weekend that culminated in a third position in the race. With this result, he took his second podium of the season, adding to the victory he achieved at the French GP. Now, the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 talent travels to Sachsenring, a track that he knows well, where he will once again fight for the top positions. Fernandez occupies fourth in the overall standings, with 96 points.
At the last round, Acosta was once again very solid and competitive throughout the weekend. In the race, the reigning Moto3 World Champion made a strong fightback to finish sixth, riding at the same pace as the leaders. His record at Sachsenring includes a victory last year. Currently, Acosta is tenth in the Moto2 World Championship with 55 points.
The 28-lap Moto2 German Grand Prix takes place at 12:20 PM local time on Sunday. Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 have been on the podium at Sachsenring on their last fourth visits, thanks to a second place for Miguel Oliveira in 2017 and a victory and second place for Brad Binder in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Last year, Remy Gardner also won the German GP race.

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 / 2296.59 ft.
Constructed: 1996

#37 AUGUSTO FERNANDEZ

“I’m happy with how things went in Barcelona, since we got another podium and, above all, we kept our consistent work going. Now we have to pick all these feelings back up and take them to Germany. The Sachsenring is a unique circuit, with many left-hand corners. Especially this weekend, it will be necessary to work very well with the tyres. The goal is once again to be at the front. We will try to improve in qualifying to have more of a chance in the race, since in recent contests we had the pace but started from far back. We have to continue working as we have been doing, to arrive prepared for Sunday and fight for the win.”

#51 PEDRO ACOSTA

“We’re coming off a good weekend in Barcelona, where we learned a lot about how to manage a race. Now it’s time to turn our focus to the German Grand Prix, at a circuit that I’ve gone well at in the past and where we’ll try to get that good feeling back. The goal is to keep working in the same way as we are improving round after round.”

 

Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 head to the spectacular COTA track for the fourth round of the 2022 season: the Americas Grand Prix.

The Circuit of the Americas welcomes the Moto2 World Championship this weekend for the Americas Grand Prix, as the series shifts from Argentina to Texas in an intense month of April. Augusto Fernandez and Pedro Acosta arrive in Austin eager to continue working with their respective teams and achieve good results in Sunday’s race.

Last weekend, Fernandez was unable to carry over the great pace that he showed at Termas de Rio Hondo in the contest, crashing out in the early stages. However, the Spaniard was able to qualify on the front row of the grid on Saturday, in a shortened Argentina GP weekend, proving that he is one of the strongest riders in Moto2. At Austin, he will once again fight for the top positions. Fernandez occupies 7th place in the overall standings, with 24 points.

Acosta completed a fascinating fightback at the Argentina Grand Prix, moving from 17th at the start to 7th at the end of the race, gaining 10 positions. The reigning Moto3 World Champion continued to take steps forward in his adaptation to the class, riding well at a circuit that was unfamiliar to him and on a shorter GP than usual. This weekend, the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 talent knows the track and will work to continue learning and progressing alongside his team. Acosta is currently 8th in the Moto2 World Championship with 20 points.

The Moto2 class will open race day at the Americas Grand Prix, at 11:20 AM local time with an 18-lap contest. Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 have been on the podium before at COTA, thanks to Raul Fernandez’s victory in 2021 and Miguel Oliveira’s third place in 2018.

Circuit information – Circuit of The Americas (COTA)
Length: 5.513 m / 3.426 miles
Width: 15 metres / 49.21 ft.
Left corners: 11
Right corners: 9
Longest straight: 1.200 m / 3937.01 ft.
Constructed: 2012

#37 AUGUSTO FERNANDEZ

“I’m looking forward to starting the weekend, to get rid of the bad taste left in my mouth from the Argentina GP. COTA is a track that I like and that I visited for the first time last year, finishing fourth after a good weekend. I hope that this season, with it being my second experience there, I can be at the front again and be able to fight for the victory.
In the three rounds that we have had to date, we have shown a great pace – although we have not been able to finish the job in the race. We have to continue working in the same way; the team and I are understanding each other better all the time, and we are finetuning things together. I hope to be able to finish this weekend with a good result and recover points in the standings.”

#51 PEDRO ACOSTA

“Last year at COTA, the feeling that we had was good and we were fighting with those at the front. We will have to see how we do this year with the new asphalt, but we are positive ahead of the start of the weekend. The goal is still to enjoy ourselves every time we go out on the track and keep learning and progressing. We will strive, above all, to take a step forward in qualifying. It will be the second consecutive race this month, but I feel good, strong and ready to face this new round.”

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 rider receives surgery at the Hospital Universitari Dexeus to treat a multifragmentary fracture to his left tibia.

Dani Holgado underwent a successful operation at the Hospital Universitari Dexeus in Barcelona on Thursday afternoon, to treat a multifragmentary fracture to the tibia of his left leg. The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 rider had suffered an accident on Wednesday morning while training on a motorbike, leading to the injury.

Dr. Ignacio Ginebreda, Director of the Bone Reconstruction and Lengthening Unit at ICATME, together with his team operated on the Spanish rider. The surgery was a success and Holgado will begin recovery work in the next few weeks.

The Red Bull KTM Ajo wins the Moto2 World Championship Team title with a one-two finish for Fernandez and Gardner at the Aragon Grand Prix.

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 team enjoyed a dream weekend at the Aragon Grand Prix, as they were crowned Team World Champions in the Moto2 class. They did so with a fifth one-two finish of the season, thanks to race winner Raul Fernandez and second placed Remy Gardner. The team achieved 9 victories and 9 podiums this season so far.

The Aragon Grand Prix began well for Fernandez, who managed to maintain the third position on the grid. From the start of the contest, the Spaniard proved to be one step ahead of his rivals, and on Lap 4 he hunted down the leader and passed him to take the lead. From that moment on, the Red KTM Ajo Moto2 rider pushed to break away from the rest of the field, going on to claim the fifth win of his rookie season. The result – the 7th victory of his Grand Prix career to date – comes just a week after having undergone surgery on a fractured fifth right metacarpal.

Gardner started from second and pushed hard, although on Lap 2 he was overtaken by his teammate and was left isolated in third place. Staying focused and calm, and enduring the heat on track, he would move back up a position when the rider in second crashed in the final third of the contest. The Spaniard stayed in that spot until the chequered flag, completing the one-two finish and taking his 6th podium of 2021 so far.

Gardner continues to lead the World Championship with 251 points. Fernandez is second with 212. Red Bull KTM Ajo will be back to work in less than a week for the San Marino Grand Prix, held from September 17-19th.

Results (Moto2 Race)
1. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 39:49.990
2. Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +5.408
3. Augusto Fernandez (Kalex) +6.824
4. Jorge Navarro (Boscoscuro) +7.051
5. Aron Canet (Boscoscuro) +10.695

Moto2 World Championship Standing 2021
1. Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 251 points
2. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 212 points
3. Marco Bezzecchi (Kalex) 179 points
4. Sam Lowes (Kalex) 127 points
5. Augusto Fernandez (Kalex) 108 points

Moto2 World Championship Team Standing 2021
1. Red Bull KTM Ajo 463 points
2. Elf Marc VDS Racing Team 235 points
3. Sky Racing Team VR46 226 points
4. Idemitsu Honda Team Asia 130 points
5. Kipin Energy Aspar Team 126 points

AKI AJO – TEAM MANAGER

“It was incredible. It was a spectacular performance from our riders and from our team. I am very grateful and happy to be able to experience this and achieve our dreams. We are not people who think about the title on a daily basis. We have set goals for ourselves but improving every day and working consistently is the key. Many thanks to our great riders, Raul [Fernandez] and Remy [Gardner], to the team, who work day and night, and to the GP academy that we have put together with Red Bull, KTM and all our sponsors.”

87 REMY GARDNER

“I’m happy because Aragon is a difficult track, and second place feels like a victory. Fortunately, I have only dropped five points. There are still many contests to go this season, we are performing at a good level and we will take things race by race. The history of this team is incredible, and my name is part of it. I think I picked a good team who have dominated throughout the year and winning the championship with five rounds to go is incredible. They have put a great team together, the guys in the box work hard and we are like a family. Congratulations!”

25 RAUL FERNANDEZ

“On the final laps my hand hurt a lot. Seven days ago, I was being operating on, and I didn’t know if I was going to be able to participate here in Aragon. I have no words to express my gratitude to Doctor Mir, his entire team, the Clinica Mobile, Alpinestars and all the people who have made it possible for me to be here today. It was very exciting to win at home, with the crowd in the stands. It has also been a very special weekend because Hugo Millan’s family is here. This victory is for them and for Hugo.”

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 duo make their way provisionally into Qualifying 2, after a positive opening day at the Italian Grand Prix.

The Italian Grand Prix got underway well for the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2, who had a promising opening day at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello on Friday. After FP1 and FP2, Raul Fernandez and Remy Gardner occupied the second and the seventh place, respectively, on the combined timesheets, earning them a provisional spot in Qualifying 2 on Saturday.

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 duo were very competitive in the opening session of the day, and were two of the strongest riders throughout the FP1. Gardner was just two tenths of a second off the fastest time, placing second thanks to a 1:51.984. The Australian completed 14 productive laps of Mugello. Putting in 17 laps was his teammate, Fernandez, who continued his excellent form and finished fourth – three tenths off the top spot with a 1:52.131.

In the afternoon, Fernandez dominated the first half of the FP2, besting his time from the morning. Finally, the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 rookie was second after stopping the clock at 1:51.569, just one tenth behind the pacesetter. Gardner rode a further 16 laps and concluded the session in seventh place with a 1:52.056.

Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez will have a final Free Practice tomorrow morning, before heading into the fight for the pole position. Moto2 Q1 will start at 3:10 PM, followed by Q2 at 3:35 PM.

Results (Combined practice times FP1-FP2)

1. Sam Lowes (Kalex) 1:51.385
2. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:51.569 +0.184
3. Jorge Navarro (Boscoscuro) 1:51.693 +0.308
4. Joe Roberts (Kalex) 1:51.746 +0.361
5. Marco Bezzecchi (Kalex) 1:51.850 +0.465
7. Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:51.984 +0.599

87 REMY GARDNER

“The end of the day was a bit tough for us. On the last run I tried to push to the fullest and I was setting a good pace. However, on the last corner we had a small issue and I was not able to lower my time. Now we have to continue working ahead of tomorrow and improve some aspects. In any case, I am happy to be here at Mugello and I can’t wait to continue riding tomorrow.”

25 RAUL FERNANDEZ

“The first day went well and I’m very happy. After the FP1, I felt some discomfort in my arm, but we were able to solve the problem and I felt strong in FP2. We have a good setup for the bike and that makes me feel confident for tomorrow. We will try to get a positive result in qualifying for Sunday’s grid. Other than that, I want to continue enjoying myself with the team, as having a great connection with them is important.”