2022 KTM GP Academy, 18 of 20, Phillip Island – Race
The Animoca Brands Australian Grand Prix was the scene of riding eighteen out of twenty in MotoGP™ 2022 and the KTM GP Academy provided the podium effects in Moto3™ for Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Deniz Öncü and in Moto2™ for Red Bull’s Pedro Acosta KTM Ajo riding a sunny, windy, bloodless Phillip Island. • Silver medal in Moto3 for Deniz Öncü after a thrilling chase to the line • Four KTM RC4 machines finish in the top ten most sane • Pedro Acosta starts P8 and finishes 2nd in 25 fastest laps of the Australian Moto2 course • A rare mistake by Augusto Fernandez means the Spaniard follows Ai Ogura by 3. 5 points in the Moto2 World Championship standings with only two circulars and 50 points to overcome. Moto3 A host of KTM RC4s found room with three teams ahead of Moto3 and the opening race of the day at Phillip Island. Many of the young recruits and hopefuls were competing at the Victorian venue for the first time after the enforced 3-year hiatus since the last World Championships in the city. Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Deniz Öncü was one of the quartet riders to win the race and provided fantastic entertainment at the time over the 23-lap distance. The Turk was beaten in the race to the flag by a narrow 3 tenths of a time, but still in control to toast his moment on the podium this year. Deniz Öncü: “We had a very smart race today and I am pleased that we have temporarily become a leading organization of only 4 riders so that we can fight well without wasting too many positions. On the last lap, two drivers went off course and I told myself that I had to accelerate and overtake. I am satisfied to finish the moment today and get back on the podium after my various injuries during the last two weeks. Jaume Masia, from Red Bull KTM Ajo, added the last point for 15th place in Australia, while Adrián Fernández took 15th place. Daniel Holgado crashed after getting entangled with another rider. Moto2 Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Pedro Acosta raced Phillip Island for the first time in Grand Prix competition. The Moto3 World Super Champion was able to finish second behind Alonso López for his fourth podium appearance of the year. The team is still in search of its consecutive Moto2 champion title despite the fall of Augusto Fernández from 3rd position in Australia. The Spaniard was defending a slim margin of 1. 5 points towards Phillip Island and started the 25-lap race from 2nd on the grid. Fernandez wrestled with his teammate until he lost the front at Turn 2 and crashed into the grass. At the checkered flag, Fernández lost some ground in qualifying to Ai Ogura. The hole is now 3. 5 numbers. Pedro Acosta: “I think for many other people it was the hardest race of our lives! With the wind and the bloodless, it was not easy. The team did very well and I felt very comfortable, so I have to thank them for their efforts. We climbed the occasional podium, which in the end is important, and we are already thinking about Malaysia and the next race. MotoGP™ moves without delay to the Sepang International Circuit this week for the penultimate round of the program with the Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix. Moto3 Results Animoca Brands Australian Grand Prix 1. Izan Guevara (ESP), GASGAS 37:38. 7622. Deniz Oncu (TUR), Red Bull KTM Tech3 +0. 3453. Sergio Garcia (ESP), GASGAS +0. 4604. Ayumu Sasaki, (JPN), Husqvarna +0. 5605. Stefano Nepa (ITA), KTM +7. 42815. Jaume Masia (ESP) Red Bull KTM Garlic +22. 41418. Adrian Fernandez (ESP) Red Bull KTM Garlic +41. 826DNF. Daniel Holgado (ESP) Results Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 Australian Grand Prix Animoca Brands 1. Alonso Lopez (ESP) 39:14. 9472. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull KTM Garlic +3. 5563. Jake Dixon (GBR) +9,583DNF. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo Sebastian Kuhn – KTM photos