15.07.2018

Top 10 for Smith, Espargaro top in warm-up & Binder with first Moto2 win in Germany

RACE 9th Rd. MotoGP 2018, Sachsenring (GER)

Bradley Smith KTM RC16 Sachsenring 2018 © Gold and Goose / KTM Media Library

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The ninth round of 2018 MotoGP at Sachsenring in Germany was a memorable one for KTM across the Grand Prix classes. Bradley Smith finished 10th while Pol Espargaro took the RC16 to the number one slot in Sunday morning warm-up; a first for the Red Bull KTM project in just its second year. Brad Binder ran to a maiden triumph in the Moto2 division for the Ajo team’s second success of 2018.

MotoGP

Pol Espargaro gave the team a boost by setting the quickest lap-time to head the classification in morning warm-up and with generous German sunshine nudging temperatures up and around twenty degrees. A tricky Qualification Practice meant that the Spaniard and teammate Bradley Smith set off for the 30 lap MotoGP race from the fifth and sixth rows of the grid.

Both #44 and #38 pushed for the best possible start on the twisty layout and to gain the most positions once the red light went out. Sadly Pol’s race latest only a matter of seconds after he tagged Andrea Iannone entering Turn 3 and crashed, taking Alex Rins with him into the gravel. Smith was the sole KTM RC16 pilot and entering the second half of the race was holding 10th place, around 20 seconds down on leader Marc Marquez. Smith made sure of his top ten ranking, collected 6 points and toasted his best result of 2018 to-date. Espargaro is 14th in the championship standings at the midway mark of the season with points in 7 of 9 rounds so far, Smith is 19th.

Smith: “It was nice to be able to get the result that we knew was there and we’ve had that potential all season. For some reason or another Sundays have been the disappointing days, particularly in Assen two weeks ago where I felt I could have done a similar job as today. We have to be happy and we worked hard all weekend. I was able to hold with (Dani) Pedrosa and (Johann) Zarco for a long time and regrouped after a small mistake. I could then pull away from Hafizh and bring home some good points; six in fact after only scoring seven all season. Finally a good finish and we were able to show where the KTM can be.”

Espargaro: “I don't want to say I was unlucky because I generated everything. I was on the outside of the second corner and I was pushed a little wide, which is normal, but I could not avoid Iannone who was on the inside of the third corner and locking the bike a lot. I crashed and I was so, so sorry for Alex (Rins). It was really unfortunate that it happened there on the first lap and we didn't get to show what we had in the pocket today. From the first practice we were trying new things and new stuff and I was not focussed on the bike that we know until this morning. We had a very good rhythm and feeling and I was ready to do a good race. It was the worst moment of the season because I think we could have shown something very interesting here at Sachsenring.”

Mike Leitner (Team Manager): “We again showed that we are making progress. Being fastest in warm-up is not just a gift from the others. We went into the race very confident because of Pol’s speed and Bradley’s race pace from FP4 so it was a shame we lost Pol on the first lap because we were expecting the top ten with him. In the end we were very happy that Bradley achieved the goal; this is a great result for him, the team and the factory. We should take the positives from this race and we’ll think during the summer break how we can improve for the second half of the season.”

Moto2

Brad Binder rode superbly on his KTM Moto2 machine to win his very first Grand Prix in the Moto2 category as well as becoming the first South African to walk the highest plinth of the podium. The former Moto3 World Champion judged his pace and tyres perfectly to defeat Joan Mir and Luca Marini to set a new career milestone. Miguel Oliveira needed to push through from a difficult Qualification Practice on Saturday and 15th place on the grid. The Portuguese managed a fighting 4th to close the gap at the top of the Moto2 standings to just 7 points behind leader Francesco Bagnaia. Swiss Innovative Investors Sam Lowes had shown top five speed throughout the weekend and the Briton finished 5th.

Binder: "I tried not to do anything crazy at the start, because I knew our rivals would be a little faster than us, and everything went perfectly. I was able to overtake most of the riders on the first laps and then, seeing that I had enough pace, I went after the lead. At the end of the race I had to be careful, because my rear tyre was practically worn out and I suffered a lot on the final laps. I controlled the lead but it was very tough, as even on the last lap I almost had a highside at Turn 1. It was amazing to get the victory, and I can’t thank my team enough for their help. Honestly, I still can’t believe it – it doesn’t seem real to me. This year we have been suffering a lot and now we have a victory to our name. We couldn’t have finished this first half of the championship any better."

Moto3

The long train of athletes battling for Moto3 glory eventually narrowed to just three with Redox PruestelGP’s Marco Bezzecchi at the heart of the action on his KTM RC250 GP and the position-swapping separated by mere inches. The chequered flag was eventually shown to Jorge Martin, with the Italian taking second place after surviving a late attack by John McPhee. Raul Fernandez, who replaced injured Darryn Binder in the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 team, showed a great race finising also in the top ten at nith place.

Aki Ajo (Team Manager Moto3): "It's been a very good weekend for Raul (Fernandez). On Friday he made a great start and we saw how focused he was, showing great maturity when working in practice. Saturday was not easy, as he put too much pressure on himself, but again he showed consistency and a very good preparation for the race, something rare to see from such a young rider. In the race a rival drove him off track, something that usually happens in Germany, but he was able to make an incredible comeback. We are very happy with his performance and we have to congratulate him on that."

Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup

Can Öncü turned the tables on twin brother Deniz as the 14-year-old Turks dominated the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Race 2 at the Sachsenring and stood again for their own national anthem. Czech 16-year-old Filip Salač snatched the final podium place by the same rim width that he lost it on Saturday after a similarly brilliant battle with Adrián Carrasco, Xavier Artigas and Ryusei Yamanaka.

“I got a very good start,” enthused Can Öncü. “I got ahead and pushed from the start, I didn't have the same problem with the bike as yesterday and I am very happy that I could get away. Deniz chased me and did get ahead once when I made a mistake but I could get ahead of him again and that's great because today I don't have to give him 10 euros,” added the Cup leader with a huge smile.

MotoGP enters a small summer break with two free weekends before the series gathers together again at Brno for the Grand Prix of Czech Republic on the first weekend of August.

Next Race: August 5, 2018 – Automotodromo Brno (CZE)

Results MotoGP Sachsenring 2018
1. Marc Marquez (ESP), Honda, 41:05.019 min (30 laps)
2. Valentino Rossi (ITA), Yamaha, +2.196 sec
3. Maverick Vinales (ESP), Yamaha, +2.776
4. Danilo Petrucci (ITA), Ducati, +3.376
5. Alvaro Bautista (ESP), Ducati, +5.183
KTM
10. Bradley Smith (GBR), KTM, +21.474
DNF Pol Espargaro (ESP), KTM, +30 laps
DNS Mika Kallio (FIN), KTM

Standings MotoGP 2018 after 9 of 19 rounds
1. Marquez, 165 points
2. Rossi, 119
3. Vinales, 109
4. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA), Ducati, 88
5. Johann Zarco (FRA), Yamaha, 88
KTM
14. Espargaro, 32
19. Smith, 13
22. Kallio, 6

Results Moto2 Sachsenring 2018
1. Brad Binder (RSA), KTM, 39:46.306 min (28 laps)
2. Joan Mir (ESP), Kalex, +0.779 sec
3. Luca Marini (ITA), Kalex, +0.933
4. Miguel Oliveira (POR), KTM, +2.143
5. Sam Lowes (GBR), KTM, +6.376

Standings Moto2 2018 after 9 of 19 rounds
1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA), Kalex, 148 points
2. Oliveira, 141
3. Alex Marquez (ESP), Kalex, 113
4. Mir, 95
5. Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA), Kalex, 93
6. Binder, 91

Results Moto3 Sachsenring 2018
1. Jorge Martin (ESP), Honda, 39:36.427 min (27 laps)
2. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA), KTM, +2.515 sec
3. John McPhee (GBR), KTM, +2.571
4. Marcos Ramirez (ESP), KTM, +2.936
5. Aron Canet (ESP), Honda, +3.028
KTM
6. Jaume Masia (ESP), KTM, +3.341
7. Jakub Kornfeil (CZE), KTM, +3.532
8. Philipp Oettl (GER), KTM, +4.886
9. Raul Fernandez (ESP), KTM, +5.383 (substitute Darryn Binder)

Standings Moto3 2018 after 9 of 19 rounds
1. Martin, 130 points
2. Bezzecchi (ITA), KTM, 123
3. Canet, 92
4. Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA), Honda, 91
5. Enea Bastianini (ITA), Honda, 84
KTM
6. Gabriel Rodrigo (ESP), KTM, 65
7. Jakub Kornfeil (CZE), KTM, 61
8. Andrea Migno (ITA), KTM, 60
9. Marcos Ramirez (ESP), KTM, 57
22. Darryn Binder (RSA), KTM, 20 (DNS due to injury)
23. Fernadez, 13

Results Race 2 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Sachsenring 2018

All riders on KTM RC250 RB bikes

1. Can Öncü (TUR), 28:19.408 min (19 laps)

2. Deniz Öncü (TUR), +0.176 sec
3. Filip Salač (CZE), +3.561

4. Adrian Carrasco (ESP), +3.575
5. Xavier Artigas (ESP), +3.639

Standings Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2018 after 7 of 12 races

1. C. Öncü, 160

2. D. Öncü, 108

3. Salač, 95

4. Carlos Tatay (ESP), 82

5. Artigas (ESP), 79

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