Batteries were fully recharged during the summer break, and it was time for the second half of the season to kick off for the Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Moto3™ team, with Valentin Perrone and Jacob Roulstone back in action on Friday for round 13, the BWIN Grand Prix of Austria. Both were eager to fly the orange flag high on KTM’s home turf, the iconic Red Bull Ring. Valentin Perrone impressed in Spielberg, as the young rookie was second fastest of the day as he qualified directly to Q2 for his first time in Moto3™ on the Austrian layout. Despite a good feeling, Jacob Roulstone could not make it to the top 14, and he will have to go through Q1 on Saturday.
Grand Prix of Austria
After a very encouraging first half to his Moto3™ rookie season, during which we saw him take his maiden podium in the lightweight class at the Dutch GP, Argentinian Valentin Perrone was ready to begin the intense second half of the season. The young rookie showed great confidence all day on Friday at the Red Bull Ring. Perrone was quick to adapt to the Austrian layout as the young ‘Coyote’ was already second fastest of FP1 this morning, just 0.175 seconds off Angel Piqueras who set the first benchmark of the weekend. Later in the afternoon, Valentin confirmed his good form and his position as one of the protagonists of the weekend. With just ten minutes left in Practice, Perrone sat in a provisional P2 with a fastest lap in 1’40.481. Time attacks began, many riders improved, and Valentin made a significant late improvement to a 1’40.076, one that saw him take the second spot of Practice. We’re heading to Q2 directly, a nice one for the first day back at school.
Australian Jacob Roulstone was also excited to reunite with the team and get back to it after a great summer. The young Aussie went into the break with a great feeling after he topped the Brno Moto3™ test post-Czech GP. Back in action on KTM’s turf, Jacob took the 12th time of Free Practice 1 this morning with a best in 1'41.487, less than 1 second to the fastest of the morning. Lap times were faster in the hot afternoon Practice in Spielberg, and Jacob was in the ‘danger zone’ in P14 just 7 minutes to the end of the session, with a fastest lap in 1’41.401. The Red Bull KTM Tech3 rider tried to give it all in the last time-attacks, but he came a bit short as his last lap in 1'41.191 placed him in 16th. Jacob will have to go through Q1 tomorrow at lunch time. Before that, we’ll be back on track at 8:40 LT with Free Practice 2!
VALENTIN PERRONE: "I am super happy with our first day in KTM’s home! Straight from the first lap, I felt super comfortable on the bike, and we did a really good first session. In the afternoon, our pace was strong too, we managed to make one great lap, just 0.1 seconds to the first, so it is very positive and encouraging for us! Let’s keep working and enjoying the weekend here in Austria, it is such a great place!"
JACOB ROULSTONE: "I thought we had made really good progress in the test in Brno before the break, but it is disappointing to arrive here and struggle. We could not keep the pace with the rest of the riders, so we have a lot of work to do tonight if we want to try to be more competitive tomorrow."
PRACTICE SESSION RESULTS
1. Angel Piqueras (SPA), MT Helmets-MSI, 1'39.918
2. Valentin Perrone (ARG), Red Bull KTM Tech3, +0.158
3. Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN), MT Helmets-MSI, +0.320
16. Jacob Roulstone (AUS), Red Bull KTM Tech3, +1.273
TRACK RECORDS
All Time Record: 2025 - A. Piqueras (SPA) - 1'39.918 - 156.6 km/h
Best Race Lap: 2024 - T. Suzuki (JPN) - 1'40.092 - 156.3 km/h
Best Pole: 2024 - I. Ortola (SPA) - 1'40.057 - 156.4 km/h
Top Speed: 2024 - T. Suzuki (JPN) - 224.2 km/h
