A new page in KTM history was written yesterday when Miguel Oliveira won the Australian Moto2 Grand Prix aboard his Red Bull Ajo KTM Moto2.
The feat is all the more impressive as the bike had never run on the Phillip Island circuit until Friday morning. And it is all the more complete as Brad Binder ranked second, behind the Portuguese driver.
KTM had not won an intermediate category victory since 2008 with Mika Kallio at Donington Park, but this success brings to four the number of categories in which the Austrian firm has reached the top step of the podium in Grand Prix, 125cc, 250cc , Moto3, and now Moto2. All that’s missing is MotoGP…
Miguel Olive tree : “I am very happy and I just feel happiness. I couldn't be more grateful for this victory because when it started to rain I struggled a little. I already had a certain advantage but was aware that the distance I had on the riders behind had been reduced, which created a bit of stress. As you can imagine, this was the longest race of my life! I am very happy with the team and my first victory in the category, the first for KTM and hopefully not the last. »
Aki Ajo : “After today's excellent race, the first thing I want to do is thank the riders, KTM, Red Bull, all our partners and the team, because we are very happy to be part of a big project like this, year after year. It was an unforgettable race, with Miguel dominating all the time and maintaining a consistent pace that allowed him to escape, and with Brad showing his great development and securing a very competitive and deserved podium. These results are the reward for the great work done throughout the season by all parties involved. »
#AustralianGP Ranking compiled by our friends at crash.net:
1. Miguel Oliveira POR Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) 39m 25.920s
2. Brad Binder RSA Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) 39m 28.894s
3. Franco Morbidelli ITA EG 0,0 Marc VDS (Kalex) 39m 29.766s
4. Jesko Raffin SWI Garage Plus Interwetten (Kalex) 39m 33.268s
5. Xavi Virgin SPA Tech 3 Racing (Tech 3) 39m 33.323s
6. Alex Marquez SPA EG 0,0 Marc VDS (Kalex) 39m 38.045s
7. Simone Corsi ITA Speed Up Racing (Speed Up) 39m 38.137s
8. Dominique Aegerter SWI Kiefer Racing (Suter) 39m 38.164s
9. Sandro Cortese GER Dynavolt Intact GP (Suter) 39m 38.395s
10. Thomas Luthi SWI CarXpert Interwetten (Kalex) 39m 38.525s
11. Axel Pons SPA RW Racing GP (Kalex) 39m 38.891s
12. Francesco Bagnaia ITA SKY Racing Team VR46 (Kalex) 39m 46.807s
13. Stefano Manzi ITA SKY Racing Team VR46 (Kalex) 39m 54.741s
14. Lorenzo Baldassarri ITA Forward Racing Team (Kalex) 39m 57.134s
15. Remy Gardner AUS Tech 3 Racing (Tech 3) 40m 0.598s
16. Hafizh Syahrin MAL Petronas Raceline Malaysia (Kalex) 40m 0.831s
17. Augusto Fernandez SPA Speed Up Racing (Speed Up) 40m 1.614s
18. Tetsuta Nagashima JPN Teluru SAG Team (Kalex) 40m 22.407s
19. Isaac Viñales SPA BE-A-VIP SAG Team (Kalex) 40m 22.448s
20. Iker Lecuona SPA Garage Plus Interwetten (Kalex) 40m 22.470s
21. Khairul Idham Pawi MAL IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia (Kalex) 40m 23.468s
22. Tarran Mackenzie GBR Kiefer Racing (Suter) 40m 27.111s
23. Luca Marini ITA Forward Racing Team (Kalex) 41m 5.744s
Takaaki Nakagami JPN IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia (Kalex) DNF
Edgar Pons SPA Pons HP40 (Kalex) DNF
Fabio Quartararo FRA Pons HP40 (Kalex) DNF
Andrea Locatelli ITA Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) DNF
Jorge Navarro SPA Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 (Kalex) DNF
Marcel Schrotter GER Dynavolt Intact GP (Suter) DNF
Mattia Pasini ITA Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) DNF
Photo Credit: © Marco Campelli / KTM Media Library
