The arrival of Aki Ajo at the head of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team marks an important turning point for the Austrian brand. With more than 20 years of experience in the motorcycle world championship and a solid track record, the Finn brings unique know-how and a long-term vision.
During the Barcelona trials, Aki Ajo has officially taken over as team manager of the MotoGP team KTM. With more than two decades of experience in the world championship, Garlic succeeds Francesco Guidotti and inherits the mission of transforming KTM into a dominant force capable of winning races regularly.
Although this is his first official day in the role, Garlic is not a newcomer to the universe KTM. " I have been following this project for many years and I have been working for KTM for a long time “, he told motogp.com. His familiarity with the team structure and his experience with drivers such as Brad Binder et Peter Acosta give him a head start.
« They are great talents, and it is a pleasure to work with them. We are not starting from scratch, because I know them well, as do some other members of the team. ", he added.
Garlic identified the communicating and coordination as the cornerstones of his approach to moving the project forward KTM. " The goal is to work in the same direction and to bring calm to development. We must have confidence in our work. He explained.
Aki Ajo: “ The next two years are crucial. But we have to understand what we are doing »
He also stressed patience and the importance of working in stages: " The next two years are crucial. But we have to understand what we are doing, step by step »
During the tests, KTM has not yet presented a complete motorcycle for the 2025 season. Garlic clarified that the team is working with a " modular system ", gradually integrating new parts, including improvements to the chassis and aerodynamics. Development is constantly ongoing. It is no longer possible to launch a complete new motorcycle at the beginning of the year. "He said.
Under Ajo's leadership, KTM adopts an integrated approach for its four drivers, divided between the two official teams. Nicolas Goyon, team manager of Tech3, will work closely with Garlic to maximize synergies.
