Red Bull KTM Ajo extends Moto2™ project for two more years

Pit Beirer and Aki Ajo have signed renewal for the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2™ project for 2018 and 2019

Red Bull KTM Ajo have this weekend confirmed the extension of their Moto2™ project for two further years. KTM Motorsport Director Pit Beirer and Ajo Motorsport Team Manager Aki Ajo renewed their agreement in Moto2™ for the 2018 and 2019 seasons, continuing the collaboration between Ajo Motorsport, KTM and Red Bull that began in 2012 with a Moto3™ team, and that has taken on a new challenge in 2017 with the birth of the project in the intermediate category.

The Moto2™ project is enjoying an excellent first season so far with Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder as the two-rider lineup, the team took their first podium finish and their first pole position in their second race, causing a surprise in the closely contested World Championship and showing once again the potential of this great structure. At the start of the second half of the campaign, the Red Bull KTM Ajo team are third in the overall standings with Oliveira, and have achieved a total of four podiums.

The agreement signed this weekend has also confirmed that Oliveira and Binder will continue next year as the team's riders, with the ambition to keep growing and striving to place as high as possible.

Pit Beirer - KTM Motorsport Director: "I'm very happy that we have this great partnership with Aki Ajo and Ajo Motorsport and to continue it into 2018 and 2019. Together we created this Moto2 project and it is definitely more successful than we expected during this first year as we currently stand second in the Constructor's championship, so to give the project more stability for the future we have decided to immediately extend our relationship for a further two years. Red Bull KTM Ajo will continue with the same riders next year too as Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder have done such a solid, committed job after only half a season, so we are really a step ahead of all the wishes we had for this project. Brad has been unlucky with injury but we know he is a World Champion and a fighter as he recovers, while Miguel has had a pole in the bike's second race and four podiums from nine races so far. These are very exciting results for us. It means that KTM Motorsport in Austria will continue to push hard and further develop this Moto2 project as we, naturally, wish to fight for the title in this class."

Aki Ajo - Team Manager: "On behalf of Ajo Motorsport, we are very pleased to be able to announce the extension of this exciting project that we started this year together with KTM and Red Bull for two more years. Moto2 is a very demanding class and, thanks to the great work of all the parties involved, we have managed to put together a very powerful structure that is achieving great results in our first year. Over the coming years this class will undergo major changes, and therefore it is very important to be able to sign this renewal that will allow us to look at things with more perspective and be calm about the future. Next year we will continue with our current riders, Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder, who are helping so much in the development of the bike and with whom we hope to be as high up the standings as possible. I once again want to thank our great partners like KTM and Red Bull for their support over so many years, that allows us to participate in such brilliant projects."