The Red Bull KTM Tech3 Moto3™ squad displayed their new KTM orange colours on Monday and Tuesday at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve track during a two day-private test in Portimao. New recruit and rookie Valentin Perrone was making his debuts in the category with his new team, alongside Joel Esteban who took on the leader role of injured Jacob Roulstone, forced to sit out for a couple of weeks until he recovers from a neck injury.
Portimao Moto3™ Test
Monday
Valentin Perrone made his debuts in the category with the team on Monday morning after months of waiting to jump on the KTM machine and a busy winter training. The 17 year-old Argentinian had a main target to simply learn his new bike on the Portuguese track, the trajectories, work on a bike set up and get to know and work with his new team. Only laps are the solution, so Perrone completed a total of 67 laps on day 1 with a best time in 1’48.805 (+3.279). On the other side of the box, there was Spaniard Joel Esteban stepping in for Jacob Roulstone. With his rookie year in Moto3™ in the bag, the new KTM Tech3 recruit was bringing his experience to the garage, although day 1 was about adapting to new machinery and staff. After 67 laps, Esteban finished the day with a best lap in 1’48.629, 3.103 seconds off day 1 fastest, Angel Piqueras in 1’45.526.
Tuesday
Unfortunately, track conditions were not quite the same as the day before for day 2 of Portimao Test action, with the rain taking over the Autodromo in the morning, preventing riders from going out on track for most of the first half of the day. Later eventually, the rain calmed down, but it was under tricky conditions, windy and still rainy, that Valentin Perrone and Joel Esteban finally decided to take on the track, to work a bit in the wet. Esteban completed just 10 laps to try his bike setup in the wet, but a small crash meant that the track was too tricky to keep going and take too many risks ahead of an important test in Jerez. Valentin Perrone got his first experience in the category in the rain, and he completed 13 laps today, before calling it an end. A bit of a shame that the team could not get the wanted track time today, but there are another three day of Official Moto3™ Jerez Test coming our way next week on February 18-19-20, which we will be looking forward to.
JOEL ESTEBAN: "I am super happy with these two days with the team in Portimao. On the first day, we worked on the bike setup mainly, and in the end I felt good on the dry. Later, I had an issue that prevented us from doing a good lap time, but we solved it in the end, so I was looking forward to day 2. Today, the conditions were very tricky, wet, but I felt pretty good on the wet too with my bike setup, despite a small crash at T4. Very good two first days with the team, looking forward to continuing the work in Jerez."
VALENTIN PERRONE: "Yesterday I struggled a bit with the bike because it was my first time ever on a Moto3 machine, and it is completely different to the other bikes that I’m used to riding. Also I had to learn many new things but at the end of the day, I felt more comfortable, and we were able to find a good setting. Today in the wet conditions, it was good because I felt comfortable and also we found a good setting. So I’m happy about the progress of the two days and I’m really looking forward to continuing working at the Jerez test. By the way, super good feelings with my team, I felt at home!"
DAY 1 SESSION
1. Angel Piqueras (SPA), MT Helmets - MSI, 1'45.526
2. David Almansa (SPA), Leopard Racing, + 0.084
3. Jose Antonio Rueda (SPA), Red Bull KTM Ajo, + 0.319
24. Joel Esteban (SPA), Red Bull KTM Tech3, + 3.103
25. Valentin Perrone (ARG), Red Bull KTM Tech3, + 3.279
DAY 2 SESSION
1. Noah Dettwiler (CHE), CIP Green Power, 1'59.696
2. Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN), MT Helmets-MSI, + 0.376
3. Luca Lunetta (ITA), SIC58 Squadra Corse, + 0.469
6. Joel Esteban (SPA), Red Bull KTM Tech3, + 1.428
10. Valentin Perrone (ARG), Red Bull KTM Tech3, + 4.278
TRACK RECORDS
All Time Record: 2024 - J. Rueda (SPA) - 1'46.379, 155.3 km/h
Best Race Lap: 2024 - D. Alonso (SPA) - 1'46.985, 154.5 km/h
Best Pole: 2024 - J. Rueda (SPA) - 1'46.379, 155.3 km/h
Top Speed: 2024 - D. Holgado (SPA) - 251.7 km/h
