It was in the pipeline and now the rumor is confirmed. In 2022, the Red Bull KTM Ajo will have two new riders for 2022 in Moto2, with Pedro Acosta set to move up to the intermediate class, while Augusto Fernández joins the KTM GP Academy.
With Raul Fernandez et Remy Gardner confirmed in Tech3 KTM Factory Racing, the Ajo structure in Moto2 needed to be renewed. This new organization will go through Peter Acosta, 17 years old, Red Bull champion MotoGP Rookies Cup 2020 and clear candidate for the Moto3 title this year. He will have as a teammate Augusto Fernandez, who will soon be 24 years old, and who will bring his experience in Moto2 forged at Pons and currently within the Marc VDS Racing.
Peter Acosta commented on his promotion: “ my goal was to get into Moto2 because I think this is the step I need to take. Of course, there is always more to learn, and I could do that in Moto3, but in terms of my development as a rider, I think this is the right step. It is a great advantage to stay in the Red Bull KTM Ajo team, since now we have been working together for a year and it is always important to maintain a good feeling with the people around you. The team helped me a lot during my first year in the World Championship ».
Augusto Fernandez added : " I am really happy and satisfied with join Red Bull KTM Ajo. The team has been a benchmark in the category for many years, winning races and fighting for championships. I think the title search experience will really help me next year and I'm already looking forward to working with them ».
Ajo: a promising combination of experience and youth
Aki Ajo, the team leader also makes his assessment: “ we had a very good season in Moto2 with Remy and Raúl and there are still a few races to go, but looking forward to 2022 we are very happy to have another pair of great riders with Pedro and Augusto and a combination promising experience and youth. We have known Augusto for a long time and have seen his career and his results. He showed great potential and I believe that together, we can achieve great things. Pedro's year in Moto3 has been something special and more achievements are to come. The move to Moto2 after just one season in Moto3 is great, but if there's one rider who can take that step, it's Pedro. We have a lot of confidence in him and of course we will fully support him. With Red Bull and KTM, I am sure we have selected the right riders for our KTM GP Academy of the future »
Pete Beirer, director of KTM Motorsport concludes: “ we are very happy to announce the Moto2 rider training with Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernández for our KTM GP Academy. With Red Bull KTM Ajo, we have the best possible structure to support both riders in their next challenge. Aki Ajo and his team have played a pivotal role in the careers of many drivers and we can be proud to have them on board for the next driver development project. It is a great pleasure to support Pedro's desire to move from Moto3 to the next category. What he showed in his first season at the World Championship was extraordinary and we believe he can continue the momentum. He will continue to focus on his goal for 2021, but then we will tackle the next challenge together.
With Augusto, we welcome another promising talent to our Red Bull KTM family. He gave very good signs and we are happy to have an experienced Moto2 rider in our lineup. I am confident that, under Aki's leadership, he can reach the next level of performance and we will celebrate exciting results in the near future. »
