KTM GP ACADEMY POISED FOR GRIPPING 2021 MOTO3™ & MOTO2™ CAMPAIGNS

MotoGP 2021

Consecutive Grands Prix events at the Losail International Circuit will launch the 2021 MotoGP™ season this weekend in Qatar. The opening double of 19 races will see the full complement of the KTM GP Academy rolling onto the grid for the first time this year.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing duo Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira have shown the path. Both the South African and the Portuguese have moved through Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, then Moto3 and Moto2 categories to steer factory machinery in the premier class while notching GP victories every step of the way. The KTM GP Academy is an initiative that sources the next ‘Binders’ and ‘Oliveiras’ from schemes such as the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, Northern Talent Cup and Austrian Junior Cup – where youngsters are already becoming familiar with KTM machinery – and helps provide the brightest prospects with a route through to the pinnacle of the sport. It also identifies other developing racers that can blend with the attitude and ethos of KTM’s racing approach.

In Moto3 KTM hold the current riders’ title. Red Bull KTM Ajo will oversee the speed of GP winner Jaume Masia (20 years old from Spain) and countryman 2020 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Champion Pedro Acosta (a 16-year-old rookie). Also riding KTM RC4s for the Academy are Red Bull KTM Tech3 with Ayumu Sasaki (20, from Japan) and Deniz Öncü (17, from Turkey). The four racers in the vibrant Moto3 division are among a total pack of 12 KTM RC4-equipped runners in 2021. KTM won the inaugural Moto3 world championship in 2012 and a further three riders crowns to-date.

In 2021 the KTM GP Academy counts on Red Bull KTM Ajo pairing Raul Fernandez (20 years old from Spain with two years in Grand Prix and two Moto3 wins) and Remy Gardner (23 years old, Australian with six GP seasons, one win and five podiums) in Moto2. Fernandez continues his trajectory with Aki Ajo’s crew while Gardner, in Moto2 for the last five terms, is new to the set-up.

2021 Moto3 KTM riders

Red Bull KTM Ajo:

Jaume Masia

Pedro Acosta
 

Red Bull KTM Tech3:

Ayumu Sasaki

Deniz Öncü
 

CarXpert PrüstelGP:

Jason Dupasquier

Ryusei Yamanaka
 

BOE Owlride:

Stefano Nepa

Riccardo Rossi
 

CIP Green Power:

Kaito Toba

Maximilian Kofler
 

Avintia Esponsorama Moto3:

Carlos Tatay

Niccolò Antonelli
 

2021 Moto2 KTM riders

Red Bull KTM Ajo:

Remy Gardner

Raul Fernandez
 

Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsport Director: “Now we have our Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team with two riders who have come all the way through our KTM racing structure we really feel the KTM GP Academy is extra relevant. We can show racers who are still in the early stages of their career that we can give them the tools and the trust to go all the way. This philosophy has been really important and very successful in our motocross program and we really hope it will get even stronger to bring more outstanding stories in MotoGP. Of course, a scheme like this depends on many people, so we’re thankful to all of our staff and partner teams to make this happen. We’re hoping for a fantastic season and some exciting scenes in Moto3 and Moto2 this year.”

Aki Ajo, Red Bull KTM Ajo Team Principal: “Since KTM made the decision to participate in MotoGP, a large part of our journey has been to seek out and train talent to come through Moto3 and Moto2 to reach the premier class. Scouting and rider development has always been close to our hearts and has become one of our specialties. 50% of our work is to achieve good results in Moto3 and Moto2, and the other 50% is to develop the riders so that they are more prepared when they make that mental and technical step up. It is important to find racers with the right attitude and try to use our experience in the KTM organisation to develop them. We are very excited about the 2021 season, because we feel like we have the right riders in our structure. We have a good mix of rookies and experience in both classes.”

Hervé Poncharal, Red Bull KTM Tech3 Team Principal: “We all know how important the ‘rider factor’ is in Grand Prix and that means we are very proud and happy to be part of the KTM system and confident for the future. The structure with KTM presence in the different series’ and classes means a clear advantage. It’s a bonus for the whole organization. Both Ayumu Sasaki and Deniz Öncü have been through the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and are now showing their talent in the world championship maybe they can follow the same route as Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder to become the main ‘weapons’ for KTM in the premier class.”

New track limit detection system introduced

Race Director Mike Webb explains changes to the detection system designed to increase the accuracy of track limit decisions

Ahead of the 2021 FIM MotoGP™ World Championship getting underway on Friday in the Barwa Grand Prix of Qatar, Race Director Mike Webb explained a few changes to the way track limit infringements are judged.

A new system of sensors is now in place, increasing the accuracy of judgments and helping to create a level playing field for every infringement and/or decision.

Mike Webb: “Track limit regulations are staying the same but what we’ve been working on all last year is an updated system to detect track limits. Dorna and timekeeping have been working on this last year, we’ve got a new system that has pressure senses on the track outside the kerbs, so we can detect very accurately when a rider has gone out of track limits. It’s a much more accurate system.

“So the rule stays the same but because the system is actuated a little differently to the cameras we used before, it means for the riders that if they go out of track limits, there’s immediately a signal. In the past we had to look at a camera image and make a judgement. Now it’s just in or out; it’s very accurate. The difference for the riders or protocol is that now, one wheel out means out. In the past it was two wheels in the green, and is this two or one, how far out… no more of that judgment. Out is out and it doesn’t matter if it’s one wheel or two. It’s more accurate and it means it’s more fair for every rider, with a very clear view of who is in or who is out. The rule is the same, but the judgment is much more precise.”

Starting from zero: the pre-event Press Conference pulls the pin on 2021

Mir, Pol Espargaro, Miller, Quartararo, Rossi and Aleix Espargaro sit down to talk about the season ahead as the Barwa Grand Prix of Qatar begins

Thursday, 25 March 2021

2021 starts now! The Barwa Grand Prix of Qatar has officially got us underway at Losail International Circuit, with the pre-event Press Conference welcoming reigning MotoGP™ World Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) at the helm. Joining him were new Repsol Honda Team rider Pol Espargaro, Ducati Lenovo Team’s Jack Miller fresh from going fastest in testing, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo as he settles in, nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi; now in Petronas Yamaha SRT colours, and Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Aleix Espargaro after impressing for the Noale factory in pre-season.

Joan Mir: “So happy to be here again. Last year we did a really good season, a dream to achieve the Championship. We are here in Qatar, everyone starts from zero and it will be important to feel great here. The test was not bad but we have work to do. Looking forward to this season, we have a great challenge ahead of us defending the title and we’ll do as good as we can so let’s see.

“The engine is the same and the bike also. There’s not a big change on the bike, it will be really important to keep the consistency but improve the speed to win more races, this will be the main goal.”

The number 36 was also asked about the departure of former Suzuki Ecstar Team Manager Davide Brivio:

“I think Davide did a great job putting every piece in the correct place in this team. We showed that we are able to win. Mainly, Suzuki aren’t moving anybody and not trying to replace Davide. We don’t miss him and I hope he will have a lot of luck in F1.”

Pol Espargaro: “It was a difficult beginning to the season because we just had four days of testing. For the rookies it was even worse but also for the guys who changed bikes, it was not the best preseason. Anyways even with those four days, the final day I felt comfortable and I could do something interesting with race pace, at least to start to think about where to be on the race. On one lap we weren’t far from Jack Miller, we know he is very fast, also Fabio and Maverick but still I think we have a lot to learn and it will be a little bit difficult, but we will enjoy the first race of the season.

“In the past when I heard someone saying this bike is very difficult, I was always thinking the same thing, for me, one bike with one manufacturer can be very difficult and for one rider with a riding style better to this one it can be easier. So, for me, the Honda for sure is not the easiest but I don’t agree it is the most difficult bike on the grid. You just need to match the riding style of the bike and it feels like I did that a little in the test. I don’t know how much I matched because it is difficult to evaluate after four days how much I’m connected to the bike. I would take out this idea the bike is difficult, and I want to start to be positive, to be proactive and try to make things happen. Starting here in Qatar it is not the best place for Honda or even me, but the test was quite positive, but we are going to go for it and see what we can do in the first races even if we are still rookies with this bike.”

Jack Miller: “I feel ready as I’ll be, we didn’t get that big of a break, I went back to Australia for a bit but not as much as I’d like. The pre-season went good, I didn’t have a massive move it was just one garage over, I already knew a lot of the guys so we got on straight away. The times were good in testing but we can’t look into it too much, the conditions were perfect. We’ll start again from zero here, it will be a bit different with Dunlop rubber on the track from Moto2 and Moto3 so we’ll come in with an open mind.

“For sure I think there is a lot more hype than if I topped the times last year with Pramac. For sure there is extra pressure there, we haven’t had much time to feel it, everything has been relatively good so far, it hasn’t been difficult so we’ll see when it gets difficult how the pressure sinks in but apart from that, everything feels a step up. Having more stuff is nice to have, you don’t feel the full benefit of it coming to a test with four days at the same track. Just in the first couple of exits I noticed, with the people around me, we were able to adapt and overcome other problems that took more time in the past.”

Fabio Quartararo: “I think that last year and the end of the season was difficult, but I think I have learned many things that can bring me a lot of experience for the future and this year. It feels like it has been high and low, but I feel ready for 2021 and I think that is the most important thing.

“Your first year you think about winning but your goals are to fight for the top five, but when you are with the factory your goals cannot be to fight for the top five, it’s clear that everyone here wants to fight for the Championship. Last year I had a factory bike, but you see a little bit more people in the team and more responsibility to develop the bike, but in general I’m feeling good. The test was great, we tested many things and everything went well. More than feeling pressure now I’m just super excited to start the weekend!”

Valentino Rossi: “The atmosphere on Thursday of the first race is always the same, like the first day of school. It’s always exciting, also for the pictures together on the grid, you have the feeling that in some hours we start. I changed team after a long, long time, but I feel good. The atmosphere is good and the test was not so bad, now we have to see in a real race weekend.

“In the factory team but also in the Petronas team everyone gives the maximum, so you have the pressure. The difference is the amount of people around the bike, but for me the atmosphere was also good in the factory team, it’s not a big change. I’m very happy to have Franco as my teammate because we’re good friends, we stay a lot of time together in Tavullia for training but also free time, and he is one of the best riders in MotoGP at the moment like he demonstrated last year. So for me, it’s good, it’s great motivation to fight with him.”

Aleix Espargaro: “I hope it is like this, but you never know, a test is a test. Races are completely different, and after Moto2 and Moto3 the track will change. We will not start from zero but somewhere we will have to change some things. The test was good, the RS-GP 21 looks sincerely promising, but we have to race and compare with the others. I’m sure everyone will improve for the race. It’s not going to be easy but I’m very motivated and feel I have the chance to fight with the best and it gives me positive energy and I can’t wait for FP1.

“I’m very happy. In these last years we’re making steps to get closer to the top bikes and Aprilia have made an important step which will be very helpful for the future. And Dovizioso, apart from being a talented and a fast rider, he can be a very good test rider. He did a great job with the Ducati. The last seasons he was winning races and fighting for the title so he will be able to give us good feedback and help us a lot. I can’t wait for him to try the bike in Jerez and to see his reaction and how he likes the bike and sees the weak points, because I will be six years with this bike, and he will be fresh and new and give a new point of view.”

The Ducati Lenovo Team is ready to tackle the first Grand Prix of the 2021 MotoGP season in Qatar

After the two preseason tests held a few weeks ago, Ducati Lenovo Team riders Jack Miller and Francesco Bagnaia are back in Qatar for the inaugural Grand Prix of the 2021 MotoGP World Championship, which will be held this weekend at Losail Circuit. The circuit in the outskirts of Doha will also host the second round of the season the following weekend, from 2nd-4th April.

The track, present on the calendar since 2004, has seen Ducati take 11 podiums so far, including five victories. The most recent came in 2019 with Andrea Dovizioso, in the last edition of the GP contested by the premier class. In fact, last year, due to the restrictions caused by the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, the MotoGP race was cancelled a few weeks before the start of the Championship.

Off the back of the results obtained in the two test sessions, which saw him top the combined standings and unofficially improving the circuit’s lap record, Jack Miller will take to the track aiming to be among the protagonists in the race.

Having successfully concluded the preseason testing, Francesco Bagnaia, who made his MotoGP debut in Qatar with the Ducati of the Pramac Racing Team in 2019, also arrives at Losail, intending to fight for the top positions.

Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team, #43)

“Finally, we are back in action for the first Grand Prix of 2021 this weekend. The official Qatar Test had been really positive, and I have never felt so comfortable on the bike before starting the Championship as this year. My feeling with the Desmosedici is great, and also, our speed is not that bad. I hope we will find good track conditions all weekend to prepare ourselves well for both races that we will have here in Losail. For sure, also our rivals will be really competitive here, but I am determined to start the new season on a high, fighting for the top podium as I did at the end of last year”.

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team, #63)

“I’m really excited to finally face my first Grand Prix as an official rider of the Ducati Lenovo Team. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, and I can’t wait to experience the adrenaline of the first lights out of season. After the two test sessions we’ve had over the last few weeks, we arrive at the first round of the year with a solid base to work from. It will be important to improve our time attack to guarantee a place in the first two rows of the grid in qualifying. I’m very excited, and I feel I can fight for a good result in the race!”.

The Ducati Lenovo Team riders will be back in action for the first free practice session of the Qatar GP on Friday 26th March at 3:40 pm local time (GMT +3.00).

Circuit Information

Country: Qatar

Name: Losail International Circuit

Best lap: Lorenzo (Yamaha) 1:54.927 (168.5 km/h) – 2016

Circuit record: Márquez (Honda) 1:53.380 (170.8 km/h) – 2019

Top speed: Márquez (Honda) 352 km/h – 2019

Track length: 5,4 km

Race distance: 22 laps (118.4 km)

Corners: 16 (6 left, 10 right)

2019 Results

Podium: 1° Dovizioso (Ducati); 2° Marquez (Honda), 3° Crutchlow (Honda)

Pole Position: Viñales (Yamaha) 1:53.546 (170,5 km/h)

Fastest lap: Quartararo (Yamaha) 1:55.039 (168,3 km/h)

Rider information

Jack Miller

Bike: Ducati Desmosedici GP

Race Number: 43

GPs started: 154 (99 x MotoGP, 49 x Moto3, 6 x 125 cc)

First GP: Qatar 2015 (MotoGP), Qatar 2012 (Moto3), Germany 2011 (125 cc)

Wins: 7 (1 MotoGP + 6 Moto3)

First Win: Netherlands 2016 (MotoGP), Qatar 2014 (Moto3)

Pole positions: 9 (1 MotoGP + 8 Moto3)

First pole: Argentina 2018 (MotoGP), USA 2014 (Moto3)

Fastest laps: 3 (2 MotoGP + 1 Moto3)

Points: 544 (MotoGP) + 403 (Moto3)

Francesco Bagnaia

Bike: Ducati Desmosedici GP

Race number: 63

GPs started: 134 (29 x MotoGP, 36 x Moto2, 69 x Moto3)

First GP: Qatar 2019 (MotoGP), Qatar 2017 (MotoGP), Qatar 2013 (MotoGP)

Wins: 10 (8 Moto2 + 2 Moto3)

First win: Qatar 2018 (Moto2), Netherlands 2016 (Moto3)

Pole positions: 7 (6 Moto2 + 1 Moto3)

First pole: France 2018 (Moto2), Britain 2016 (Moto3)

Fastest laps: 7 (2 MotoGP + 3 Moto2 + 2 Moto3)

Points: 101 (MotoGP) + 480 (Moto2) + 271 (Moto3)

World Titles: 1 (Moto2, 2018)

Pol Espargaro raring to go in Repsol Honda Team colours

The 2021 MotoGP World Championship is about to commence, Pol Espargaro is excited for his first race on the RC213V after a strong test as Stefan Bradl lines up alongside him.

Sunday, March 28, will see the lights go out on the Grand Prix of Qatar and begin another thrilling MotoGP World Championship season. After a difficult 2020, the Repsol Honda Team enter the new season with rejuvenated determination and desire to return to the front. This will be the first of two races at the 5.4-kilometre-long Losail International Circuit, Round Two coming the following week.

Limited pre-seasoning testing has seen the Repsol Honda Team’s newest signing, Pol Espargaro, do all of his running on the RC213V at the Qatar circuit so far. A productive test has Espargaro and his side of the garage feeling positive ahead of the first race but has set no expectations for the weekend, wanting to focus on continuing to deepen his understanding of the Honda. In the MotoGP class, Espargaro has achieved two top-ten finishes in Qatar previously.

As Marc Marquez continues to focus on recovering from his broken humerus, Stefan Bradl will again mount the Repsol Honda Team RC213V for the opening race of the year. Bradl ended 2020 with a string of solid results and again showed his pace during testing in Qatar, the HRC Test Rider able to consistently challenge the established order during the test. Having last raced in Qatar in 2016, the Qatar Tests have been useful for Bradl to relearn the Doha track.

Action begins at 15:40 Local Time on Friday, March 26 after the traditional pre-season photoshoot on Thursday.

Pol Espargaro

“The first race is finally here, I am really excited to get back on the Honda. We had a good test and I am looking forward to the first race weekend. There are some things we still need to learn and understand about the bike and it will be an intense opening weekend, but I am excited. Racing the Repsol Honda is something most people dream of and I can’t wait to do it. I am not setting a target for the race other than do the best that we can. Let’s put on a good show for all the fans that are at home, it’s time to go racing!”

Stefan Bradl

“First of all I want to say thank you to HRC and wish Marc all the best on his continued recovery. We had a good test and I have been riding well after a busy 2020 and a good start to 2021. Hopefully we can have another strong weekend and gather some good information for Honda. It will be great to race in Qatar again, it has been a while since I have raced there but certainly the two tests have me up to speed with the track so I don’t think this will be a disadvantage to us. Let’s start the season.”