Since its debut in Grands Prix in 2001, the Ajo Motorsport team won its first race in 2003 and then six World Champion titles, including three with French drivers. Mike Di Meglio et Marc Márquez obtained the supreme reward in 125 cm3 in 2008 and 2010 respectively, then Sandra Cortese et Brad Binder won in Moto3 in 2012 and 2016. Johann zarco finally achieved a superb double in Moto2 in 2015 and 2016.
Since then, Brad Binder finished magnificently second in the Moto2 World Championship last year with 259 points, despite a difficult start to the season, and only three points behind the big winner Alex Marquez (262 points).
In small capacity, Can Öncü brought a smile to the team's face by becoming, in Valencia, in 2018, the youngest winner of a GP in all categories at 15 years and 115 days old (see photo above). The 2019 season of the young Turk – then the only Red Bull KTM Ajo rider in Moto3 – was disastrous, with 31st place in the end, with 8 points and as a best result a twelfth place (three places in total in the points). It was therefore necessary to react, and that is what Ajo did by starting by hiring two drivers instead of just one.
“With Red Bull and KTM, we changed our strategy a little and we also made sure that we would support the project with the juniors from the Rookies Cup in the Moto3 World Championship. »
“For example, the contract with Can Öncü that was signed for 2019. Now we have changed plans again and we are trying to get back to the top with Kaito Toba and Raúl Fernandez” explained the Finnish manager.
“We looked for the drivers quite late last year, » confirmed Ajo. “The best Moto3 riders in the ranking had already chosen other teams.
“This is why, with Mr. Pierer and Pete Beirer, we decided that we couldn't really consider regaining the Moto3 World Champion title before 2021."
“We then want to return to the absolute top of the world. But of course, we have already set ourselves clear goals for 2020.”
Kaito Toba, born April 7, 2000 in Fukuoka, won the Catalan Grand Prix in 2019. He begins his fourth season this year, and finished fourteenth in the Qatar GP.
Raul Fernandez, born October 23, 2000 in Madrid, has only completed one GP season, last year riding a KTM for the Valresa Ángel Nieto Team. He finished 21st in the World Championship, with a best result of fifth in Germany, while finishing seventh in Losail and Austin.
According to Aki Ajo, “We did a good job during the pre-season with the Moto3 team. The Qatar weekend we continued to progress, despite the fact that in the race we thought we could have achieved a better result. »
“Despite everything, I am very happy with the performances of Raul [Fernández] and Kaito [Toba], both in testing and at this Grand Prix. »
“I am sure that when we gain more experience together, we will be ready to fight for the podium. »
Photos © Red Bull KTM Ajo Team
