Red Bull KTM Ajo pleased with initial progress of new line-up

#MyHandsome #KarelHanika98 #BradBinder41 #MiguelOliveira44

#2015WithTheseBoys #GoingBeSickYears #MiguelOliveira44 #KarelHanika98 #BradBinder41

Manager Aki Ajo welcomes Three new riders – Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder – into his Moto3™ team alongside Karel Hanika for 2015 and the Finnish is pleased with the work they have undertaken before the winter test break.

After working with the new three rider line-up in tests at Jerez and Valencia over the past fortnight the Red Bull KTM Ajo boss believes the group are on the right track as they head into the winter break.

At the three day test in Jerez in the week after the season-concluding Grand Prix in Valencia the teams and riders were somewhat hindered by the wet weather, but this week at the second test in Valencia the conditions were far better.

Hanika, Oliveira and Binder were all able to ride with the new 2015 KTM for the first time, with important conclusions drawn to help further work – ahead of the next test next year.

As of now, the Red Bull KTM Ajo riders will not ride their bikes again until next February, when the preseason is reopened after the testing ban. Until then, the riders will enjoy two months of vacations and personal training.

Team manager Ajo commented, “It has been a very good period of testing, and very useful. Three days in Jerez – which was more like two due to the weather conditions – and then three days in Valencia. We have taken some important steps forward. It is very important to finish the season like this, because we have obtained a lot of data that will be vital for next season.”

“Karel Hanika has continued working hard and improving, showing his great potential. As for our new riders, Miguel and Brad, I think that they have made a really good start with the team. This has been six days of testing at very interesting circuits and a great first step for the 2015 project.”

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.”