Uriarte and Salmela to Join Red Bull KTM Moto3 Line-Ups for 2026

Rising stars Brian Uriarte and Rico Salmela graduated from the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and FIM JuniorGP to make their full-season debuts in the Moto3 World Championship.

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Red Bull KTM Ajo and Red Bull KTM Tech3 have confirmed their 2026 Moto3 rider line-ups, welcoming two highly rated rookies to the world championship grid. Spanish prodigy Brian Uriarte will step up with Red Bull KTM Ajo alongside Alvaro Carpe, while Finland’s Rico Salmela will join Red Bull KTM Tech3 to race alongside Valentin Perrone.

Both youngsters will debut on the all-conquering KTM RC4, a machine that has dominated the 2025 season by winning all 15 rounds to date.

Uriarte arrives with momentum after clinching the 2025 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup title at Misano. The 17-year-old from Santander has also been a standout in FIM JuniorGP this year, with five race wins on Grand Prix circuits across Spain, France, and Italy. Uriarte, who was runner-up in the 2024 Rookies Cup, now follows in the footsteps of talents like Pedro Acosta and David Alonso.

Salmela, also 17, will become the only Finnish rider on the MotoGP paddock in 2026. A consistent frontrunner in both the Rookies Cup and JuniorGP, he has already bagged four podiums in 2024 and five consecutive top-three results in 2025. His arrival at Tech3 forms a unique Finnish-Argentine duo alongside Perrone, who makes his full Moto3 debut in 2025.

Uriarte expressed his excitement: “I’m very proud to be part of the Red Bull KTM Ajo family. It has always been a dream to join this team, and now I can’t wait to get on the bike and meet everyone. Winning the Rookies Cup was incredible, and this next step means a lot to me and everyone who has supported me.”

Salmela added: “This season has been good and has paid off because I’m going to one of the best teams in the paddock. Tech3 has so much experience, and I’ll prepare myself as best as I can for 2026. Thanks to KTM, Red Bull, and Tech3 for trusting me.”

Red Bull KTM Ajo team manager Niklas Ajo praised Uriarte’s progression, calling him “one of the most promising riders of his generation”, while Tech3 boss Hervé Poncharal described Salmela as “a talented youngster at the perfect moment to step up.”

The announcements underline KTM’s continued commitment to nurturing the next generation of MotoGP stars through its Red Bull-backed talent ladder, bridging the gap from youth competitions to the world stage.