Moto2: Martin’s step up to KTM for 2019 confirmed

Moto3 championship front-runner Jorge Martin’s step up to the Moto2 class for 2019 has been confirmed, with the Red Bull KTM Ajo team announcing this morning that the Spaniard will replace the departing Miguel Oliveira on the orange machine next season.

A former Red Bull Rookie whose move back into the Austrian manufacturer’s fold comes as no surprise, KTM motorsport director Pit Beirer says that re-signing him was a natural step in their talent progression system.

“We are proud and happy to get this rider ‘back’! He was growing up in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and I think our philosophy is now clear to everybody. Having Jorge in Moto2 is another milestone for us because he really is one of the upcoming talents in this paddock; it underlines the effort we are making.

“Together with Aki Ajo we are trying to have this combination of experience and adding one of the youngsters in Moto2. I think it is important that we have opened a cool line to show how a rider can make steps with us through the categories. I’m really happy to have Jorge on our side; he is too strong to be one of our competitors out there!”

And with previous success under his belt in the one-make series as well as a stunning start to the 2018 Moto3 season, Martin says he’s confident that he can return to those triumphs with them next season.

“I think this is an important move for my career and I’m really happy to have found this agreement with KTM and Red Bull. It is such a competitive brand and I already cannot wait to start working this winter to attack next season. I want to learn as much as I can in the first year and fight to be at the top in the second. Obviously I have good memories of KTM from the Red Bull Rookies Cup. It is important to be together again and I hope we can get the same sort of results we managed last time!”