The rain at Phillip Island gave a 35-minute respite to the Moto3 riders on Saturday, as they were able to run slick tyres for the first time. However, it was not until after a red flag and with 4½ minutes remaining that the starting grid for tomorrow’s race was decided. The Red Bull KTM Ajo riders played their cards perfectly, with Brad Binder achieving his fifth pole position of the year and Bo Bendsneyder taking twelfth place on his first time at the Australian track. The final Free Practice session was brought forward an hour due to the suspension of FP2 for MotoGP and Moto2. The earlier start time meant for a colder track, with the asphalt at 9ºC and damp. The track dried out slowly, as Binder and Bendsneyder improved on their times from yesterday past the halfway mark in the session. With 9 minutes remaining, the rain returned, preventing the use of slicks. Finally, Binder was tenth –1:46.430– and Bendsneyder fifteenth –1:46.789–. The rain took just 20 seconds to make an appearance in the Moto3 qualifying session. Fortunately it lasted for only a few minutes and the track dried before the end, allowing enough time for Binder to claim the top spot. The fastest times were then set in a 4½ minute spell, following a crash that brought out the red flag. Binder –taking pole position with a 1:37.69 and twelfth placed Bendsneyder –1:39.439– were at their quickest on the final lap of a frantic qualifying session.
Bo Bendsneyder;#64 :
“In the morning we again rode in the wet, but we had a good feeling and as the track dried we gained confidence and ended up having a good session. In the qualifying session it seemed to have dried out but just after we went out we realised that it was wet. It rained more and we had to come in to change tyres, but the track dried very quick and we needed to make another switch. In the end, when we used slicks we were able to set a good time. I felt good on the bike, but for me everything is new this weekend, both the circuit and the references. I still have much to learn and I hope tomorrow is dry so that I feel strong and can do well.”
results qualifying practice:
source: ajo.fi, motogp.com
