Bendsneyder takes KTM to front row while MotoGP team fights through wet conditions QUALIFYING 8th Rd. MotoGP 2017 – TT Circuit Assen (NED) MotoGP With more developments coming from a three day test after the last MotoGP in Barcelona, the weather has not played into the hands of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team this weekend with rain and cold conditions giving a slippery race track for the KTM RC16 to prove itself. Bradley Smith was back on a motorcycle after his Barcelona qualifying crash and was keen to attack at the race track where he took podiums in 125cc and Moto2 Grands Prix. He was happy with his pace even though the position did not reflect the technical lessons learned by the No.38 crew. Team mate and Moto2 winner here in 2013 Pol Espargaro had great speed through the speed traps but struggle with grip in a session that was wet and then dying. They were 19th and 22nd. Espargaro: "It was really difficult because this morning although I wasn't ultra fast I was comfortable on the bike in the wet. We had everything ready in case it rained to push for a good lap time but into qualifying during which it was wet, something changed and it felt quite slippery out there so I was spinning the rear tyre up on the straight a little. I thought we were well positioned after this morning but that's the way it goes. However, tomorrow is the race and it will be dry so let's see what goes on tomorrow because it's better for the fans if it's dry." Smith: "It wouldn't be Assen if we didn't have these rain showers but I was really pleased with the step that we took this afternoon as this morning the gap was quite big, but we've reduced that now as I felt so much better on the bike and more comfortable. In terms of grid position, of course I'd like to have done a little bit more there but some of the stuff we have learnt today we can transfer across to our dry settings and put together a solid warm up in the morning and be ready for 26 laps so we can fight for some points." Sebastian Risse (Technical Director MotoGP): "The main topic of the day was to react to the conditions, be flexible and ready, and this we managed. On Bradley's side we made a technical step forward and that was great but we learnt about running in the wet so now we have an idea about what might happen tomorrow." Moto2 Miguel Oliveira again rode brilliantly aboard the Red Bull Ajo KTM Moto2 bike today to head the second row of the grid, just 0.14 seconds behind the pole position and Championship leader. What's even more impressive is that the result has been achieved on the KTM's debut at the Assen race track as the project enters only its eighth Moto2 race weekend. Moto3 World Champion with KTM, Brad Binder, starts 17th in his best qualifying position of the year so far as he continues to recover from an arm injury. Oliveira: "In the morning, in the wet, we found it very difficult. I had practically no feeling with the bike, especially with the rear. Luckily, we were able to have a qualifying session with some dry laps and a better feeling, fulfilling our objective of getting onto the first or second row. Tomorrow we will have to complete a strong first lap and fight to be among the top three. We will not know what we can aspire to until the middle of the race, but I'm eager to fight and take risks for the podium -or even the victory." Binder: "We have improved today, and in fact it is my best placing in a QP since I arrived in Moto2, but we are still far from where we would like to be. It is a step in the right direction though; it has been a long time since I have felt as comfortable as I felt today, so I am happy. In the wet I think I'm in very good shape, although in mixed conditions I found things a little harder. Hopefully tomorrow in the race we can improve further and gain positions, as we have done before this year." Moto3 The packed Dutch grandstands had fans on their feet today when Bo Bendsneyder  sped to second position on the grid for his first ever front row start and his highest ever qualifying position in Grand Prix racing. The pace of Bendsneyder on the KTM RC250 GP has been supremely evident over two days of practice and qualifying at Assen with a time in the dry just 0.8 seconds off the fastest rider yesterday and being fastest in a full wet session this morning, Saturday. With a wet track to learn, he stayed out for the whole session, never entering the pits once to leave him fastest and half a second ahead of the rest. Red Bull Ajo KTM's Bendsneyder knows what winning is all about at this race track having won three out of the four Red Bull Rookies races he competed in during 2014 and 2015 on his way to the Championship title in the latter year. Team Sky VR46 rider Nicolo Bulega backed up the pace of KTM to take 3rd on the grid, ensuring himself of a clear view down towards the first corner. Niccolo Antonelli had an off this morning that injured his back but rejoined the track for qualifying where he was making great progress only for another spill at turn 11. He will start 25th. Bendsneyder: "Today Jorge (Martin) was very strong. This year he is the poleman in Moto3, but for us to start from second is a very good position. We'll see what the weather is like tomorrow, but I think we can be very happy with the work we've done. It was not easy to ride in these conditions and on this wet asphalt, and we have managed to be fast and consistent, which is very important. I am very motivated about racing at home, and in front of this magnificent crowd that are supporting me at every moment. Yesterday was also very good, our pace is not bad and in the wet we are at a good level. I'm looking forward to the race tomorrow." Bulega: "At the beginning of the qualifying I tried to impose my pace to get confident in these conditions. I scored a good lap time, but I kept pushing. On the dry tarmac it seemed to ride on the soap. A very particular situation to manage and, in fact, I have achieved this first row in the preliminary stages of the session. Tomorrow it will be a dry race, with a similar conditions as yesterday, so we need to check the data." Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Total domination from Can Öncü in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Race 1 at Assen as the 13-year-old Turk ran away from the field. Kazuki Masaki took a superb second, the 16-year-old Japanese getting the better of an incredible 12 rider battle and just beating points leader Aleix Viu across the line. From pole Öncü was completely in a race of his own after the first couple of laps on the KTM RC250 RB and halfway through the 16 laps he had an 8 second lead. Öncü: “Of course I’m happy with that. I didn’t make a perfect first lap and got past by a couple of riders, I had to say to myself, ‘Come on Can!’. I got in front and I just pushed and pushed to get away. Once I saw that I had a good gap I just kept it but I wasn’t really pushing the limit, I could have gone quicker but I knew that I didn’t have to, I didn’t have to take any chances. The bike was great, we don’t need to change anything, it is ready to go tomorrow.” As an aside, our congratulations go to Johann Zarco who took his first pole position in MotoGP today, proving that a Red Bull Rookies Champion can make it through to the forefront of MotoGP. Races: June 10, 2017 – Moto3 11:00 | MotoGP 13:00 CET | Moto2 14:30 | Red Bull Rookies Cup 16:00 Results Qualifying MotoGP TT Circuit Assen 2017 1. Johann Zarco (FRA), Yamaha, 1:46.141 min 2. Marc Marquez (ESP), Honda, +0.065 sec 3. Danilo Petrucci, (ITA), Ducati, +0.385 4. Valentino Rossi (ITA), Yamaha, +0.564 5. Scott Redding (GBR), Ducati, +1.433 KTM 19. Pol Espargaro (ESP), KTM, +1.816 22. Bradley Smith (GBR), KTM, +2.307 Results Qualifying Moto2 TT Circuit Assen 2017 1. Franco Morbidelli (ITA), Kalex, 1:38.468 min 2. Takaaki Nakagami (JAP), Kalex, +0.101 sec 3. Thomas Luethi (SUI), Kalex, +0.115 4. Miguel Oliveira (POR), KTM, +0.147 5. Fabio Quatararo (FRA), Kalex, +0.428 KTM 17. Brad Binder (RSA), KTM, +1.055 Results Qualifying Moto3 TT Circuit Assen 2017 1. Jorge Martin (ESP), Honda, 1:57.595 min 2. Bo Bendsneyder (NED), KTM, +0.829 sec 3. Nicolo Bulega (ITA), KTM, +1.713 4. Nakarin Atiratphuvap (THA), Honda, +2.461 5. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA), Mahindra, +2.594 KTM 25. Niccolo Antonelli (ITA), KTM, +4.260 Results Race 1 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup TT Circuit Assen 2017 All riders on KTM RC250 RB bikes 1. Can Öncü (TUR), 28:43.633 min (16 laps) 2. Kazuki Masaki (JAP), +4.938 3. Aleix Viu (ESP), +5.009 4. Matthias Meggle (GER), +5.255 5. Rory Skinner (GBR), +5.287 Standings Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2017 after 3 of 13 races 1. Viu, 52 points 2. Masaki, 47 3. Öncü, 41 4. Skinner, 36 5. Ai Ogura(JAP), 33 PHILIPP GRÜNBERGER PR MANAGER MOTOGP philipp.gruenberger@ktm.com 0043 664 6217921 www.motogp.com www.ktm.com | media.ktm.com  Facebook | YouTube | Twitter | Instagram