Moto2: Pedro Acosta and Agusto Fernandez confirmed to Red Bull KTM Ajo
Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernandez will race for Red Bull KTM Ajo in 2022.
Moto3 rookie superstar Pedro Acosta and experienced Moto2 race winner and podium finisher Augusto Fernandez will pair up in the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 team for 2022. The 17-year-old Acosta and 23-year-old Augusto Fernandez who approaches his sixth Moto2 season will replace the Tech3 KTM MotoGP bound pair of Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez.
Pedro Acosta has dominated headlines this year with his unbelievable Moto3 rookie campaign which is the most successful in history, no rookie has won as many races as he has, the step into Moto2 will continue Acosta’s Red Bull KTM journey after winning the 2020 Red Bull Rookies cup, graduating into the Ajo Moto3 team and now stepping up into Moto2 with the experienced Fernandez joining him in the garage.
Augusto Fernandez’s experience in the class and ability to take regular podiums bodes well for the team with his experience being used as a tool to aid the transition from Moto3 to Moto2 for Acosta alongside battling for the World Championship, as we’ve seen in 2020 pairing a rookie with an experienced rider in Raul Fernandez and Remy Gardner has brought out the best in the pair as they sit 1-2 in the Moto2 World Championship currently with eyes on the title.
Pedro Acosta: “Jumping to Moto2 was my goal because I believe it’s the step I need to make. Of course, there is always more to learn – and I could do that in Moto3 – but when it comes to details and my development as a rider then it feels like the right move. It’s a big advantage to stay in the Red Bull KTM Ajo team as we now have a year of working together and it’s always important to keep a good and positive feeling with the people around you. The team have really helped me in my first world championship year. It’s been a big step into the world championship but I worked for it and I’m happy with how things have been going.”
Augusto Fernandez: “I’m really happy and satisfied to be joining Red Bull KTM Ajo. The team has been a reference in the category now for many years by winning races and fighting for championships. I think that experience of going for titles will really help me next year and I’m already looking forward to working with them.”
Aki Ajo, Team Principal: “We’ve had a very strong season in Moto2 with Remy and Raul and there are still a few races to go but looking to 2022 we are very happy to have another couple of great riders with Pedro and Augusto and a promising combination of experience and youth. We have known Augusto for some time and have seen his career and results. He has shown big potential and I think we can achieve great things together. Pedro’s rookie year in Moto3 has been something special and even more is coming. The step to Moto2 after just one season in Moto3 is a big one but if there is one racer that can make this step then it’s Pedro. We have a lot of trust in him and will, of course, fully support him. Together with Red Bull and KTM I am confident we have selected the right riders for our KTM GP Academy for the future.”
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsport Director: “We are very pleased to announce the Moto2 rider line-up with Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernandez for our KTM GP Academy. Together with Red Bull KTM Ajo we have the best possible structure to support both riders in their next challenge. Aki Ajo and his team have played a fundamental role in the careers of many riders and we can be proud to have him by our side for the next project in rider development. It is a great pleasure to support Pedro’s desire to move up from Moto3 to the next category. What he has shown in his first World Championship season is outstanding and we believe he can keep the momentum going. He will continue to focus on his goal for 2021, but we will then tackle the next challenge together. With Augusto we welcome another promising talent to our Red Bull KTM family. He has shown great signs and we are happy to have an experienced Moto2 rider in our line-up. I am sure that under Aki’s guidance he can make the next level in performance and we will celebrate some exciting results in the near future.”
