The choice of the first rider to join the new Red Bull KTM Tech3 Moto3 team in 2020 was made by Ayumu Sasaki. Aged 18, the Japanese will compete in his fifth season in this category alongside an illustrious unknown, his identity having to be revealed sine die.
The 2016 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup champion has been on the path to success since the start of the season, having won the first pole position of his career in Germany, at the Sachsenring track. He is currently ranked seventeenth in the Moto3 championship, riding the Honda of the Petronas Racing team.
« JI'm really happy to join the Red Bull KTM team especially with Hervé Poncharal. I am extremely excited for 2020 because it is a dream come true to be part of such a team. There are still seven races to run this season and it is obvious that I will do my best to learn as quickly as possible in order to be able to take on the great challenge that awaits me next season. I'm already excited and can't wait to get started! I would like to thank everyone, everyone involved in the realization of this project, mainly Hervé Poncharal and of course everyone from KTM and Red Bull. confided the Honda driver.
Hervé Poncharal : " it is a great honor to welcome Ayumu Sasaki to my brand new Moto3 team. After more than 30 years of involvement in the GP paddock, for Tech3, this is the first time that we will be racing in the Moto3 category. It’s clearly a very exciting project, which also matters to the manufacturer, so it’s very important to have the right driver to present.”
The boss of Tech3 continues: “ as soon as gentlemen Pierre, Trunkenpolz et Beirer told me at Spielberg that there were plans to move to Moto3, we wondered which rider was able to do the job. Believe me or not, but at the time my number one, and the only name on my list was Ayumu Sasaki. He's a driver I've followed since his Red Bull Rookies Cup days. I like his driving style, his approach to racing and the way he behaves. He is a young man with a lot of charisma and I am sure that we will have a very good 2020 season together. I'm sure he will really like the KTM and it will be fast. Moreover, I am convinced that this will be the start of a great adventure together and more important than anything that concerns me a great friendship between him, the team and myself. »
« I would like to spare a thought for the Japanese pilots who worked with us and with whom we have so many good memories. It is Nobuyuki Wakai, Shinya Nakano, Kazuto Sakata. I hope we can help Ayumu Sasaki progress as well as possible in this MotoGP paddock, because I am sure a bright future awaits him." concludes Hervé Poncharal.
Cierren las doors que se escapa el TALENTO @AyumuSasaki1 🙌😅pic.twitter.com/jUJ8zarmvN
- DAZN Spain (@DAZN_ES) August 13
