It’s now confirmed that Jose Antonio Rueda joins Moto2 with Red Bull KTM Ajo in 2026, partnering current rider Colin Veijer.
The 19-year-old currently leads the Moto3 standings by 78 points as part of the Ajo team in that championship, and won both the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and FIM JuniorGP titles in 2023. It seems fairly likely he’ll be crowned MotoGP champion for 2025 with just six rounds left, with only Angel Piqueras less than 100 points behind.
Jose Antonio Rueda: “I’m really happy to be able to ride for Red Bull KTM Ajo in Moto2 next year. They were the ones who trusted me in my rookie year in the world championship. They believed in me and I’m really grateful to them, especially to Aki and Niklas. It’s a team I’ve always dreamed of being part of and I want to continue fulfilling my dreams with them. I hope we can enjoy many more years together. I know Moto2 is a very difficult category, and it will be tough, but we’re ready to give 100%, learn and enjoy every moment. Also, I will be sharing the box with Collin, which is something I’m really excited about, as we’ve known each other for many years. Finally, I would like to thank everyone around me, friends, family and sponsors for their unconditional support”.
Niklas Ajo, Red Bull KTM Ajo Team Manager: “We are very happy to sign Jose Antonio to maintain the journey with him that we started three years ago. I think he has great potential for the future in Moto2, so we’re very excited to have him on board again. It’s certainly a pleasure to have two riders together who come from the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup program, so we want to carry on helping them grow during next season.”
While the move to Moto2 with KTM is no surprise for Rueda, it follows the announcement that Deniz Oncu is leaving after two years with the squad (and six with KTM) to join Aron Canet at Elf Marc VDS, switching to a Boscoscuro chassis for the first time. With Jake Dixon all but confirmed for Honda in World Superbikes, the one person currently not confirmed for a ride in 2026 is team-mate Filip Salac, who sits 15th in the standings, four places about Veijer.
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