The Circuit Ricardo Tormo closed the curtain on an intense 2023 season. The duo of Pedro Acosta and Albert Arenas were riding for the Red Bull KTM Ajo team for the last time in the class. Albert Arenas finished in tenth position after a demanding race, while Pedro Acosta was twelfth. The 2023 MotoGP World Champion signed off a three-year spell with the team as he moves up to MotoGP.

Acosta started his last Moto2 race from sixth position and, after a great start, moved up the order and tried to reach the top positions, although the race pace was very high. He took a gamble on this occasion, although with the objective for the season fulfilled, his main target was to enjoy his last race with Aki Ajo’s team. Acosta did not have the best feeling with his bike and began to lose positions, crossing the finish line in twelfth position. A double World Champion and the new king of Moto2 with the team, he leaves them at the end of 2023.  

Arenas was also in his last race with Red Bull KTM Ajo, and took off from ninth. A consistent ride over the 22 laps kept him in the Top 10, and he had enjoyed a good feeling all weekend and wanted to finish the year in the best possible way. He took the chequered flag in tenth, keeping up his pace and demonstrating the progress he has made in the final stretch of the season.

The Red Bull KTM Ajo duo thus concluded a great season in which they were also proclaimed Moto2 Team World Champions. The team thank Pedro Acosta and Albert Arenas for their effort and dedication, and wish them all the best for the future.  

Aki Ajo – Team Manager

“Today was a very emotional day, as we have finished our time with Pedro after three intense years. Starting out as that wild young boy, we’re finishing with this young mature man, who has really shown his potential, and clever and mature for his age. I’m lost for words when I talk about our memories, and I only can say thanks to Pedro and to his family and, also, to the partners that have been working with us during these years. In the case of Albert, I think that he finished the season very well here but I felt that he could even have fought for the podium. He has really improved in the last few races in this very tight class but, unfortunately, we could not fight for the top positions. In any case, I’m really happy for him and with the improvements he has made. I wish him luck for next season, even if he will be our competitor.”

#37 PEDRO ACOSTA

“It’s nice to end my time in Moto2 and Ajo Motorsport here. The priority was to get the bike back to the box and finish in the best possible way. We have had three very good years together and I think it was not the time to throw that away for a race. I didn’t care about finishing far back, I just wanted to get to the box, so the goal was accomplished. They had never seen me cry before, and today I did. I have grown up with Aki in the paddock and he has taught me to be tough and cold as ice, but today we all ended up crying, so we are not so tough in the end!”

#75 ALBERT ARENAS

“It was a tough race from the beginning. There was a lot of contact on the opening corners that held me back, but I managed to overcome it and my pace was good. We could have fought for the podium but it wasn’t to be. We are happy because during the weekend we worked well and I was able to ride the bike as I like. That allowed me to have a good pace and say goodbye to the team with a solid race.”

The Red Bull KTM Ajoc Moto3 duo competed in their last race of the season at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia. Deniz Öncü fought for the podium until the last lap in his farewell from the class, finishing in fifth position. Jose Antonio Rueda crossed the line in sixth position after competing in the front group.

Öncü took off from the front row of the grid and made a great start, in which he was able to remain in the front group. After the opening laps, he took second place and tried to secure the position and even fight for the victory, despite feeling discomfort from a crash suffered on Friday. After dropping several places, he rejoined the leading riders and tried to regain positions until the last lap. Öncü finally crossed the finish line in fifth position.  

Jose Antonio Rueda had one of his most complete races of the season. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider started from seventh position, and he held the place after the initial laps. Rueda was able to stay in the front group to try to fight for podium positions. However, he was not able to keep up with the pace set by the leading riders and rode alone in the final section of the race. Rueda took sixth position, completing a great rookie season in the World Championship.

With these results, Öncü finished the season fourth overall with 223 points, while Rueda was ninth with 121 points. Red Bull KTM Ajo thank both for the great work that they have done with their respective crews in 2023.  

Aki Ajo – Team Manager

“We are very happy to have our two riders in the Top 6 here in Valencia, after a very long season. We feel that our pace and performance was enough to fight for even higher positions today. Deniz’s crash in P2 affected him a lot, so we are so happy that he could finish the race in that position. During this year Deniz has improved a lot, he has shown many times that he’s one of the fastest riders in Moto3 and he totally deserves to be in Moto2. Personally, I think that for Jose Antonio it was a really good race, although he expected to have an even a higher position. This is a process, it has been his rookie season, so he has learned a lot of things and, personally, my expectations are really high for him for next year”.

#53 DENIZ ÖNCÜ

“We have finished the year and, also, my time in Moto3. We have had ups and downs during the year but I think that it has been a really positive season to gain experience and to see what our potential is. In this race I had pain in my back because of Friday’s crash and maybe we couldn’t finish the year in the way we wanted, but it’s ok. I have to thank all the people who have been supporting me during the year and, also, thanks to the team.”

#99 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“Today we felt good, and from the beginning we were in the front group and I felt comfortable with the bike. From the middle of the race onwards, we lost ground a little and that made it difficult for us to overtake. We went with a short shift so as not to risk it, and otherwise we would have lost more time. Despite everything, we finished happy and in a good position, although I thought I had enough pace to fight for the podium. I thank the team for everything they have done for me; my first year in the world championship is something I will never forget. We have had a good season, finishing ninth in the standings. I want to thank everyone who has supported me and trusted in me, and to Aki for all the things he has taught me, which will surely help me continue to improve next year.”

Results (Race)

1. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 33:03.409
2. David Alonso (GasGas) +0.082
3. Ivan Ortola (KTM) +0.128
4. Collin Veijer (Husqvarna) +0.266
5. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +0.384
6. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +3.589  

Moto3 World Championship Standing 2023

1. Jaume Masia (Honda) 274 points
2. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 268 points
3. David Alonso (GasGas) 245 points
4. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 223 points
5. Daniel Holgado (KTM) 220 points
9. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 121 points 

Moto3 Teams World Championship Standing 2023

1. Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intanct GP 417 points
2. Leopard Racing 349 points
3. Red Bull KTM Ajo 344 points
4. Valresa GasGas Aspar Team 329 points
5. Angeluss MTA Team 289 points