Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy website KMT a strong fourth in moto2 at CatalanGP, MotoGP team looks forward to 3-day-test
giugno 12, 2017 - KTM

KMT a strong fourth in moto2 at CatalanGP, MotoGP team looks forward to 3-day-test

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Rd. #motogp 2017 – Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (ESP)
MotoGP
KTM Rally Raid and Dakar heroes Nani Roma and Marc Coma were trackside watching all three classes in temperatures similar to a Dakar stage that they won in Mauritania or Argentina. Enduro legend Jonny Walker was also supporting his KTM a Grand Prix team mates as he took time out from training for next weekend's Erzberg Rodeo in Austria where he'll be gunning for a fourth outright win.

The Circuit de Catalunya was going to be a tough weekend for the Red Bull KTM Factory #racing squad due to the track not being in the test programme last year before the team's debut in #motogp this season, but the team worked extra hours researching set ups and data related to the new chassis that both riders now have in the garage. Although finishing just outside the points, #polespargaro raced hard today, gathering valuable data before an important three day test with the KTM RC16 here Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week. #bradleysmith didn't ride today after injuring his little finger yesterday in qualifying, but all being well, looks set to be back in action in two weeks time in Assen, Holland.

Espargaro: "I think we struggled here more than we expected. We knew it was going to be hard because of the long corners and when we need to turn, we run into some problems, especially with this asphalt as it is quite old and the grip is so low. When we have less grip it's a bit harder to turn, but to our advantage we have a three day test after this race here at Catalunya where we can improve the bike and try some new parts to try to work forward with this project."

Mike Leitner (Team Manager MotoGP): "Pol was fighting to the end of today's race in very difficult conditions out there. It was not easy at all, but the test we have over three days is very important for the engineers here and the team back at the factory in Austria. We have some ideas where we will be able to confirm some things as well as explore other avenues. There are parts already here being fitted on the bike for this test so I know we can find something. The main reason that Bradley did not ride here is because we wanted to have him back for the next race at Assen; there was just too much of a risk of infection if he'd have raced today, a risk we were not prepared to take. Bradley is missing from this test which is a big bit of bad luck for both of us but we will now split things up over the test slightly differently between Mika (Kallio) and Pol."

Moto2
Miguel Oliveira, already a three time podium man in Red Bull KTM's first season of #moto2, rode an excellent race today to bolster his fourth position in the Championship standings now the season is a third in. In his 100th Grand Prix, Miguel backed up the fifth he made last weekend at Mugello by being within one second of a taste of champagne on the podium. It was superb ride on a baking hot day. Team mate Brad Binder rode equally as hard as he recovers with more and more laps with his improving-from-injury left arm. Both riders will remain here in Barcelona for two days of testing with their KTM #moto2 bike on Tuesday and Wednesday as more upgrades and parts will be tried on the KTM.

Oliveira: "It was quite a difficult race. In fact, practically until just before the warm-up we didn’t know which tyres we were going to run. It was a gamble, although we opted for the option that most riders used. It was tough, because we never had grip, right from the beginning. It seems that only Alex Marquez found a way to get the bike going well all weekend, and he did a great job. We have taken a lot of valuable information and now we have two days of testing that will be of much help."

Moto3
With the track temperature at 11am already 45 degrees celcius, it gave the #moto3 riders some of the hardest conditions seen at a European race in recent years, but it was Spaniard Marcos Ramirez who headed the KTM charge over the line as part of the leading group, taking sixth place. Magnificent Mugello winner Andrea Migno was eighth as part of the six KTM RC250 GPs scoring points with #niccoloantonelli and #bobendsneyder eleventh and fiftheen over the line. As with the other Red Bull KTM teams, the #moto3 team will stay on to further test on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Aki Ajo (Team Manager Moto3): "It's been a positive weekend. Mugello was not easy, but after some changes to the bike and working with the riders I see some progress. Niccolo (Antonelli) has worked consistently throughout the weekend and had a good race. The final position for him was not the best, but he remained quite close to the winner and that reflects a step forward. We will try to give more in the coming races. Bo (Bendsneyder), unfortunately, did not have a good race, although at the end he was able to improve a little. I think that in the next race in Holland, his home GP, things will be much better for him. Now it's time to focus on two days of testing here, in which we will try everything possible to keep improving."

Next Race: June 25, 2017 – TT Circuit Assen (NED)

Results Race #motogp Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 2017
1. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA), Ducati, 44:41.518 min (23 laps)
2. Marc Marquez (ESP), Honda, +3.544
3. Dani Pedrosa (ESP), Honda, +6.774
4. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP), Ducati, +9.608
5. Johann Zarco (FRA), Yamaha, +13.838
18. #polespargaro (ESP), KTM, +48.993
DNS #bradleysmith (GBR), KTM

Standings #motogp 2017 after 7 of 18 races
1. Maverick Viñales (ESP), Yamaha, 111 points
2. Dovizioso, 104
3. Marquez, 88
4. Dani Pedrosa, 84
5. Valentino Rossi (ITA), Yamaha, 83
22. Espargaro, 6
23. Smith, 6

Results Race #moto2 Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 2017
1. Alex Marquez (ESP), Kalex, 42:40.502 min (23 laps)
2. Mattia Pasini (ITA), Kalex, +3.525 min
3. Thomas Luethi (SUI), Kalex, +4.452
4. Miguel Oliveira (POR), KTM, +5.322
5. Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA), Kalex, +9.930
18. Brad Binder (RSA), KTM, +24.776

Standings #moto2 2017 after 7 of 18 races
1. Franco Morbidelli (ITA), Kalex, 123 points
2. Luethi, 116
3. Marquez, 103
4. Oliveira, 83
5. Pasini, 69
18. Binder, 13

Results Race #moto3 Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 2017
1. Joan Mir (ESP), Honda, 42:11.846 min (22 laps)
2. Romano Fenati (ITA), Honda, +0.191
3. Jorge Martin (ESP), Honda, +0.279
4. Enea Bastianini (ITA), Honda, +0.462
5. Aron Canet (ESP), Honda, +0.674
KTM
6. Marcos Ramirez (ESP), KTM, +0.740
8. Andrea Migno (ITA), KTM, +1.389
9. Nicolo Bulega (ITA), KTM, +1.662
11. #niccoloantonelli (ITA), KTM, +2.088
15. #bobendsneyder (NED), KTM, +17.089

Standings #moto3 2017 after 7 of 18 rounds
1. Mir, 133 points
2. Fenati, 88
2. Canet, 85
3. Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA), Honda, 80
5. Migno, 76
KTM
8. Ramirez, 53
9. Guevara, 50
14. Bendsnyder, 17
15. Antonelli, 16