Toba joins Red Bull KTM Ajo

Kaito Toba will switch from Honda Team Asia to Red Bull KTM Ajo for the 2020 Moto3 World Championship.

The 19-year-old began this season in perfect style with victory in Qatar, making him the first ever Japanese winner in the Moto3 class.

Toba joins Red Bull KTM Ajo

Kaito Toba will switch from Honda Team Asia to Red Bull KTM Ajo for the 2020 Moto3 World Championship.

The 19-year-old began this season in perfect style with victory in Qatar, making him the first ever Japanese winner in the Moto3 class.

However, Toba hasn't been on the podium since and a nightmare nine non-scores out of 13 races means he has slipped to 16th in the standings.

Toba will thus aim for a fresh start with Ajo and KTM, which won the 125GP title in 2008 and 2010, then the Moto3 crown in 2012 and 2016.

"I’m very happy to be joining Red Bull KTM Ajo for the 2020 season," Toba said. "The team have had some great riders with them in the past and they have won several World Championship titles so it will be an honour to become part of that family.

"I’m really looking forward to starting my work with them. My goal for next year is to be competitive in every session and every race in order to get the best results possible."

“I’m very happy to have Kaito on our team next season," said team manager Aki Ajo. "He is young and talented as we saw from his time in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and the Asia Talent Cup. In the World Championship he has also shown great potential, getting on the podium this season.

"The Moto3 category is very competitive and tight, so we need an experienced rider with a competitive style. I expect we will see him fight for the top positions in 2019.”

Debut Valencia winner Can Oncu currently rides the lone Ajo Moto3 machine, but has scored just four points this season, then broke his collarbone at Misano (where he was replaced by twin brother Deniz). Ajo is expected to run a second bike in 2020, but Oncu is yet to be confirmed...

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