Ajolle kymmenes sija ja kilpailun johdolta kehut kylmäpäisyydestä

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1 Ajolle kymmenes sija ja kilpailun johdolta kehut kylmäpäisyydestä Niklas Ajon vauhti ja sijoitukset nousevat kisa kisalta Moto3-luokan MM-sarjassa. Ajo kuittasi Argentiinasta kymmenennen sijan ja sen päälle kilpailun johdolta kehut kylmäpäisyydestä. RBA Racing-tiimin suomalaiskuljettajan vauhti oli kohdallaan jo aamun warm up-sessiossa, jossa hän päätyi KTM-pyörällään viidenneksi. Siinä sessiossa tosin tapahtui Ajon ympärillä paljon muutakin, kun Valentino Rossin omistaman tiimin italialaiskuljettajan Romano Fenatin hermokontrolli petti ja veri kuohahti. Fenati potkaisi Ajoa ratakierroksella ja siitä ei kilpailun johtokaan pitänyt. Fenatille mätkäistiin epäurheilijamaisesta käytöksestä kolme rangaistuspistettä, jotka merkitsivät Argentiinan GP:n voittoa puolustaneen miehen pudottamista Termas de Rio Hondo-radan viimeiseen lähtöruutuun. - En tiedä oikein mitä siinä tilanteessa tapahtui. Hidastin vauhtia vain hyvin vähän, ei muuta. Fenatin tai hänen tiiminsä taholta ei ole ainakaan vielä tultu pyytelemään anteeksi. Kilpailun johto sen sijaan kävi kiittelemässä minua siitä, että en reagoinut mitenkään tilanteeseen, vaan säilytin hermoni. Onhan sitä tullut itsekin hölmöiltyä joskus nuorempana, mutta aikuistuminen näkyy myös tässä, totesi Ajo. Ajo ei aamun kohusta hätkähtänyt. - Ei se minuun mitenkään vaikuttanut, mutta harmi, että starttiharjoitukset jäivät osittain sen vuoksi tekemättä aamulla. Kisastartti oli erittäin huono, mutta pystyin paikkaamaan tilanteen ensimmäisellä kierroksella. Ajo teki heti avauskierroksella neljän pykälän nousun taittaen sen jälkeen matkaa isossa ryhmässä sijoilla Taktiikkana oli se, että otan alun rauhallisemmin renkaita säästellen. Pystyin ajamaan alusta loppuun isossa kärkiryhmässä, kunnes Hanika (Karel) teki pienen virheen ja minun oli ajettava ryhmä uudelleen kiinni. Maalia edeltävässä mutkassa sitten yksi kaveri tuli vielä kylkeen. Tapahtumarikas päivä jätti Ajon suuhun kaikesta huolimatta hyvän maun. - Positiivinen kisa ja viikonvaihde. Olen nyt taas lähempänä sitä tasoa, missä viime kaudella parhaimmillani olin. Ei muuta kuin jatketaan töitä samaan malliin ja pyritään pitämään tämä taso yllä. NIKLAS AJO

2 Kauden kolmannen osakilpailun ylivoimaiseen voittoon viiletti muilta jo hyvissä ajoin karkuteille karauttanut britti Danny Kent. Pisteissä 15:nneksi noussut Ajo jäi sarjaa selkeästi johtavasta Kentista 11,806 sekuntia. Seuraava ja samalla kauden ensimmäinen Euroopan osakilpailu odottaa vuoroaan kahden viikon kuluttua Jerezin radalla Espanjassa. NIKLAS AJO

3 Grand Prix of Argentina - Race First victory and World Championship lead for Zarco Ajo Motorsport rider gets first Moto2 win in Argentina and heads the overall standings. 04/19/ Termas de Rio Hondo Circuit, Argentina

4 Johann Zarco and Ajo Motorsport rounded off the Grand Prix of Argentina weekend in the best way possible, with their respective first wins in the Moto2 class. The Frenchman, dominant over the entire weekend, took off from pole position and gave no chance to his rivals once he had established his pace. With this second consecutive podium, Zarco leads the overall standings in the intermediate class. Starting from the front of the grid for the first time this season, Zarco completed the first lap in third. It was on the third lap of the race that the Frenchman took the lead, going on to extend a gap of almost two seconds from his nearest rival, Sam Lowes. The difference between the two remained the same, despite Zarco setting the fastest lap of the race on four occasions. It was not until the closing stages that the Ajo Motorsport rider added an extra second to his advantage and crossed the finish line first. This maiden victory for the Frenchman in Moto2 his second in World Championship competition allows him to take the lead in the overall standings with a total of 53 points. He is 4 points ahead of his closest challenger. Zarco will defend the position in two weeks time at the first European event of the season: The Spanish Grand Prix. Results - Race 1. Johann Zarco (Ajo Motorsport) 39: Alex Rins (Kalex) Sam Lowes (Speed Up) Mika Kallio (Kalex) Franco Morbidelli (Kalex) Moto2 World Championship Standing Johann Zarco (Ajo Motorsport) 53 points 2. Alex Rins (Kalex) 49 points 3. Sam Lowes (Speed Up) 41 points 4. Franco Morbidelli (Kalex) 33 points 5. Jonas Folger (Kalex) 32 points

5 5 JOHANN ZARCO "I am very happy, because the goal for today was to win the race and we finally managed to do it. In addition, we are up into the lead of the overall standings, which is an extra prize. We had to work really hard for it. I tried to push hard from the start, because we knew that we had the pace, but it wasn't at all easy. I was pushing really hard and the gap remained 1.5 or 2 seconds. I wasn't sure if I'd do it until right at the end. I want to thank the team and all the sponsors for this win. I am very happy and we need to carry on in the same way." AKI AJO - Team manager "The Moto2 race was very nice. Throughout the weekend Johann [Zarco] has been very strong and he rounded off all the great work he had done in practice when it came to the race. What more can I say? Impressive! I'm very happy with his pace and with how much he has improved in recent years. When we worked together in 2011, he was already fast, but he has made a big step forward. I am also very proud that he and his manager trust in our team to work together this season." More information: Pol Bertran Phone: press@ajo.fi

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7 Red Bull Grand Prix of Argentina - Race Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder just off podium in Argentina Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder cross the finish line at the Red Bull Grand Prix of Argentina in fourth and fifth, respectively. Karel Hanika, seventh, takes best Grand Prix result to date. 04/19/ Termas de Rio Hondo Circuit, Argentina

8 The Red Bull KTM Ajo team had a great showing at the third race of the season, held at Argentina's Termas de Rio Hondo circuit. All three of the team's riders placed inside the top seven. Miguel Oliveira recovered fourteen places to finish fourth, just one position ahead of teammate Brad Binder -who also made a stellar comeback to move up fifteen places. Seventh place went to Karel Hanika, in what is his best result to date in the World Championship. Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder both had to make comebacks after early setbacks in Argentina. The Portuguese had started from pole position and had kept up with the frontrunners until Lap 4, when a mistake dropped him down to eighteenth. He was behind Brad Binder, who had been twentieth on the opening lap. The pair gradually moved back up the order and got amongst the group fighting for second place -where Karel Hanika was waiting for them. The three young riders battled in a group that included up to fourteen riders, culminating in a thrilling final lap. Oliveira, Binder and Hanika gave their all to cross the finish line in fourth, fifth and seventh, respectively. After three Grands Prix in 2015, Brad Binder lies sixth overall with 28 points. Karel Hanika is ninth with 18 points, whilst Miguel Oliveira took his first 13 points today and lies twelfth. The Moto3 World Championship resumes in two weeks' time, at Jerez in Spain. Results - Race 1. Danny Kent (Honda) 38: Efren Vazquez (Honda) Isaac Viñales (Honda) Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) Karel Hanika (Red Bull KTM Ajo) Moto3 World Championship Standing Danny Kent (Honda) 66 points 2. Efren Vazquez (Honda) 49 points 3. Enea Bastianini (Honda) 40 points 4. Fabio Quartararo (Honda) 39 points 5. Isaac Viñales (Husqvarna) 33 points 6. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 28 points 9. Karel Hanika (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 18 points 12. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 13 points

9 44 MIGUEL OLIVEIRA "Today's race was a little strange. I made a good start from pole position and I tried to pull away from the group, but in an instant I was overtaken by six riders. In that moment Danny Kent took the opportunity to escape. Nevertheless, I felt strong and I was able to finish the race, which was the main goal after the first two races. I was fourth in the end and could not get on the podium, but I'm happy for the team because they made a great effort to find the best setup. Also, we can still get faster, so I'm not worried about Jerez. We must continue to work in the same way and the results will come." 41 BRAD BINDER "It was a good day, because we completely changed the setup between qualifying and the warmup session and I felt much more confidence with the front. The race went well, because I made a good start and overtook a lot of riders. A number of my rivals passed me on the back straight and, on the following corner, one of them got in my way and sent me off-track. When I got back on I was in around twentieth, so I tried to stay relaxed and keep overtaking riders whenever I saw the chance. I want to thank my team, because the bike was working incredibly -much better than it had done before during the weekend. It was the best it has been since I started with it, so I am very happy. It's another Top 5 finish, so I can't wait for the next race." 98 KAREL HANIKA "Today's race went very well. I even think I could have finished a couple of positions higher, but it was a very large group that I was in. I made a good start -I think I was up into fourth or fifth- but then several riders overtook me and I lost ten positions. I tried to stay in there and gain a couple of places without risking any contact -something that could easily have happened. I tried to go about my work and enjoy the race. During the last few laps I pushed hard to move up as many positions as possible, and in the end I finished with my best result in the World Championship.

10 I'm happy with the race and I want to thank my team very much, because I enjoyed this weekend a lot. I hope that we keep this up in Jerez and for the rest of the season." AKI AJO - Team manager "The Moto3 race was very hotly contested. Watching this type of racing is always very exciting, although it is very difficult for everyone out there. This is one of those circuits in which you can dive into the corners and much confusion is created during the race. These types of circuits are very hard for Moto3 riders and, although the circuit is very nice, fighting for positions on it is not easy. I'm happy because we took a step forward with our bikes during the weekend. As I have repeated on other occasions, in the winter conditions did not make things easy for us and we needed more time with the bikes. I m happy that KTM have helped us to understand the bikes better. I think that very soon we will be able to fight for the victory. I am also very satisfied with the performance of our three riders. Really good!" More information: Pol Bertran Phone: press@ajo.fi