Niklas Ajolta vahva ja virheetön nousu MM-pisteille Mugellossa

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1 Niklas Ajolta vahva ja virheetön nousu MM-pisteille Mugellossa Niklas Ajo teki vahvan nousun MM-pisteille Mugellon radalla Italiassa ajetussa Moto3-luokan kauden kuudennessa osakilpailussa. Ruudusta 22 liikkeelle lähtenyt Ajo leikkasi maalilinjan sijalla Tämä oli kauden tähän mennessä paras viikonloppu ainakin siinä mielessä, että saimme pyörän oikeasti toimimaan siten kuin sen pitääkin. Näistä asetelmista on hyvä lähteä seuraaviin osakilpailuihin Barcelonaan ja Asseniin, jotka lukeutuvat Mugellon tavoin suosikkiratoihini. RBA Racing-tiimin suomalaiskuljettajan vauhti lupaili hyvää jo aamun warm up-sessiossa, jossa hän päätyi KTM:n tehdaspyörällään neljänneksi. - Kisa oli alusta loppuun kovaa vääntöä ja alku oli kieltämättä aika hankala, kun jouduin lähtemään liikkeelle noin takaa. Pystyin kuitenkin saavuttamaan ison kärkiryhmän, kunnes jouduin antamaan vähän periksi. - Ensin eteen osui vähän hitaampi kuljettaja ja sitten Quartararo (Fabio) kaatui. Kärkiryhmä pääsi sitten siinä samalla vähän karkaamaan. Tällainen kostautuu hetkessä, sillä tässä luokassa on niin tasaista, tähdensi Ajo. Ajo jäi kisan ja uransa ensimmäisen voiton napanneesta suomalaistalli Ajo Motorsportin portugalilaiskuljettaja Miguel Oliveirasta 5,142 sekuntia. - Vähän harmittaa, sillä tänään olisi ollut mahdollisuudet parempaankin sijoitukseen. Minulla oli se fiilis, että pystyn taistelemaan täällä ihan kärjessä viime vuoden malliin. Oma ajoni sujui virheettömästi. Kausi saavutti Toscanassa ensimmäisen kolmanneksen. Ajolla on kuuden GP:n jälkeen koossa sijaan 19 oikeuttavat 12 pistettä. Kärkipaikkaa pitää vakuuttavasti hallussaan britti Danny Kent pistein 124. Kent ajoi Mugellossa toiseksi 71 tuhannesosaa voittajan takana. Seuraava osakilpailu ajetaan kahden viikon kuluttua Katalonian GP:n merkeissä ja Montmelon radalla Barcelonassa.

2 Italian Grand Prix - Race Miguel Oliveira takes historic victory at Mugello Red Bull KTM Ajo rider becomes first Portuguese in history to win a Grand Prix race. Binder places tenth, whilst Hanika crashes on the final lap after receiving a knock from a rival.

3 05/31/ Mugello Circuit, Italy Today will be a day to remember forever for Miguel Oliveira. Starting from eleventh on the grid, the Portuguese rider moved up the order to take victory at the Moto3 Italian GP. It was both his first win in the World Championship and the first ever win for a Portuguese rider in Grand Prix racing. All three of the Red Bull KTM Ajo riders were fighting in the leading group until end; Brad Binder crossed the line in tenth position whilst Karel Hanika crashed out on the final lap when battling for a podium spot. Starting from fourth, eleventh and twelfth on the grid at Mugello, Hanika, Oliveira and Binder made good starts to move up to the front. Hanika was third after Lap 1, whilst in eighth place Binder rounded off the lead group that tried to pull away from the rest. On Lap 3, Binder set a new fastest lap record with a time of 1: Closing the gap, Oliveira joined the leading group and took the lead of the Italian GP, at the head of a battle between 16 riders for the podium. He went into the last corner at Mugello in the lead, holding the advantage to the chequered flag for his first victory in a World Championship race. Binder placed tenth and Hanika crashed at Turn 4 of the final lap after receiving a knock from a rival. Miguel Oliveira is now fourth in the overall standings with 66 points. Brad Binder is ninth with 50 points and Karel Hanika fourteenth with 18 points. The next round will be the Catalan Grand Prix from June 12th to 14th. Race - Results 1. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 39: Danny Kent (Honda) Romano Fenati (KTM) Francesco Bagnaia (Mahindra) Enea Bastianini (Honda) Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) Karel Hanika (Red Bull KTM Ajo) Moto3 World Championship Standing Danny Kent (Honda) 124 points 2. Enea Bastianini (Honda) 78 points 3. Romano Fenati (KTM) 67 points 4. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 66 points 5. Efren Vazquez (Honda) 60 points 9. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 50 points 14. Karel Hanika (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 18 points

4 44 MIGUEL OLIVEIRA "I am very happy with this first victory in the World Championship. I cannot believe it I had tears in my eyes after crossing the finish line. It was a very difficult race because at first the front group broke away. I was able to catch them and then I decided to escape. I was not sure that they would, but in the end the tyres held up well and in the final sector I regained the lead and kept on the throttle to the finish line which was very far! I want to thank the whole team because it's been amazing. We worked hard for this and we deserve it. Also thank you to my father, because it was he who instilled a passion for motorcycles in me and I would not be here without him. Becoming the first Portuguese to win a Grand Prix is an honour and a privilege. I hope that the fans enjoyed it and that I can give them many more. Thank you to everyone." 41 BRAD BINDER "In the warmup this morning we completely changed the setup of the bike. We went very well with new tyres but, as they degraded, it was very difficult to ride. The more the tyres went off, the more chatter there was. I'm a little disappointed, because I had a good pace and I knew I could do well. But with all these problems I cannot work as well as I am capable. Finishing tenth is not where I would like to be, because if we can adapt the bike to my style we can consistently be on the podium and fighting for races."

5 98 KAREL HANIKA "I'm happy with what we showed this weekend, because throughout we have been up at the front and our speed was very good. In the race we also showed that we could easily ride in the front group and overtake our rivals. Unfortunately another rider hit me on the last lap at Turn 4 and I could not finish in the front group. I think at that point we lost the opportunity to be on the podium, but we should be satisfied with what we have done during the Grand Prix, moving forward from the last four races. If we keep this up, our turn will surely arrive. I want to thank my team for all the work they have done and we will come back stronger next time." AKI AJO - Team manager "It's amazing how I feel right now. The start of the season was difficult for the team and I'm very happy for everyone who has believed in us all this time. We always do things as a team: Our riders, our crew, KTM, Red Bull and our sponsors all played a part no one can do it alone. Today Miguel [Oliveira] was incredible. From the middle of the race it was very clear he was going for the win. I want to thank him and the entire team. Karel [Hanika] was also doing a great job. The crash on the last lap was a shame, but these things can happen in racing. You must be confident. I am very happy with his work and he will fight for the podium this year. Brad [Binder] also had some big battles at the start of the race. We will have to study what happened at the end of the race. He is a fighter and will soon be back with the frontrunners." More information: Pol Bertran Phone: press@ajo.fi

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7 Italian Grand Prix - Race Johann Zarco finishes second at Italian GP and extends series lead French rider completes intelligent race at Mugello, taking second to extend his lead in Moto2 standings to 31 points.

8 05/31/ Mugello Circuit, Italy The Moto2 Italian GP was held today at Mugello in excellent weather conditions of sun, clear skies and warm temperatures. Johann Zarco came into the race with the aim of fighting for the podium, starting from sixth position on the grid. The Ajo Motorsport rider eventually finished second, taking a fifth consecutive podium. Sixth on the grid, the World Championship leader slotted into eighth in the front group, which slowly stretched out as the race went on. Focusing on his own race, Zarco gained places lap by lap, moving up to fifth on Lap 3. In the space of just two laps, the Moto2 Championship leader then ascended to third. Determined to fight for the victory, ahead Ajo Motorsport rider overtook Dominique Aegerter twelve laps from the end. Closing the gap to the race leader, the Frenchman caught Tito Rabat in an attempt to try to get a win on the last lap in which he set his quickest lap time. In the end, Zarco crossed the finish line in second place, a result that allows him to extend his lead at the head of the standings in the Moto2 World Championship. Zarco now leads the way with 109 points, 31 more than his closest rival. He will be in action again from June 12th to 14th, at the Catalan GP. Race - Results 1. Tito Rabat (Kalex) 39: Johann Zarco (Ajo Motorsport) Dominique Aergerter (Kalex) Sam Lowes (Speed Up) Luis Salom (Kalex) Moto2 World Championship Standing Johann Zarco (Ajo Motorsport) 109 points 2. Tito Rabat (Kalex) 78 points 3. Thomas Luthi (Kalex) 68 points 4. Sam Lowes (Speed Up) 67 points 5. Jonas Folger (Kalex) 57 points

9 5 JOHANN ZARCO "This is a positive result, because after this Grand Prix I have a 31-points lead over my nearest rival, which is now Tito [Rabat]. During the race I felt strong and in the end I gave my all, taking some risks. I wanted to pass him, but he closed the door and perhaps a better solution would have been to try to take advantage of the slipstream which I tried too late. There were some crashes, which meant that the temperature was very high and it was difficult to get a feeling with the front, but I had a good pace. It went perfectly and taking 20 points and a fifth consecutive podium allows me to enjoy the start to this season. In Barcelona I will concentrate on being even more relaxed, in order to fight for victory again." AKI AJO - Team manager "Once again it has been a good weekend and, although qualifying was not very good, I have to say that we have done a good job. I am very happy because Johann [Zarco] remained focused throughout the race and took another podium and some very important points for the overall standings. Good job!" More information: Pol Bertran Phone: press@ajo.fi

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