The Indonesian Grand Prix ends with Pedro Acosta winning and Albert Arenas fifteenth.

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 team competed in the Indonesian Grand Prix race this Sunday under extreme conditions. Pedro Acosta led for most of the way, achieving his latest win. Albert Arenas fought to improve his feeling, finishing in the points with fifteenth position.

Acosta continued to demonstrate his strong form after taking the lead. Taking off from the second row, he only needed a few laps to climb to the front, despite the high pace set by those ahead of him. Once there, he managed the situation well despite the high temperatures which affected tyre wear. After setting the fastest lap and breaking the race record, the Spanish rider increased the pace further to claim his seventh victory of the season. With 277 points, he extends his lead in the Moto2 World Championship to 65.

Albert Arenas did not have the end to the Grand Prix that he had hoped. The Moto2 rider, who started the race from fourteenth on the grid, lost some positions on the first few laps after making a good start. He fought against the extreme conditions, which made it difficult to find an optimal feeling throughout the 22 laps, and began to climb places until reaching the points. He finished fifteenth, and lies in the same place in the overall standings with 62 points.

Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 now head to the Australian Grand Prix, which takes place from October 20th-22nd.

Aki Ajo – Team Manager

“The conditions here in Mandalika were again really extreme so, considering this, Pedro’s race was again a big display of his level and professionalism. Even before the race, Pedro’s plan was trying to be at the front on the opening laps, as we know that it’s even more difficult to when behind other riders to control the temperature – especially on the front tyre. We followed the plan and we congratulate him, the whole team and the partners for the performance. Albert’s weekend started quite well and on Friday and Saturday his pace was good. In qualifying we didn’t do enough, and on this kind of track and with these conditions it’s difficult to pass. If you start too far back, you are a little bit blocked by other riders. Overtaking here can be really difficult because of the temperature and the tyres. We need to focus on the next race to get a better starting position and have a good fight on the first laps to be at the front from the beginning, as our pace is good.”

#37 PEDRO ACOSTA

“It was a very tough race. The pace was very high on the opening laps. It was important to manage the tyres from the first lap onwards, because it was very hot. When I took the lead, I was able to maintain my own pace and I held on well until the end. I am very proud of the work the team have done this weekend. It is an important victory for everyone.”

#75 ALBERT ARENAS

“It was a tough race for me. I recovered positions, but after the first lap I wasn’t able to maintain the pace I wanted. We had worked a lot this weekend during practice and it has not been reflected in the race. Sometimes these things happen. Now it’s time to reset, keep learning and try again in the next race.”

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 riders finish eighth and fifth, respectively.

The Moto3 Indonesian Grand Prix provided an intense and extreme race, in which the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 duo went from strength to strength from the get-go. Jose Antonio Rueda made a great fightback at the Pertamina Mandalika Circuit and returned to the Top 5 after beginning the contest in sixteenth position. Deniz Öncü also made up positions and fought in the front group, crossing the finish line in eighth.

Öncü started the Indonesian Grand Prix race from the second row of the grid, in fifth position. After slight contact with another rider, the Turkish rider fell to eighth, but he remained in the group and began to regain positions. Öncü tried to maintain the high pace set by the leading competitors, and in the final stretch managed to reach fourth position in a tight battle. He finally crossed the finish line in eighth place, and with 155 points he remains fifth in the overall standings.

Rueda achieved one of his best results this season, when forced to fight back from sixteenth position. On the initial laps the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider managed to climb up the order, remained in the group and after the first half of the race he reached the Top 10. The Spanish rider took another step up and fought intensely with his rivals until he took fifth at the chequered flag. The 11 points put him eighth in the series.

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 team now travel to Phillip Island to compete in the Australian Grand Prix, from October 20th-22nd.

Aki Ajo – Team Manager

“We have to be happy with how things went in these extreme conditions here in Mandalika. Both Deniz and Jose Antonio finished the race in the Top 10, so we are pleased, as in these conditions many things can happen. It was a hectic race in Moto3 and it wasn’t easy for them to keep everything under control all the time. A lot happened on the last lap and, as I said, we are happy because it was a battle for survival. Of course, we are really hungry to go to Phillip Island and fight for the podium once again.”

#53 DENIZ ÖNCÜ

“Today was a tough race for me. This is a circuit where we struggle a lot with acceleration. We did our best as a team and we had a really good speed during the whole weekend. We were able to catch the frontrunners again but I was blocked on the final laps. It was tough to make a pass, but on the last lap I lost some positions because of an incident in front of me. We are consistent, we have earned some points and we will learn from this race. Now it’s time to think about Australia.”

#99 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“We were able to make a good start and gain positions. I’m very happy because it was one of the races in which we had the best start. The pace was very high and the group at the front was pushing very hard throughout the race. I lost touch a little, but on the last lap I was able to latch on again and fight. After the way this weekend went, I’m very satisfied with the result, I have learned a lot and now it’s time to think about the next race.”

Results (Race)

1. Diogo Moreira (KTM) 33:19.002

2. David Alonso (GasGas) +0.107

3. David Muñoz (KTM) +0.130

4. Collin Veijer (HUsqvarna) +0.190

5. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +0.483

8. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +0.855

Moto3 World Championship Standing 2023

1. Jaume Masia (Honda) 209 points

2. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 193 points

3. Daniel Holgado (KTM) 192 points

4. David Alonso (GasGas) 180 points

5. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 155 points

8. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 111 points

Moto3 Teams World Championship Standing 2023

1. Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP 269 points

2. Red Bull KTM Ajo 266 points

3. Leopard Racing 259 points

4. Angeluss MTA Team 248 points

5. Gaviota GasGas Aspar Team 243 point