Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy website Good progress in hot qualifying for Red Bull KTM factory racing at ItalianGP
giugno 04, 2017 - KTM

Good progress in hot qualifying for Red Bull KTM factory racing at ItalianGP

Comunicato Stampa disponibile solo in lingua originale. 

MotoGP

With a new chassis freshly delivered to both riders from Austria for this weekend, the Red Bull KTM Factory #racing riders worked hard to further improve the working window for the KTM RC16. It was a hot day in the Tuscan countryside with the track temperature hitting 54 degrees celcius – as warm as it is in Malaysia – meaning lap times were actually a little slower than last year for the pole position battlers. However, with KTM progress was found technically with the bike that is #racing at its sixth GP tomorrow. Indeed, the #motogp class has produced some exceptionally close times this weekend with the top twelve on the grid split by just 0.9 seconds over a 106 second lap proving this is the very pinnacle of prototype motorcycle #racing.

Espargaro"Honestly I think it's the track where we have made the biggest improvement this season because normally when we go to a track such as this we take too much time than normal to set up the bike because these are difficult tracks, plus, we've not been here with this new engine and this new bike so everything is not easy for us when we start at a 'new track'. We started Friday with a few problems on the bike but we've worked and improved most of them so by the end we finished less than one second from the front row, so, this means we are not bad at a long track like this. We have some work to do tonight but I think we have done a good job today."

Smith"Today we made another good step in the right direction by improving 1.1 seconds so I'm happy. We had a problem in qualifying with the soft tyre so I had to go with the medium which is never the ideal one to qualify on, but nevertheless in these tricky conditions and in this heat we found some problems with rear grip. Tomorrow is going to be a long one – 23 laps – in these conditions with these tyres and not making any mistakes. I was pleased with my FP4 where we did a full run on race tyres to see where we're at: I still feel quite comfortable in that area so all in all I feel prepared for tomorrow after we try some small changes in the warm up just to find a few more tenths and something in the pocket for the race. Overall a good day."

Sebastian Risse (Technical Director MotoGP): "In general I am quite relieved with the results we are having. Looking at the position for sure it doesn't sound so sweet but the way we went forward and looking at the lap times, another step is over the race distance. Comparing to when we tested here we have made big steps during this weekend and they are positive, but we now have to put them together for the race, understand tyres for the race and some settings to see how we can make it physically easier for the rider over the race distance. I am more happy than the results show." 

Moto2
Reigning Moto3 World Champion Brad Binder returned to the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 KTM this weekend after missing three races as he recovered from injury. He made a stunning return yesterday to be 7th overall but slipped to 24th today. 2015 winner here, Miguel Oliveira, built well throughout practice to be on the third row on his KTM Moto2 bike. 

Oliveira"Just as we did yesterday, today we worked well and experienced another positive day. We were able to improve our best time of the weekend, even though the heat was extreme, thus getting a good position to start the race from tomorrow. We have improved our setup and we got the most out of the used tyres, completing my best laps with them. It will be interesting to see what the race pace is tomorrow; we will have to get a good start and place ourselves in a group as far forward as possible. Logically we will try to get the maximum from the race, and place as high up as we can."

Binder"It had been a weekend that was going well. We had made a good start and I felt pretty good. Yesterday I felt that we had improved a lot and that my hand had a good reaction after completing the first few laps. However, this morning I woke up with stiffness and swelling in my muscles and I had to force things with my elbow a lot all day. I ended up with a lot of pain. We knew it could happen and it is normal after the operation. Tomorrow we will try again and we will be stronger all the time."

Moto3
Having won the past two Moto3 races at #mugello with the KTM RC250 GP, the Red Bull KTM Ajo team pushed hard in the Italian heat this afternoon with Bo Bendsneyder securing 9th position for the second race on the bounce today, while team mate Niccolo Antonelli was just over a tenth of a second back in 12th. There may be some changes to the grid in the coming hours from Race Direction with penalties possibly handed out to some riders tonight.

Bulega"It was a thrilling qualifying: unfortunately the high side has complicated the plans, but thanks to the great work of all the mechanics and the whole team I was able to get back on track for my last attempt. I was alone, I gave my best, but it's not easy to be fast alone on this track. I gave my 100% and I am very happy with this second row. I can not wait for the race."

Antonelli"The qualifying practice went quite well; The problem was that at first we put the soft tyre on, and I didn’t feel so comfortable. After that, I improved and climbed positions. I knew I could be faster than I had been in the morning. I waited until the last attempt to set my best lap, without many riders on track and with no slipstream. The result was good, with me climbing up to ninth position. I am happy with QP today. I think there will be a very big group tomorrow, so we need to be very strong to fight with the frontrunners. We'll see what happens."

Races: June 4, 2017 – Moto3 11:00 | Moto2 12:20 | #motogp 14:00 CET

Results Qualifying #motogp Autodromo del #mugello 2017 

1. Maverick Vinales (ESP), Yamaha, 1:46.575 min
2. Valentino Rossi (ITA), Yamaha, +0.239 sec
3. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA), Ducati, +0.260
4. Michele Pirro (ITA), Ducati, +0.303
5. Dani Pedrosa (ESP), Honda, +0.424
Other KTM
18. #polespargaro (ESP), KTM, +1.365
22. #bradleysmith (GBR), KTM, +2.019

Results Qualifying Moto2 Autodromo del Mugello 2017
1. Franco Morbidelli (ITA), Kalex, 1:51.679 min
2. Alex Marquez (ESP), Kalex, +0.036
3. Mattia Pasini (ITA), Kalex, +0.079
4. Thomas Luethi (SUI), Kalex, +0.366
5. Takaaki Nakagami (JAP), Kalex, +0.494
Other KTM
9. Miguel Oliveira (POR), KTM, +0.810
24. Brad Binder (RSA), KTM, +1.537

Results Qualifying Moto3 Autodromo del Mugello 2017
1. Jorge Martin (ESP), Honda, 1:57.176 min
2. John McPhee (GBR), Honda, +0.148
3. Joan Mir (ESP), Honda, +0.194
4. Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA), Honda, +0.419
5. Nicolo Bulega (ITA), KTM, +0.592
Other KTM
6. Juanfran Guevara (ESP), KTM, +0.736
8. Marcos Ramirez (ESP), KTM, +0.802
9. Bo Bendsneyder (NED), KTM, +0.817
12. Niccolo Antonelli (ITA), KTM, +0.947

PHILIPP GRÜNBERGER
PR MANAGER MOTOGP
philipp.gruenberger@ktm.com
0043 664 6217921