The Red Bull KTM Ajo Team has confirmed it will start with a two-rider team in the MotoGP Moto3 World Championship in 2016. South African Brad Binder stays with the team for another season while the new recruit is the 2015 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, Dutch teenager Bo Bendsneyder. The team will continue to compete on the KTM RC 250 GP Moto3 racing machine.
KTM Motorsport Director Pit Beirer said with Red Bull KTM Ajo’s two chosen riders for the 2016 season he expected the team to maintain its position at the forefront of Moto3 competition
Pit Beirer: “It is clear that Brad Binder has this season grown under the capable hands of team manager Aki Ajo, who is one of the most respected figures in the paddock. Both he and Bo also have much to gain through the excellent Red Bull KTM Ajo team structure, and we will be doing whatever is necessary to ensure they have the quality racing bikes in the KTM RC 250 GP to get the job done.”
Aki Ajo said he was looking forward to competing with the two-rider structure in 2016 and at the same time extended his thanks to partners, including Red Bull and KTM, for their continued support of the team.
Aki Ajo: “I am very happy to continue working with Brad Binder for the second consecutive year, as this has been a good year with him. I am especially proud of the progress and the significant improvements that he has been making race after race. It’s really important to continue working together to keep growing next year. I think we are a strong partnership that can compete for the title next year.
“It’s also very nice to have Bo [Bendsneyder] on our team. He is a talented rider who comes from the Red Bull Rookies Cup, as many of our riders in the past have done. We are excited to have another rookie join the World Championship with us, and I’m sure that with him we will take many steps forward and learn a lot together.”
Binder, who has come into his own in the second half of the 2015 season is currently in seventh place on the points table with four races and 100 points still on the table. He has been twice on the podium in this, his fourth season in the Moto3 category. Bendsneyder has just completed an outstanding season in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, winning eight races and wrapping up the title in the eleventh of thirteenth rounds. Together with his one race win in 2014, Bendsneyder graduates from the Rookies Cup with a total of nine wins.
Brad Binder: “I am very happy to stay with Red Bull KTM Ajo next year and continue to progress together. It is very important to be in the same team and, after the podium and fights for victories, to finish the job next year by fighting for the title.” He said he had made a breakthrough in 2015 by focusing on improving his riding. “I’m looking forward to the remaining races this year, and starting next season stronger than ever.”
Bo Bendsneyder said advancing to the Red Bull KTM Ajo team was “a dream come true”. “My career in the World Championship will begin next year. It’s an honor to be part of the team that have already been World Champions three times and always have very fast riders competing for them.”
Miguel Oliveira, who has been at the forefront of Moto3 racing for Red Bull KTM Ajo in 2015, is moving up the Moto2 in 2016.
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