Rico Salmela will not be the only rider to make his Moto3 debut in 2026 wearing KTM orange: Brian Uriarte will also make his World Championship debut next year, completing the lineup of the Red Bull KTM Ajo team. The 17-year-old native of Santander (Spain), fresh champion of the Rookies Cup 2025 as well as leader of the Moto3 class of the FIM JuniorGP, will join the confirmed Alvaro Carpe riding one of the KTM RC4s fielded by Aki Ajo's team.
"I am very proud to be part of the Red Bull KTM Ajo family. First of all, I would like to thank Aki, Niklas and all the KTM and Red Bull staff for giving me this opportunity. Right now it is the best team on the grid, as you can see from the results they are getting and their history over the years, and it has always been a dream to join this team. I am very happy to have won the Red Bull Rookies Cup title and there are still a few more FIM JuniorGP rounds on the horizon, which will help me continue to prepare for this new stage," said the young Spanish rider. "I would also like to thank everyone who has contributed to this result, especially Emilio Alzamora, my family and sponsors, for all the work they are doing for me. I can't wait to get on the bike for the first time and meet the new team!"
There is also great excitement in the words of Niklas Ajo, Team Manager Red Bull KTM Ajo, who added, "We are extremely happy to engage Brian for 2026. We have been following him closely for many years already and he has proven himself to be one of the most promising and talented riders of his generation, managing to emerge from the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, fight for the title in 2024, and take the crown in 2025. We are very proud to have him on board our project - proud also of the ongoing program with Red Bull and KTM that allows us to give these opportunities - and I am sure that working together we look forward to a bright future. In addition, we are very happy to continue working with Alvaro next year. I believe they will be one of the strongest pairings in Moto3 next year."