Espargaro takes 13th on the British Grand Prix grid 

MotoGP 2019  - Round 12, Silverstone Circuit (GBR)

MotoGP reactivated at the UK’s historic home for motorsport – the Silverstone Circuit in England’s midlands – for the twelfth round of nineteen this year and the rain and cancellation of 2018 was partially forgotten with warm sunshine and a decent climate at the fast and long layout today.

The comprehensive resurfacing work at Silverstone was positively received by the riders as lap records tumbled through the first Free Practice sessions on Friday and the crucial Qualification runs during Saturday afternoon. Red Bull KTM’s Pol Espargaro took his factory RC16 to 13th place in Q1 and was just 0.4 of a second from making the cut to Q2. His chrono of 1:59.549 represented an improvement of three seconds from 2018.

Teammate Johann Zarco had to wait until late into Q1 to make his time attack after a technical problem with his first race bike, and was also slithers of a second from entering Q2. The Frenchman was just 0.01 behind Espargaro and will line-up adjacent to the Spaniard on the grid.

Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Miguel Oliveira showed promising speed on Saturday around the old venue and his 8th fastest lap-time caught the eye in FP3. The Portuguese ended the day ranked behind Zarco in 15th - to create an all-KTM row - while Hafizh Syahrin was 20th; the Malaysian still feeling his way back to pace after his heavy crash at the Red Bull Ring two weeks ago.

The GoPro British Grand Prix gets underway at a later time (CET) tomorrow but MotoGP occurs at 14.00 as the second race on the schedule.

Pol Espargaro: “I’m quite happy and we made a fast lap but I was losing three tenths and that stopped me entering Q2, which was frustrating. I was expecting FP3 to be better for us. Anyway, we have good information and we have to use it for tomorrow. I’m looking forward to the race because I was quick in FP4 with the hard tyre and we have good rhythm but we must work on the fourth sector to not give that time away.” 

Johann Zarco: “I’m happy and the progression was interesting. I had the potential to go into Q2 in FP3 but just missed a few tenths and it was still possible to improve. In the afternoon I was a bit unlucky with the first bike and the mechanical problem and I knew I had one chance with the second bike that was fitted with the soft option. I made a good lap and had Pol and [Alex] Rins as a reference. For the performance we have so far here at Silverstone it was a good day.”

Miguel Oliveira: “Overall, today has been difficult. We managed to do our best to be fast. This morning, we were realistically thinking about Q2, but didn’t [make it] by less than a tenth of a second. We knew, that Q1 was going to be difficult but we did our best and finally, we have a quite unique Qualifying with one row full of KTM’s. Tomorrow we will see how our pace is.”

Hafizh Syahrin: “In comparison to yesterday I improved my time and my position. Our plan for tomorrow is to find a steady pace in Warm Up and use this during the race. The main target is to stay upright. I still need to improve something on the bike, as I still struggle in turning but we will work hard in order to find a better setup for the race tomorrow.”

Moto2 & Moto3

Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Brad Binder emerged with the 8th best effort in the Moto2 Q2. The South African was just 0.5 of a second from the Pole Position mark set by Alex Marquez. In Moto3 Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team’s Raul Fernandez will sit on the front row of the grid courtesy of a fastest lap that placed the Spaniard in 3rd. Can Öncü is on the ninth row and 25th spot.

Races: August 25th, 2019 – Moto3 12.20 | MotoGP 14.00 CET | Moto2 15.30

Results Qualifying MotoGP Silverstone 2019

1. Marc Marquez (ESP), Honda 1:58.168
2. Valentino Rossi (ITA), Yamaha +0.428
5. Jack Miller (AUS), Ducati +0.434
4. Fabio Quartararo (FRA), Yamaha +0.444
5. Alex Rins (ESP), Suzuki +0.502
13. Pol Espargaro (ESP), Red Bull KTM 1.59.549 (Q1)
14. Johann Zarco (FRA), Red Bull KTM 1:59.648 (Q1)
15. Miguel Oliveira (POR), Red Bull KTM Tech3 1:59.758 (Q1)
20. Hafizh Syahrin (MYS), Red Bull KTM Tech3 2:00.700 (Q1)

Results Qualifying Moto2 Silverstone 2019

1. Alex Marquez (ESP) Kalex 2:04.374
2. Jorge Navarro (ESP) Speed Up +0.043
3. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) Kalex +0.213
8. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Ajo +0.527
19. Jorge Martin (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo 2:05.401 (Q1)

Results Qualifying Moto3 Silverstone 2019

1. Tony Arbolino (ITA) Honda 1:36.460 2:11.631
2. Lorenzo Dalla Porta (ITA) Honda +0.079
3. Raul Fernandez (ESP) KTM +0.481
25. Can Öncü (TUR) Red Bull KTM Ajo (Q1) 2.13.778

Contact:
Press & PR Manager
Sebastian Kuhn
+43 676 599 0084
sebastian.kuhn@ktm.com