Collin Veijer secures 2nd grid row in Misano

Collin Veijer from the LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Moto3 team crashed in qualifying while on the provisional pole, which pushed him down to fifth place on the second row of the grid.

There was a lot going on on this sunny qualifying day in Italy, where Collin Veijer was the main contender for a perfect grid position on the 4.23 km Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. The Dutchman improved his Friday best time in P2 by an incredible 0.867s and the 19-year-old also demonstrated his strength in the following qualifying session. While almost the entire rider field was already doing their laps, Veijer set off alone and immediately set the new best time on the 40°C hot asphalt. Last year’s Moto3 rookie held on to this position until a few moments before the end of the session. Just as the rider with the starting number 95 was preparing his final attack to confirm his provisional pole, the curbs in turn 2 proved to be his undoing. Veijer touched the inside curb with his front wheel, which destabilized his Husqvarna. Unable to prevent the crash, he landed in the gravel, but fortunately remained uninjured, meaning that he will start the 20-lap thriller on Sunday at 11:00 am in the best of spirits.

Collin Veijer, P5 (Q2) – 1’40.959 (+0.454): “We improved a lot this morning, so the feeling was already good. That’s why I went into qualifying with a better feeling than I had yesterday and was confident. Things went well in qualifying, I felt strong and tried to push my laps to get into the rhythm. But then we put in a new tyre on and waited a moment until a few people went out, so I was alone on the track. I ended up doing a fast lap, but I lost the front in turn two, which was a small mistake on my part, but I tried to push to the limit. I’m sorry for my team because it’s a bit of a shame. Nevertheless, we can be happy with the second row and confident for the race tomorrow.”

Collin Veijer brilliant second in Aragon catch-up race

Collin Veijer rode Sunday one of the most brilliant races of his still-young Moto3 career in Aragon, finishing second in the race and in the championship standings.

At the start of the 17-lap race, Collin Veijer lost three places coming from ninth position, which was certainly due to the partly still-wet asphalt after overnight rain showers. When world championship leader David Alonso stole away at the front, the Dutchman put on the turbo on his Husqvarna. What followed was an incredible catch-up, in which one fastest race lap followed the next. Within just a few laps, the 19-year-old stalked his way up from 12th to second place, where he set course for the top spot. The gap of over two seconds melted away, allowing Veijer to take the race lead with five laps remaining. He even managed to pull away, but the asphalt caused his tyres to decrease more and more each lap. As a result, a four-rider battle suddenly developed, from which Jose Antonio Rueda ultimately emerged victorious after Veijer had nothing left to offer with two laps to go.

A phenomenal twelfth race of the season, which brings Collin Veijer back to second place in the world championship and gives a foretaste of the rest of the season, in which nothing has yet been decided.

Collin Veijer, P2 – (+1.985), Moto3 World Championship 2024 – P2 – 162 Points: “I am very happy because I had a difficult weekend and struggled a lot with the track’s conditions. I started the race calmly and tried to see what was possible, although I saw that David was pulling a gap. But I knew that if I rode a clean line, I would have the same pace. That’s what happened. I caught him and passed him, but I was on the medium tyre so, I tried to control the drop. Anyway, after a difficult weekend, we are back on the podium, so I am happy. Many thanks to the team, they did a great job and helped me a lot these days.”

MotorLand Aragon challenges Collin Veijer

Collin Veijer had in Aragon a challenging start to the twelfth race weekend of the season. In changeable track conditions, the Dutchman finished P9 in Qualifying 2.

The 5.08 km Motorland Aragon track offers the perfect amount of variety with its fast sections followed by numerous corners with a few meters of difference in elevation. If the weather then makes for difficult conditions, together with the highly competitive Moto3 class, you have everything you need for an exciting qualifying day.

The first sessions of the weekend saw Collin Veijer in fourth place, 0.7 seconds behind world championship leader David Alonso, who meanwhile won every practice session. Due to the still-wet asphalt on Saturday morning, Friday’s times ultimately decided who had to take part in which qualifying session. Thanks to the 1’57.842 from P1, the 19-year-old kept his place in Q2, where he finished ninth and secured a solid grid position on the third row for the 17-lap race on Sunday at 11:00 am. The talented youngster is certainly confident, as the trust in himself and his Husqvarna is high and Veijer hopes to be able to chase his next podium in the twelfth Grand Prix of the year.

Collin Veijer, P9(Q2) – 1’59.717 (+1.658): “The conditions this morning were very different to yesterday, as it was still wet on track. Nevertheless, the feeling wasn’t actually that bad. I did my best in qualifying and ended up in P9. But I’m confident, even if I’m not very happy with the position because I’m satisfied with our performance today. So, let’s see what we can achieve tomorrow.”

Collin Veijer strong fifth in Austria

Collin Veijer delivered a strong performance in Austria. The LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Moto3 rider was Sunday in the Moto3 race at the Red Bull Ring in direct contention for victory and took P5.

When the lights went out on the 4.35-kilometre Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, a top-class podium battle ensued. Collin Veijer was in the thick of it and at times ahead of the pack. Despite a solid start from third position, the Dutchman lost ground slightly in the first few corners and had to fight his way back from seventh place in the following laps, which he managed to do until the middle of the race.

The 19-year-old Dutchman also closed the gap to the top three on his own, which he attacked very successfully a little later and left behind him. It was not until five laps before the end that championship rival David Alonso overtook Veijer, who had been in the lead until then. However, the latter had other fast rivals in tow, which disrupted the rhythm of the world championship fourth-placed rider for a short time. Veijer tried with all his might to fight back, but he lost too much time due to a weakening front at the entrance to the corner, while Alsonso, Muñoz and Holdagdo fought it out at the front for the eleventh race win of the season. A final attempt to salvage fourth place was unsuccessful and so the youngster finished the Austrian Grand Prix in a strong fifth place with a further eleven championship points.

Collin Veijer, P5 – (+0.303), Moto3 World Championship 2024 – P4 – 142 Points: “Our race performance was not bad, the feeling was okay. I had to close the gap to the front and did my best to catch them. Eventually, I took the lead and then tried to ride at a faster pace. I also tried to find my rhythm and the feeling was still okay. But towards the end of the race, I lost a bit of confidence in the front. So, I had to slow down a bit and was overtaken by the others. Then, however, I couldn’t get back to the front so easily. Overall, the weekend was very strong again, so I’m very confident that we can do a good job in Aragon.”

Collin Veijer takes P3 on the front row in Spielberg

Collin Veijer finished the hard-fought Moto3 qualifying session at the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in a strong third place on row 1.

The 4.35-kilometre-long Red Bull Ring was a busy place towards midday of the qualifying Saturday, with Collin Veijer being one of the main protagonists. The 19-year-old Dutchman had already laid a good foundation on Friday with a third place in first practice, which he confirmed with two third places in P2 and the following qualifying session. It is possible that the title contender could have done even better, but unfortunately, a fast lap was cancelled due to exceeding the track limits. Nevertheless, Veijer is delighted with his front-row start for the eleventh Grand Prix of the year, in which he will try to close the gap to the top three in the world championship.

Collin Veijer, P3 – 1’40.216 (+0.159): “I think this weekend is another good one so far as we are on the front row, which is not bad. I was quite confident the whole time because I was able to set a decent lap time on every lap. We stayed out with the same tyre because I felt like I shouldn’t go in and lose a lot of time. I had also found a good rhythm, even though we had a problem with the track limits several times. So, I went to the limit every lap and tried everything to get faster. When another lap was cancelled because of the track limits, I had to do the lap again and luckily, I was even faster. So, it’s not bad, especially as we can be pretty confident because of the pace we can ride on our own. I think with slipstreaming you can easily gain four or five tenths on this track. I don’t expect a very big group for the race because nobody else can ride a really fast pace. We just have to survive the first few laps with the tyres, after that I think we can pull out a lead. Nevertheless, I think the race will be very nice, especially for the spectators!”

Collin Veijer in 2025 with Red Bull KTM Ajo in Moto2

Collin Veijer has earned a slot with the prolific Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 team for 2025 and the next phase in the 19-year old’s career journey.

The Dutchman is currently 4th in the 2024 Moto3 world championship and is negotiating only his second Grand Prix campaign. Veijer has made just 29 starts and has already grasped two victories and has appeared on the podium seven times since making his debut at the beginning of 2023.

Tall in stature and praised for his quick adaption to Grand Prix, his mature approach and natural attacking style; Veijer is one of the brightest prospects to emerge from The Netherlands this century and will step into the intermediate category next year to continue his rapid trajectory and his path in the KTM Academy.

Before coming to Moto3, Veijer fought for the 2022 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup title and also captured wins and trophies in FIM JuniorGP. He has raced in Italy and uses Spain as a training base during the racing season. Collin will accompany Deniz Öncü as part of Aki Ajo’s decorated Moto2 rider roster. The squad have won three Moto2 titles with three different riders in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and helped four racers make the step to the MotoGP™ premier class in that time frame.

Collin Veijer: “I am super-happy to have signed with Aki and the Red Bull KTM Ajo team in Moto2. KTM is present in all GP classes and this is a great move for my career. It is such a renowned team and past results speak for themselves. For sure it won’t be easy coming from Moto3 but I will prepare myself well. 2025 is the right moment to make the step, also physically the Moto2 bike will suit me better. At the same time, I realise that we are still only half way through the current season and I will continue to keep my maximum focus to reach the best possible Moto3 championship result this year. “

Aki Ako, Red Bull KTM Ajo Team Principal: “I’m very happy to have Collin on board, as we have followed him for many years. He has shown great progress and professionalism and has already made his first steps in the program by taking part in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. During his two seasons in Moto3 he has shown that he is a rider with a bright future ahead of him on the world stage. What I also respect is his focus and his sacrifice, as his life is dedicated to reaching his targets at the highest level. It is a pleasure to continue with the KTM Academy’s work and to keep pushing to get the maximum potential out of the riders.”

Collin Veijer third in Silverstone thriller

The British Grand Prix provided plenty of excitement in the Moto3 race. LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Moto3 rider Collin Veijer fought all the way to the finish line to triumph in the United Kingdom, where he finally climbed the podium in third place for the fifth time this season.

On Sunday, in slightly cooler temperatures, the Moto3 Grand Prix was held on the fast 5.901 km Silverstone Circuit and provided countless thrilling overtaking manoeuvres in the 15 laps of the race, especially in the eleven-strong leading group, which battled it out to the finish line and in which the Dutchman also in the thick of the action.

Starting the race from second on the grid, Collin Veijer lost up to five positions in the first lap and proved his world-class ability by keeping calm and finding his rhythm before attacking with great vigour towards the middle of the race. When the pace at the front increased with just under four laps to go, the 19-year-old shooting star also stepped up the pace and took over the reigns of the field for some time. However, birthday boy Ivan Ortola and world championship leader David Alonso did not give in easily either, so both of them pushed past the Dutchman, who entered the final lap in the lead, in a hard manoeuvre with physical contact, meaning that Veijer was unable to fight back in the final metres and he pass the finish line in third.

Collin Veijer, P3 – (+0.226), Moto3 World Championship 2024 – P4 – 131 Points: “Silverstone is always a very long race and the track is also very long. It’s important to conserve resources, therefore, I followed the group for a while. Sometimes I let a small gap open up, but I always had everything under control. I just wanted to enjoy the race. I felt quite good from the start, but I was lacking a bit to pull away. With six laps to go, I thought that now was the time to go to the front. I chose this moment because my pace was good, and I felt very comfortable. Finally, I saw that Ivan was able to open up a gap, which I was then able to close. I was happy with that. But in the last few laps the battles got tougher again. I went into the last lap leading, and I was aware that someone would try on the long straight. Despite the small contact with David, we made it onto the podium, which I’m very happy about. A big thanks to the team and everyone involved in this project.”

Collin Veijer back on row one (P2) at Silverstone

At the British Grand Prix, Collin Veijer from the LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Moto3 team got going as if there had never been a three-week summer break. After setting a new lap record, the Dutchman finally snatched second place on the grid.

Moto3 title contender Collin Veijer’s weekends are almost always the same. In free practice, he works intensively on the set-up of his Husqvarna and pays less attention to lap times. This is in stark contrast to the two practice sessions on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, where the Dutchman not only set the fastest practice lap on the British track with his 2’09.565 in P1 but also broke the existing lap record. Although the 19-year-old temporarily lost ground in P2, he still went into Qualifying 2 as one of the favourites, where he again fought for pole position with targeted attacks all on his own. In the end, the youngster was just 0.041s off pole man Ivan Ortola, who caught the perfect momentum in the slipstream to not only break Veijer’s lap record but also to take the lead in Q2.

Collin Veijer, P2 – 2’09.311 (+0.041): “It was a good day, there’s nothing to complain about. I already felt comfortable this morning in Practice 2, even though the session was a bit crazy because everyone was waiting to catch a slipstream. But we did our job and prepared everything for qualifying. In qualifying, however, we waited before we went out on track for the first time. I then tried to push straight away to get lap times. In the end, I’m very happy with the position we have and also with the pace we can set. Why we waited so long in the garage can simply be explained by the fact that everyone is looking for a slipstream. There is likely to be a group in the race, especially in the first few laps. So, I will try to be very consistent and then we will see how we can handle the tires. But the feeling is good and I’m even more confident because I know that we did our lap times on our own. So, I’m excited to see what we can do with slipstreaming.”

Veijer is full of vigour and optimism as he head into battle on the fast, 5.901 km Silverstone Circuit, hoping to add many more world championship points to his tally.

Collin Veijer falls victim to turn 11 at the Sachsenring

A mistake by pole man Collin Veijer destroyed the hoped-for home victory for the German LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Moto3 team. The 19-year-old Dutchman crash out of the race while in the lead.

Sometimes joy and sorrow lay so close together. In front of an almost sold-out Sachsenring, hopeful Collin Veijer took the start of the Moto3 race from pole position and bravely pushed through the first corner passages to lead the first lap of the 3.67 km long traditional racetrack. The 19-year-old’s race began to frenetic cheers and unfortunately ended differently than he had hoped. On his second lap, the Dutchman turned into the treacherous turn 11, also known as the Ralf Waldmann turn, and lost the front of his fast Husqvarna while in the lead. Horror in the faces of the fans and his team. The home podium, which he thought was safe, was buried in the gravel of a corner that forgives absolutely no mistakes, as it is the first right-hand bend after an endlessly long left-hand passage. This makes the tyres extremely sensitive to the change of direction due to the drop in temperature on the right tyre side. Veijer bravely lifted up his visibly battered machine and fought. He fought to the bitter end – for his honour, the fans and his team, who had worked so tirelessly for success this weekend. The crash did nothing to dampen the youngster’s pace and he even managed to get dangerously close to the points again. In eighteenth place, Veijer was celebrated like a winner by the German fans, which somewhat alleviated the disappointment of the mishap.

Collin Veijer, P18 – (+39.387) 2024 Moto3 World Championship – P4 – 115 Points: “I felt good, but it was unfortunate to crash. I turned into the corner, and I’ve no idea why I lost the front. I think it was just the colder side of the tyre. I could finish the race with half a bike, so we tried to get everything out of it. As long as the team is happy then so am I but I still want to say sorry to them. This was not the smartest race but let’s see what we can do after the summer break.”

Veijer and his LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Moto3 team leaves into the summer break with great gratitude for the incomparable support of the fans, from which they want to return even stronger for the Silverstone Grand Prix from the 2nd – 4th of August.

Collin Veijer storms at the Sachsenring to pole with a new lap record

For the LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Moto3 team, the German Grand Prix is already a highlight of the season. After a successful Friday, a new lap record and pole position for Collin Veijer heralds a Sunday blockbuster of superlatives.

Just a week after narrowly missing out on a home win, Collin Veijer gave his German racing team a brilliant pole position at their home Grand Prix after setting a new Moto3 lap record on his final qualifying lap to become part of the long Sachsenring history. Veijer took the lead with a 0.336 second advantage over David Alonso and Luca Lunettea, who completed the front row of the grid. The enthusiastic fans around the 3.67 km track celebrated the 19-year-old for his outstanding performance. Powered by the support of the German fans, the Dutch shooting star will be aiming for his second win of the season on Sunday in the 23-lap race, which is expected to take place in a little cooler conditions.

Collin Veijer, P1 – 1’24.885 (New Moto3 Lap Record): “It’s a great feeling to be on pole again. But even yesterday I felt pretty confident all the time and did my laps on my own. So, I’m quite happy with how things have gone here so far, even though qualifying didn’t start so well with my first run. It wasn’t good at all, because I lost time in some places. But then, with the new tyre, I tried to push to the limit and was able to set a 1:24.8. But first my lap time was cancelled because of the track limits, and I was a bit disappointed about that. Then I saw that the time was still 30 seconds off and I tried to do another lap, which ended up being perfect. I was also lucky that David Munoz didn’t cross my line because I was a bit scared that he would hold me up. So, I’m very happy with this pole position here in Germany.”

Collin Veijer finishes a photo finish thriller for home win in a close second place

Unbelievable scenes in the Moto3 race at the Dutch TT: Local hero Collin Veijer from the LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Moto3 team rode an outstanding 20-lap race, leading for almost half of the race, only to lose his home victory on the line to Ivan Ortola by 0.012s in a thrilling photo finish.

The 30th of June 2024 will be remembered. Not only by Collin Veijer but also by his thousands of fans, who proudly wore the orange CV95 shirts and came close to seeing their hero triumph at the Dutchman’s home Grand Prix. But before the 19-year-old shooting star produced one of the closest photo finishes in the history of the sport, he lost two positions at the start, but then gradually pushed his Husqvarna forwards and closed the gap to P1. He finally took the lead on lap eleven and even managed to open up a gap of almost 1s. It all looked like an Oranje summer fairytale, but on the last lap, Spaniard Ivan Ortola ignited the turbo on his KTM and wiped out what was thought was a safe lead within just a few corners. The race-deciding attack then came before the Geert-Timmer-chicane. Veijer rode on the edge to gain momentum onto the start-finish straight, but the short distance to the line was not enough to put Ortola in his place. An unbelievable 0.012 decided between a brilliant home win for the young Dutchman or a defeat, which, measured against his outstanding performance this weekend, is no defeat at all. In the end, the current world championship runner-up took home twenty valuable points and the fans around the 5.45 km TT Circuit of Assen celebrated their Collin Veijer for what he is: a winner, the hope of a motorbike-loving nation and the title contender for the 2024 Moto3 World Championship.

Collin Veijer, P2 – (+0.012), Moto3 World Championship 2024 – P2 – 115 Points: “Second place at home is also a great feeling, I’m really enjoying it. The first disappointment quickly faded after I crossed the line, because we showed our true potential here again. Nevertheless, it was also a nice feeling to pull out a gap to the cheers of the crowd. I think we can be very proud of what we showed this weekend and also with the pressure that was on us. Assen was very special for me this time, I think all the people from my home town came to Assen. It was so nice to see them all, including my aunt, my nephew and many more. A big thank you to them for their support. This also goes to all the sponsors and the entire team. But the most important thing is that we have reduced the gap in the overall standings, but we still have many races to go. Let’s see what we can achieve at the Sachsenring, the team’s home race. But for now, we want to enjoy the moment and the feelings!”

Now it’s time not to bury his head in the sand, brush the dust off his shoulders and deliver another thrilling Moto3 show in front of the German fans in a few days’ time, from the 5th – 7th of July, with unchanged enthusiasm.

Top favourite Collin Veijer on row 1 at home Grand Prix

LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Moto3 rider Collin Veijer surpasses himself at his home Grand Prix. Best times non-stop and the front row of the grid in a thrilling Moto3 qualifying session pave the way for a successful race Sunday, despite a Q2 highsider.

The Dutch TT is undoubtedly one of the absolute fan favourites and so the TT Circuit was packed in the best racing weather when the Moto3 qualifying session was opened by Dutch national hero Collin Veijer.

The local hero’s first act was to immediately set a very competitive time. This 1’40.055 was to save him the front row of the grid at the end of the Q2 session, as the youngster gave everyone a real scare while lying on the provisional pole. The Dutchman was brutally catapulted off his Husqvarna in a highsider at the entrance to the final chicane of the 4.54-kilometre TT Circuit.

His crew worked hard but were unable to get the bike and their protégé back on course in time. Anxious minutes followed, his eyes fixed on the time monitors, as the rider with number 95 was no longer able to actively intervene in qualifying. Despite everything, Veijer is regarded as the absolute top favourite for Sunday’s race, having already been fastest in both practice sessions and also holding the lap record.

His thousands and thousands of fans around the track want to see the young Oranje fighter triumph in the 20-lap race. The 19-year-old may not feel the effects of the heavy impact just yet, so we can only hope that the shooting star will be fit enough for the expected Moto3 battle on Sunday at 11:00 (CEST).

Collin Veijer, P3 – 1’40.055 (+0.309): “I feel good after the crash even though it was a big one. But I tried everything, and this is qualifying, where you have to go to the limit. I improved a little and felt I could go faster out of the last corner. But the bike started to wheelie a bit and I struggled to get it back and highsided myself. Overall, we can’t complain because I did my laps all by ourselves, without anyone in front or behind. So, I’m very happy with the performance we’re showing at the moment. I think Alonso and I have a good pace, but it’s always difficult to predict how the race will turn out with a large or a small group. Nevertheless, I will do my best to stretch the field a bit, because I feel good and so does our pace.”