The Moto3 World Championship season resumed this Friday at the Automotodrom Brno, bringing an end to the summer break. Red Bull KTM Ajo riders Bo Bendsneyder and Niccolo Antonelli did not have an easy day, due to rainfall throughout their allotted track time. Both improved their lap times in the afternoon session, and Bendsneyder placed twelfth and Antonelli twenty-first. The latter was back onboard his KTM bike for the first time since an injury ruled him out of action at Assen and Sachsenring. Rain had a considerable effect on the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 riders’ plans in FP1, right from the start. Bo Bendsneyder and Niccolo Antonelli went out with cut slicks in order to find a good feeling in this conditions, and were always amongst the Top 10 -albeit with different strategies. The Dutchman went on a continuous 16-lap run, whilst the Italian made one return to the garage to adjust his setup. Bendsneyder was seventh -2:23.971- and Antonelli eleventh -2:24.749-. Free Practice 2 was a tougher session. Both riders struggled to improve their lap times, and were unable to do so until the final 15 minutes, in which they put on new wet tyres. The track dried out on the final laps, although the surface presented a high risk of crashes. The Red Bull KTM Ajo pair were twelfth -Bendsneyder with a 2:22.762- and twentieth -2:23.556 for Antonelli-.
Results (Combined practice time FP1-FP2)
1. Joan Mir (Honda) 2:20.819
2. Aron Canet (Honda) 2:21.288 +0.469
3. Adam Norrodin (Honda) 2:21.331 +0.512
4. Andrea Migno (KTM) 2:21.657 +0.838
5. Manuel Pagliani (Mahindra) 2:21.763 +0.944
12. Bo Bendsneyder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 2:22.762 +1.943
21. Niccolo Antonelli (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 2:23.556 +2.737
64 BO BENDSNEYDER
“Today didn’t go badly; FP1 was good. FP2 was more difficult because the track was drying out and I didn’t feel the same as this morning, but overall it was a positive day. We couldn’t use slicks during the last few laps because there were areas that were still wet. In theory we will ride in the dry tomorrow, so we will start from scratch, but we hope to do a good job. The forecasts for Sunday are for rain, so if all the forecasts are right we will set up the race prepared for any conditions. We’ll see what happens.”
Source: ajo.fi
