06.08.2022

Oliveira and Binder to start British Grand Prix from the fifth row

MotoGP 2022 - Round 12 of 20, Silverstone - Qualification

Miguel Oliveira MotoGP 2022 GBR Qualification © KTM Images/Polarity Photo

This press release has: 12 Images

2022 MotoGP™ re-fired with round twelve at Silverstone and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing immediately got down to work after the summer hiatus with Miguel Oliveira setting the 13th fastest lap ahead of Brad Binder in 14th. The teammates will launch from the fifth row of the start grid for the Monster Energy British Grand Prix as KTM snared Pole Position in the Moto3™ and Moto2™ categories.

Oliveira and Binder almost make the Q1 cut at a sunny Silverstone
Gardner sets personal best qualification so far in his rookie term with 16th
First Moto2 Pole Position of the season for Augusto Fernandez
Diogo Moreira takes his KTM RC4 to the Moto3 top spot as the first ever Brazilian Pole-sitter in the class
KTM to begin 100th MotoGP race at one of the championship’s oldest circuits

Blue skies and breezy warm conditions welcomed the return of 2022 MotoGP after a five week pause and for the first two days of Free Practice and Qualification at Silverstone. The British course stretches to almost 6km, making it the longest of the season and with one of the highest average speeds on the calendar. The asphalt provides a decent level of grip so the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Tech3 KTM Factory Teams were able to get to work immediately on configuration of the KTM RC16, further analyzing a revised Akrapovic exhaust package through Free Practice. Miguel Oliveira in particular looked very strong and finished FP1 and FP2 in Q2 contention while Brad Binder also roamed the flat layout with intent as the top seventeen riders were split by one second.

In the decisive Saturday morning FP3, Oliveira was just eight tenths of a second from direct Q2 entry and all four KTM riders classified in Q1. During the afternoon both Red Bull KTM riders held slots for progression but were nudged to 3rd and 4th places in the fading seconds of the brief session; mere hundredths of a second was the difference.

Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez – both former Moto2 stars tasting Silverstone for the first time in the premier class – closed Q1 in 6th and 12th positions respectively, translating into 16th and 22nd for the start grid. 16th was Gardner’s highest Qualification result so far in 2022 and was only half a second from heading Q1.

The Grand Prix begins with Moto3 (17 laps) at 11.20 local time - so 12.20 CET - with MotoGP (20 laps) at 14.00 CET and Moto2 (18 laps) at 15.30 CET.

Miguel Oliveira: “A strange day because I felt like I made good steps with the bike and with the speed but it was not quite enough. We need to use more of the grip to turn the bike and that’s something to improve, especially here. I felt good with my pace in FP4 and although starting from the fifth row will be a challenge I’m hopeful for the race. I think we can do well. I want to get as close to the top five as possible.”

Brad Binder: “In FP4 it was quite clear what we need to improve to go faster and we made a small step forward there. In qualifying I made a small mistake but the lap was still quite good. In general, much happier today because I feel like I’ve been playing catch-up. Things are working well and we’ll see what we can do tomorrow. Hopefully we can come through the field and it should be an exciting race for me. I’m looking forward to it.”

Remy Gardner:“Good day in the office today for us. We continue to make good steps with the bike and we are progressing towards the right direction. FP4 was a positive session pace-wise, and we did our best qualifying session today. I am happy and cannot wait to race tomorrow.”

Raul Fernandez: “The pace and the feeling in FP3 were both really good, just like yesterday, and it is very important for me to feel these things. Unfortunately, in FP4 we had some issues that delayed our preparation but I regained momentum progressively during the fifteen minutes. Tomorrow we will give our best for the race.”

KTM GP Academy

There were four KTM RC4s in the midst of a closely bunched Moto3 top ten with Brazilian youngster Diogo Moreira sitting on Pole Position after the dash through Q2; the first rider from his country to achieve the distinction. Red Bull KTM Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Deniz Öncü was the top KTM GP Academy rider in 6th place with Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Daniel Holgado in 12th. Adrian Fernandez and Jaume Masia could not make it through Q1 and will fill 20th and 21st.

Moto2 Pole Position was taken by Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Augusto Fernandez. The Spaniard showed his fast adaptation to Silverstone by posting P2 and P1 in the initial Free Practice sessions on Friday and then continued to batter the intermediate class for his first Saturday press conference appearance of the season.

Results Qualifying MotoGPMonster Energy British Grand Prix

1. Johann Zarco (FRA) Ducati 1:57.767

2. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Aprilia +0.098

3. Jack Miller (AUS) Ducati +0.164

4. Fabio Quartararo (FRA) Yamaha +0.171

5. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati +0.194

13. Miguel Oliveira (POR) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (Q1) 1:58.853

14. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (Q1) 1:58.932

16. Remy Gardner (AUS) Tech3 KTM Factory Racing (Q1) 1:59.120

22. Raul Fernandez (ESP) Tech3 KTM Factory Racing (Q1) 1:59.920

Results Qualifying Moto2 Monster Energy British Grand Prix

1. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo 2:04.103