05.08.2017

KTM takes Moto3 pole, Moto2 front row and huge lift in MotoGP at Czech Grand Prix

QUALIFYING 10th Rd. MotoGP 2017 – Automotodrom Brno (CZE)

Bradley Smith KTM RC16 Automotodrom Brno 2017 © Gold and Goose KTM Media Library

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Under sunny skies at Brno in the Czech Republic, KTM have had an excellent day with a pole, a second and huge progress across all three Grand Prix classes. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in MotoGP had Pol Espargaro threaten to go through from Q1 to Q2 in dry conditions for the very first time but a tumble three corners from home meant advancing will have to wait for another race. The Spaniard's KTM RC16 was within one second of the fastest time in the ultra competitive MotoGP class at this, the fourth longest track of the season, in all three sessions he competed in today. In Moto2 Miguel Oliviera was just 0.032 from pole position as the KTM Moto2 project goes from strength to strength on the day the partnership between KTM and Ajo Motorsport is extended into 2018 and 2019. KTM took pole in the Moto3 and six out of the top ten places with Gabriel Rodrigo in first position and Juanfran Guevara in third as new bodywork and an updated swingarm have been introduced to the KTM RC250 GP.

MotoGP

KTM MotoGP had a very successful test with the KTM RC16 after the last race, spending two days at Aragon with test rider Mika Kallio supporting Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith while KTM Moto2 rider Miguel Oliveira rode a MotoGP bike for the very first time. These test kilometres have been invaluable for KTM here in Brno as Espargaro was within one second of the fastest time in three of the five sessions this weekend. In Qualifying 1 Espargaro was flying with a red/red (fastest) split to put him on course for first position but a spill at the third to last corner meant he had to settle for 8th position in Q1. However, with team mate Smith just 0.008 seconds behind, the atmosphere in the garage is buoyant and positive before tomorrow's race that may well see wet weather.

Espargaro: "Me and my crew chief Paul (Travathan) talked about the reality of getting through from Q1 to Q2 after this morning's session. We were there and we knew we could do it, and even though I fell when on the fastest lap of the session at that point, we've shown we can do it. The weekend was going so well as we were closer than we expected at this long track that could've shown up some of the weak parts of the motorcycle but actually we've turned it around and we've been really good. We've been within one second of the fastest time in both dry free practices today and this is a real high point of the season for us. In qualifying I was on a very hot lap but maybe I over-cooked it, but we were on it to be fastest to the halfway point of the lap. The front was chattering and I lost it on turn 11, the uphill right hander at the bottom of the hill. But don't forget, with this bike you must play on the limit, but the more you push and the more you risk, the better lap time you get. Overall we are happy as we have a good rhythm. Whatever happens tomorrow I think we are ready, we are enjoying the weekend because for the first time we are confident to be competitive. We tried many things at the Aragon test including testing my riding style but we have new things that are working good and that has shown this weekend."

Smith: "Overall we have to be happy with our Saturday performance. Yesterday was a little bit of a struggle but certainly we found some good direction today and I'm starting to feel more and more comfortable on the bike as I've tried some new WP front forks today. I was pleased with the lap time although it would've been nice to see a (1m) 56 but that's being fussy after doing a 59.3 yesterday, so 2.5 seconds in one day is a great job by the KTM team. In terms of race day tomorrow, the tyre selection is quite clear but of course it's going to be very weather dependant; it could rain but we've ridden in all conditions here this weekend and my wet setting felt good so let's see what tomorrow brings with a mistake free race to get us to the end."

Sebastian Risse (Technical Director MotoGP): "I would say we've had a very good weekend indeed. We found many things at the Aragon test that we wanted to confirm here and they seem very promising. Pol stayed around one second or less from the top time for most of the weekend which is a big result for us. It was a shame it didn't quite work out in the qualifying but that's racing. Tomorrow is the race. With Bradley, we struggled to get back from the summer break initially but he got there today getting closer and closer with qualifying being the best session for him this weekend. Overall I'm very positive technically as this has been a good result for us at this track as when we came here testing last year it was not with 2017 tyres, while the test we had here earlier this year saw slower lap times...but we were on our own in much cooler conditions so we cannot compare things directly to today. What I can say is that's the fastest KTM to ever lap Brno."

Moto2
Fresh from his first ever MotoGP ride at the KTM Aragon test, Oliveira flew to second position in qualifying on his KTM Moto2 bike, ultimately just 0.032 seconds from pole position. The Portuguese has now qualified inside the top ten nine times this year from ten qualifying sessions. Oliveira continues to hold third position in the championship standings while KTM are second in the constructor's chase. Team mate Brad Binder has proven he is recovering well from his arm injury by qualifying 10th, his best this year by seven places. It's fabulous to see the reigning Moto3 champion edging back towards the front.

Oliveira: "It was a very difficult qualifying session because it was very hot. The conditions were difficult. Our strategy was to try to set a good lap quickly at the beginning, but we ended up getting it at the end. I'm happy to be second but the most important thing is to be on the front two rows. We are ready for tomorrow, whatever the conditions. I want to add that I am very proud to be able to renew for another year with the Red Bull KTM Ajo team in Moto2. In the rookie year for our project we are already doing big things, at circuits where we had no references, so I am very happy to be able to continue for another season and will look to do even better in 2018."

Binder: "It was a good day. It has been a difficult weekend but in the end we have achieved a good result in qualifying, and I am very happy about it. The feeling on the bike is much better. I am very happy because it has been a difficult start to the second half of the difficult season; this morning I was struggling a lot. Thanks to the team for continuing to improve the bike. I am always faster during the race, so I will try to improve on my starting position and see how we finish. I am very happy to continue next year with Red Bull KTM Ajo in this class. My debut year in Moto2 has not been easy due to the injuries and despite this, we are getting good results. Miguel (Oliveira) has shown that we can get podiums and I'm sure we can fight for more. I am very eager to continue learning for the fourth consecutive year in this structure."

Moto3
With updated bodywork and swingarm KTM had a great day in the Moto3 class with pole position taken by Gabriel Rodrigo and third taken by Juanfran Guevara. A huge amount of work has been put into the Moto3 updates recently, a fact backed up by 6 of the top 10 places taken by KTM RC250 GP motorcycles. Red Bull KTM Ajo's Bo Bendsneyder flew on Friday in the damp conditions but reinforced his speed today with sixth and a second row starting position. Team mate Niccolo Antonelli has brilliantly returned from injury, qualifying 12th from 32 riders. The plucky Italian was understandably happy with that as much as his Dutch colleague was with another second row start. With rain forecast tomorrow, Bendsneyder knows he has the pace should it be wet.

Rodrigo: "The FP3 wasn’t too bad, we could prepare a few adjustments. Luckily we have a strong base: despite not completing many laps on dry tarmac, our initial setting was already alright. The new parts that KTM brought here also helped to make the bike a bit faster and to achieve more traction. In the qualifying, I had a strong crash right at the beginning: it was a big shame because I still hadn’t set any lap when there were only four minutes left of practice, I was last in the classification. When I got back out on track I wasn’t really sure I could put in a solid time. In the end we made it, I was in a good group and I could take advantage of some slipstream. I put in a decent lap that eventually ensured us our maiden pole position. I’m very happy, because I believe that the whole team and I deserved this, after such a tough first half of the season. We hope to continue on this line, working hard just as we’ve done so far."

Bendsneyder: "It's a good feeling to start from the second row. The positive thing is that we are continuing with the good work that we left of from after Holland and Germany, and this I think is the best part of all. We continue taking steps forward and we are getting closer to our best. Brno is not one of my favourite circuits but we are still close to the front, and this is good. Tomorrow we will see what happens; the forecast is for rain and we have a good feeling in wet conditions. You never know what the weather conditions will be tomorrow, but we hope we can fight for a good position in the race."

Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup
Can Öncü took his fourth Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup victory in five races, coming out ahead of an incredible eight man battle for the win. The 14-year-old Turk flashed across the Brno finish line just in front of Matthias Meggle and Kazuki Masaki with Aleix Viu a frustratingly close fourth.

It is so hard to win from the front of a close battle for the lead but Öncü managed exactly that with the perfect last lap on the KTM RC 250 RB. Meggle, the 17-year-old German was on the podium for the first time just squeezing out 16-year-old Japanese Masaki who picked up his fourth 3rd place of the year.

“Yes I’m happy with that, it was perfect,” enthused Öncü. “We changed the bike a little after qualifying and it was perfect from first lap to last. I quickly got confidence in it after the start and felt very good, such a nice bike today. I had a few slides but that was just me getting out of control, I wanted to win so much.”

Races: August 6, 2017 – Moto3 11:00 | Moto2 12:20 CET | Moto2 14:00 | Red Bull Rookies Cup 15:30

Results Qualifying MotoGP Automotodrom Brno 2017
1. Marc Marquez (ESP), Honda, 1:54.981 min
2. Valentino Rossi (ITA), Yamaha, +0.092 sec
3. Dani Pedrosa (ESP), Honda, +0.138
4. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA), Ducati, +0.460
5. Cal Crutchlow (GBR), Honda, +0.508
KTM
18. Pol Espargaro (ESP), KTM, +2.053
19. Bradley Smith (GBR), KTM, +2.061

Results Qualifying Moto2 Automotodromo Brno 2017
1. Mattia Pasini (ITA), Kalex, 2:02.611 min
2. Miguel Oliveira (POR), KTM, +0.032 sec
3. Franco Morbidelli (ITA), Kalex, +0.050
4. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA), Kalex, +0.075
5. Jorge Navarro (ESP), Kalex, +0.131
KTM
10. Brad Binder (RSA), KTM, +0.451

Results Qualifying Moto3 Automotodrom Brno 2017
1. Gabriel Rodrigo (ESP), KTM, 2:08.571 min
2. Romano Fenati (ITA), Honda, +0.150 sec
3. Juanfran Guevara (ESP), KTM, +0.303
4. Joan Mir (ESP), Honda, +0.396
5. Nicolo Bulega (ITA), KTM, +0.400
KTM
6. Bo Bendsneyder (NED), KTM, +0.420
7. Marcos Ramirez (ESP), KTM, +0.472
10. Philipp Oettl (GER), KTM, +0.616
12. Niccolo Antonelli (ITA), KTM, +0,787

Results Race 1 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Automotodromo Brno 2017
All riders on KTM RC250 RB bikes
1. Can Öncü (TUR), 31:15.686 min (14 laps)
2. Matthias Meggle (GER), +0.077
3. Kazuki Masaki (JAP), +0.223
4. Alex Viu (ESP), 0.291
5. Ryusei Yamanaka (JAP), +0.319

Standings Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2017 after 7 of 13 races
1. C. Öncü, 132 points
2. Viu (ESP), 106
3. Masaki (JAP), 101
4. Meggle (GER), 66
5. Yamanaka (JAP), 55

PHILIPP GRÜNBERGER
PR MANAGER MOTOGP
philipp.gruenberger@ktm.com
0043 664 6217921

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