Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy website 10TH PLACE FOR SMITH AT AUSTRALIAGP AS BINDER AND ARENAS WIN IN MOTO2 & MOTO3
ottobre 28, 2018 - KTM

10TH PLACE FOR SMITH AT AUSTRALIAGP AS BINDER AND ARENAS WIN IN MOTO2 & MOTO3

Comunicato Stampa disponibile solo in lingua originale. 

MotoGP

The fast and scenic circuit of #phillipisland was again a fantastic stage for the Grand Prix of #australia as #motogp ploughed into the seventeenth round of nineteen. Changeable conditions across the weekend finally gave way to sunshine and light winds on race day for the 24th FIM World Championship meeting at the coastal venue. Pol Espargaro set off from a season-best qualifying position of 11th and with hopes of matching his 2017 performance in #australia where the team achieved one of the highest classifications of their debut year. Bradley Smith was 16th and two rows further back. Early in the 27 lap distance both riders jostled for space inside the top ten on their KTM RC16 – Smith making his customary brilliant start – as the pack circulated in close proximity. By mid-race distance Espargaro slipped back three positions and was eventually forced into the pitlane with a tyre problem. Smith reached as high as 8th spot but could not resist Aleix Espargaro and Franco Morbidelli in the last three laps and crossed the line 10th: his second-best classification of 2018. Smith“We did a good job. We saw #phillipisland as an important weekend for KTM because we knew the bike would work quite well here. The team did a fantastically because the main aim of the weekend was to try and set up the bike as best as we could to look after the rear tyre. It meant we had to sacrifice qualification a little bit yesterday but it paid off today. I had a great first lap to come from sixteenth to eighth and then tried to hold the position for as long as possible. Unfortunately towards the end I just didn't have anything left for Morbidelli or Aleix. Sepang now and it is a difficult track but I think we have some good confidence and the bike has a good setting and it working well for me. I’m optimistic we can keep the same level and take some good points.” Espargaro“I was super-angry because I think we worked well this weekend and did a lot of laps with the tyres front and rear and we put the Soft options for the race thinking it would be OK. For some reason after six-seven laps it started to drop and I couldn't open the throttle. After a few more laps it was dangerous to ride the bike so I had to stop. I don't know what else to say. We made all the processes and procedures to know the tyre 100% but it looks like it can be a lottery. We’ll talk to Michelin and try to learn from this.” Mike Leitner (Team Manager MotoGP): “Race conditions can be difficult here and so can tyre choice. It went quite well for Bradley and he ran where he we think we can be – between 8-10. We lost ninth position by four hundredths of a second: it was very close. A shame for Pol. He had a different tyre choice but then other riders also had that selection. In the middle of the race he had a very big drop which is not usual and he had to stop. So we need to analyse what happened. He should have also been able to fight for the top ten. We’ll go to Malaysia now and try to make it happen.”
Moto2For the fifth time this year Red Bull KTM Ajo had cause to celebrate a #moto2 race victory. Brad Binder built on his excellent speed on the KTM Moto2 bike through the weekend to be a major protagonist in the hectic six-rider fight at the front. The South African prevailed by just three hundredths of a second from Joan Mir for his third success of the season. Teammate Miguel Oliveira remains in the 2018 title fight after finishing 11th and in front of Francesco Bagnaia but trails the Italian by 36 points with just 50 left to win. 

Binder"It was a crazy race; I thought I was in Moto3! I made a good start, got to the front and tried to break the group, but with 13 laps to go I saw that there was no way to do that. I tried to stay in the group and save something for the end. There were a few scares involving other riders; it was a little crazy, as there were #people everywhere. I had planned to take the lead when there were two laps left and I pushed with everything I had. I was able to have a good race and take another victory, so I’m very happy. I thank the team a lot, as after the crash in FP3 I had to ride a completely new bike and it worked wonderfully. I hope that things remain the same in Malaysia."

Further information in the press release to download

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