Ajo Motorsport and Zarco together for new Moto2 project

Johann Zarco and Aki Ajo

Ajo Motorsport will participate in next season’s Moto2™ World Championship with French rider Johann Zarco.

The Finnish motorcycle racing structure, with the collaboration of Kalex and WP Suspension, will field Zarco as their rider in the intermediate class. The Frenchman thus returns to the team with which he competed for the 125cc title in 2011. Zarco will therefore contest his fourth season in Moto2 in 2015 with a Kalex.
 
 This year the Frenchman has taken three podiums at Barcelona, Misano and Aragon in addition to his two rostrum finishes last year. His results, continued progress and existing relationship with the team who have won three lower cylinder class titles (2008, 2010 and 2012) have led to the Ajo Motorsport Team opting for him for this new project.

Aki Ajo, Team Manager, commented. We are excited about this new adventure for Ajo Motorsport in Moto2, because it is something new for us and a great challenge. We have worked for many years in Moto3 and 125cc, and now it is time to take the step up to Moto2 a completely different category. We are very motivated about next year and I'm convinced that we can do a good job.

I am very grateful to be able to start next season with an excellent package, with the Kalex bike and with WP Suspension, whom I am proud to continue working alongside as we have done for many years. Sarting out with important partners will give us peace of mind when we begin this project. Likewise, having a rider like Johann [Zarco], who has already shown his potential in this close category, becoming one of the fastest riders on the grid, gives us calmness. I also have a lot of respect for his way of working, and that is why I am delighted that we are reunited with him again after fighting for the 125cc title in 2011. It is very nice to be back together and I am very excited about it.

Zarco added. I am very proud that Aki [Ajo] has entrusted me to join this new project in Moto2. We have already worked together in 2011, so it means he likes the way I work and I feel very comfortable in his team, with whom I got my best final position for a season in the 125cc World Championship. I know he is a great Team Manager and will have the best team, bike the Kalex and parts to fight for wins. We have to think about trying to win races and getting onto the podium, and later we will see how the World Championship situation unfolds. We have the potential to do this. I am very happy about this new challenge and hope to start testing in the winter with the same good pace I had in 2014, and be as well prepared as possible for Qatar.

Fenati, Binder and Kent reflect on what might have been

19 and 21 years old by Brad Binder and Danny Kent in 2014

Danny Kent and Brad Binder collision at Australia GP

Romano Fenati lowside at Australia GP

Brad Binder and Danny Kent collided on Sunday at Phillip Island on the penultimate lap with the podium in their sights, whilst Romani Fenati also saw his chances of a rostrum result slip away with a late crash.

The trio were all involved in a large frontrunning group of nine riders in a fantastic race in Australia and each of them looked like they had the pace to challenge for the podium with the likes of Jack Miller, Alex Marquez and Alex Rins.

Fenati went down on the penultimate lap coming out of the Southern Loop with Efren Vazquez in close proximity and the Italian was unable to finish the race. Fenati had been hunting for a seventh podium of 2014 but it was not to be and Vazquez was given a penalty point for his role in the crash.

SKY Racing Team VR46 rider Fenati commented, “I was having a good race and at turn 1 I was the one that had more guts to hold open the gas. Then Vazquez hit me from behind, but this is racing. Until that moment everyone was in the battle, the last rider in the group was sometimes going to the front in the first corner and sometimes the leader was dropping back. I was enjoying myself so much, there was a lot of overtaking. Jack did a great race, congratulations to him because he rode really well. If I had not crashed, I could have had my say.”

Binder (Ambrogio Racing) and Kent (Red Bull Husqvarna Ajo) crashed together just two corners later with Binder in particular having looked like he had the pace and strategy to fight even for the win. He remounted to take 15th and Kent ended up 20th

The South African had been running in second place shortly before the incident and he explained, “I don’t know what happened exactly, but someone crashed into me. We were almost at the end of the race and I was convinced that I would have tasted the podium champagne. I had already tried a sprint finish and I saw that I could do it, against everyone. It was a tough battle. You have to finish the job though, so this hurts. Let’s get back on track, and get ready for the next one. I’ll give it my all again in a few days at Sepang.”

Kent added, “We worked very well throughout the weekend and it was just a shame about the way it ended. In the incident, Jack [Miller] overtook me on the inside and, when I opened up slightly, I collided with Binder and crashed. It was frustrating because we were going very well and could have fought for another podium. Now we have to focus on Malaysia.”

Jack Miller and Álex Márquez analyse championship finale

19 and 18 years old by Jack Miller and Alex Marquez in 2014

Moto3™ World Championship leader Alex Marquez (Estrella Galicia 0,0) and Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Ajo) faced the media in the Tissot Australian Grand Prix press conference on Thursday.

With three races left this year Marquez has the momentum at the top of the standings having built up a 25-point lead at the last two Grands Prix. Former championship leader Miller has seen the pendulum swing in favour of his Spanish rival in recent weeks, but will attempt to strike back in front of the Australian fans this weekend.

Honda rider Marquez commented, “I am focused on winning the championship. We have a good package and three races to go. I will ride in the same way as I have done all through the year and try to treat them like normal races. We need to go race by race, try to win all of them and try to be competitive.”

On improving his level throughout the year he added, “We knew at the first race in Qatar that we had a competitive bike but we knew we could improve. At Mugello we got a new chassis and in recent races we have had improvements to the engine. In Moto3 races are so close as it’s so competitive, you just have to stay focused in every race.”

KTM equipped Miller acknowledged, “My home race couldn’t have come at a better time after two difficult weekends. We have been competitive at those last two rounds but it hasn't quite come together in the race. There are 75 points to be won and we need to try and close the gap.”

On his journey as a rider this year, which has seen him become a Grand Prix winner and has led to him securing a ride in MotoGP™ next year, Miller stated, “We seem to be getting lots of attention. I left Australia as a nobody in January and now people are recognizing me! We will try to put on a good show this weekend.”

On his rivalry with Marquez and the fierce battle at the front in the lightweight class Miller added, “You can’t throw rule books out of the window because you get in trouble. We just have to race as normal. It is not a case of gloves off.”

MotoGP champion Marc Marquez through the years

Marc Marquez is two title champion in MotoGP

With his second consecutive MotoGP World Championship firmly under his belt, the phenomenon that is Marc Marquez just keeps getting more and more impressive.

Double MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez has an unquenchable thirst for more world titles with four already safely tucked away in his trophy cabinet at the age of 21.

Comparisons are already being drawn between Marquez and nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi, who completed the rostrum places behind his Movistar Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo and Marquez in the Japanese MotoGP at Motegi.

Marquez, who won his first crown in the 125cc class in 2010 before triumphing in the Moto2 class in 2012, will embark on a quest for a third consecutive MotoGP title in 2015 and his fourth world title in a row and seems destined for a long reign at the pinnacle of the sport.
 

I'm happy… maybe I don't understand what I am doing because it is difficult to say or believe you already have two MotoGP world titles but of course I want more and more and more!” said the Repsol Honda rider.
 

For a rider it is never easy and we need to enjoy this moment and we will see next year; we will look forward to improving our level.
 

This year, I feel where we improved more is experience and of trying to manage situations, to ride the bike well. I had less mistakes, but still mistakes, and we can still improve. But we tried to manage every situation better and better and Honda did a great job and gave me a bike or chassis that is more for my riding style.
 

I was really focused on pre-season and I was happy and focused to try to manage the situation and with more experience everything was easier,  he added.
 

When you are riding a circuit, everything is not new and you already have a reference from last year. You already know the secrets to try and do a lap time but like we see from the second part of the season I am still learning and in some situations I still need to improve.
Marquez's preparations for 2014 suffered a major setback when he broke his leg in a dirt bike accident but he has batted away criticism from some quarters of his decision to train on a motocross machine.
 

It wasn't an easy start. I made a decision to train on the dirt track and people said I was stupid because I trained on the dirt track, but in the end if you want to improve, if you want to be faster, you need to train, you need to take a risk, he said.
 

But I was able to arrive in Qatar and really concentrate and win the first race and that gave me a lot of confidence. After that, I knew that I was stronger at some races and I tried to use that confidence and that small advantage because you never know in the future what might happen.

Jules Danilo with Ongetta-Rivacold for 2015

#95 Jules Danilo born 18 May 1995 in Paris, France

95 with hipster haircut fade by Jules Danilo

 Team Ongetta-Rivacold have reached an agreement with Frenchman Jules Danilo for him to ride with them in the 2015 Moto3™ World Championship.

Jules Danilo will be teammate to Niccolo Antonelli who has also been signed by the team. The riders will have the full support of HRC who will supply the team with their technical material for next season.

The team and Jules Danilo are both delighted to have reached an agreement and will begin working together in November, with tests taking place after the final race of 2014 at Valencia.

Jules Danilo commented, “Signing this contract is a relief for me and allows me to concentrate fully until the end of the current season to produce my best performances in the races. Next season, if I’m planning to stay Grand Prix for the following year, I think I will begin negotiations much earlier in the season.”

On getting the chance to ride a Honda in 2015, he added, “I think it’s an improvement. Today, Honda is the best bike on the grid. In one season, Honda has managed to catch up with KTM. I am very happy to be able to ride the bike next season. I’ll stay focused on the end of the current season but I am eager to know how my new bike reacts and whether it suits me.”

Miller and Marquez give their thoughts on Aragon clash

Jack Miller have incident crashed, Alex Marquez and Danny Kent riding to left sign

In a moment which defined Sunday’s race at the Gran Premio Movistar de Aragon Jack Miller crashed after contact with Alex Marquez – changing the course of the Moto3™ title battle.

After the crash Miller was forced to return to the pits to repair his bike and later crashed for a second time, finishing out of the points, whilst Marquez finished the race second behind winner Romano Fenati.

The result was highly significant in terms of the championship standings. Estrella Galicia 0,0 rider Marquez now leads Miller by 11 points in the standings with four rounds remaining.

Sunday’s event were certainly dramatic in the wet-dry conditions in Spain, with Miller and Marquez summoned by Race Direction to discuss their coming together which occurred on the last corner of the fourth lap. Ultimately Race Direction decided the clash was merely a racing incident and no penalties were imposed on either rider.

Miller’s perspective was as follows: “In the crash, Marquez had tried to overtake me on the straight but did not have the pace to do so. On the entry to the corner I was on the dry line and went in normally. I knew Marquez would try to block off inside corner, but he did not cut the gas and made me fall off the bike. Sometimes these things happen it’s racing. I’m happy and I want to thank the whole team, because they were able to repair the bike after it was pretty damaged and I was able to get back on track for a few laps. Now we head to a circuit that I like and we’ll see what happens.”

Marquez stated, “Regarding what happened with Miller, I passed him on the inside, rode my line on the dry bit of track and felt contact halfway into the corner. I didn't know what had happened because I was focused on keeping to my line. I think that what happened was a racing incident.”

Red Bull KTM Ajo manager Aki Ajo added, “When you have half and half conditions it’s always really difficult. Jack started the race really well, but what can you say? If other riders make mistakes, whether it’s on purpose or not, this we can’t know. Jack was really on the dry line, the other rider was on the wet line inside and he picked up the bike. It’s a real shame that riders fighting for the championship are doing these kind of movements. But we will forget this day and look forward.”

Red Bull KTM Ajo sign Brad Binder for 2015

Aki Ajo and Brad Binder

41 with hipster haircut fade by Brad Binder

 Red Bull KTM Ajo are proud to announce the signing of South African Brad Binder as the team’s new rider for next season’s Moto3 World Championship.

Three-time World Championship winning team in the lower cylinder class  (125cc in 2008 and 2010, Moto3 in 2012) Red Bull KTM Ajo have reached an agreement with Binder for next year.

This past weekend at MotorLand Aragon, Team Manager Aki Ajo and the South African rider struck a deal for their collaboration in next season’s Moto3™ World Championship. This will be the fourth full year that Binder has competed in Grand Prix racing.

Binder, 19, made ​​the leap to World Championship via the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, where he raced for three seasons. Born in the town of Potchefstroom (South Africa) on August 11th, 1995, he has improved year-after-year and managed to take his first podium this season with second at the German Grand Prix. Already in 2014 he has more points to his name than in the entirety of 2013, with four races still remaining.

Team Manager Ajo said, “I am thrilled to start this journey together with Brad. I have seen that he is a rider who is highly motivated and eager to grow in the World Championship. One can see that Brad is a great person, calm and hard worker in a team, respecting all those who cooperate with him. He has great potential and I think that with the team, KTM, Red Bull and other large partners that support us, next year he can show this for the first time on the track.”

Binder commented, “Honestly, the feeling after joining Red Bull KTM Ajo is truly amazing. Since I started in Moto3 my goal has been to join a top team like this. Entering such an important structure as the KTM factory team, with partners like Red Bull and other large enterprises, is a unique opportunity. This will be a great chance for me and it's time to show what I can really do.”

“Being on this team, the target cannot be anything less than to fight to place as high up as possible. We have potential to do so, we have the perfect bike-team package to attempt it, and I am excited about the future.”