Oliveira on the second row of the MotoGP™ grid for Misano ‘2’

MotoGP 2021 - Round 16 of 18, Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli (ITA)

- Best qualification for Oliveira since the Gran Premi de Catalunya
- Three KTM RC16s enter Q2 in damp conditions with Iker Lecuona making the cut for the first time in 2021
- Niccolo Antonelli seizes first Moto3™ Pole Position with his KTM RC4
 
After the transatlantic dash to the United States, MotoGP headed straight back to the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in San Marino for the sixteenth Grand Prix of ’21 and another weekend trying to set the pace around the flat, coastal track in chilly autumnal conditions. The KTM quartet had crucial technical data after completing round fourteen of the series at Misano, as well as a post-race test, prior to the flight to the USA.
 
Friday began in wet conditions for Free Practice 1 and 2. Come Saturday morning and the skies were still murky and damp. The asphalt was tricky to judge as it started to dry in some places but further unstable weather produced a difficult and precarious set of sessions. Miguel Oliveira and Danilo Petrucci showed decent potential through FP3 to go straight into Q2; Petrucci for the first time this year. Iker Lecuona managed to seal 2nd place in Q1 to make the cut and join his teammate in the final charge for the front rows. Brad Binder couldn’t quite find a rapid lap and his small mistake and crash in Q1 meant the South African will start the Grand Prix from 20th place.
 
In Q2, Tech3 KTM Factory Racing’s Lecuona and Petrucci were holding P2 and P3 at one stage until the final time attacks started to pour in. Oliveira’s attempt was just four tenths of a second away from Pecco Bagnaia’s Pole Position. Lecuona will launch from 8th on Sunday afternoon while Petrucci is 9th for his final home race.


 
The MotoGP sprint will get underway at 14.00 CET with 27 laps of the 4.2km course to negotiate.
 
Miguel Oliveira: “A good qualifying and I’m happy to put the bike into 5th position. I’ve been strong all weekend in different conditions even though it has been quite difficult. The weather should be a bit better tomorrow but still cold and challenging. We hope we can adapt quicker to the situation.”
 
Iker Lecuona: “It was finally a very good day. In FP3 this morning, I was struggling a little bit with the rear tyre. I thought I had the speed to be in Q2 but I needed to fight. We worked well in FP4, my feeling with the bike in the mixed conditions was very well. So, I pushed very hard also in Q1, I finished second and went to Q2. I went out with a new rear tyre and a used front tyre on my second run and I had a small crash on my last lap. Nevertheless, I’m happy, I did my maximum. It’s P8 for tomorrow and we will see what we can do from there.”
 
Danilo Petrucci:“Today we could take our chance thanks to the weather. This morning we have been quite fast in the wet. Also, this afternoon, I was pretty fast. Unfortunately, I crashed. I was pushing a lot and the front tyre wasn’t really hot enough on the left side, so I lost the front. I’m very sorry for my team! But still, it’s our best result this year. Let’s say, we had a good chance today and we took it. I’m happy about this. Tomorrow will be another day, but we start further in front and can be way more positive about that race.”
 
Brad Binder: “It was a difficult day today with the conditions. It was wet pretty much all day. It was only at the end of FP4 where we were able to get out on slicks. I felt quite confident for Q1 but unfortunately ended up crashing halfway through and that was my session done. We can still turn our weekend around but starting P20 tomorrow will be a challenge. We need to get a good start, settle into a rhythm and try to get past people as quick as we can.”
 
KTM GP Academy
 
Pole Position in Moto3 was seized by Niccolo Antonelli for the first time. The Italian shone in the atrocious conditions for the class as the day began rainy and foggy. KTM filled five of the first six slots with Filip Salac and Riccardo Rossi also on the front row.
 
Red Bull KTM Ajo teammates Pedro Acosta and Jaume Masia were 5th and 6th respectively. While Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Ayumu Sasaki was 10th. Deniz Öncü was sitting out the weekend after his penalty for incidents at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas but he was replaced by Daniel Holgado, who directly qualified for Q2 in his first ever appearance in Red Bull KTM Tech3 colors. The young Spaniard and third-placed finisher in the 2021 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup was already confirmed for the Tech3 outfit for the 2022 Moto3 campaign.
 
In Moto2 Red Bull KTM Ajo riders Raul Fernandez (9th) and Remy Gardner (14th) were just over a second from Pole Position.
 
Races: October 24th, 2021 – Moto3 11.00 CET | Moto2 12.20 CET| MotoGP 14.00 CET
 
Results Qualifying MotoGP Gran Premio Nolan del Made in Italy e dell'Emilia-Romagna
 
1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati 1:33.045
2. Jack Miller (AUS) Ducati +0.025
3. Luca Marini (ITA) Ducati +0.085
4. Pol Espargaro (ESP) Honda +0.268
5. Miguel Oliveira (POR) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +0.394
8. Iker Lecuona (ESP) Tech3 KTM Factory Racing +0.848
9. Danilo Petrucci (ITA) Tech3 KTM Factory Racing +1.095
20. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (Q1) 1:36.478
 
Results Qualifying Moto2 Gran Premio Nolan del Made in Italy e dell'Emilia-Romagna
 
1. Sam Lowes (GBR) 1:36.510
9. Raul Fernandez (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo +1.092
14. Remy Gardner (AUS) Red Bull KTM Ajo +1.315
 
Results Qualifying Moto3 Gran Premio Nolan del Made in Italy e dell'Emilia-Romagna
 
1. Niccolo Antonelli (ITA) KTM 1:48.563
2. Filip Salac (CZE) KTM +0.611
3. Riccardo Rossi (ITA) KTM +0.717
5. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo +1.019
6. Jaume Masia (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo +1.070
10. Ayumu Sasaki (JPN) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +1.789
18. Daniel Holgado (ESP) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +3.163
 
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Sebastian Kuhn
+43 676 599 0084
sebastian.kuhn@ktm.com