The Red Bull KTM Ajo team maintained their positive momentum at the Austrian GP on Saturday, earning places on the second and sixth row and showing a solid pace at the Red Bull Ring. The top 22 riders in qualifying were separated by just a single second, and Bo Bendsneyder was sixth in a repeat of his placing from Brno last weekend. Niccolo Antonelli was 17th. In FP3, both Bendsneyder and Antonelli took the step forward that they wanted on a completely dry surface. The Dutchman was again one of the most outstanding riders in the session, always in the Top 5 and running an excellent pace. His 1:36.978 lap time for fourth place was 0.128s off the quickest in the session, whilst Antonelli lowered his time by more than a second and a half for thirteenth place -1:37.313-. Both riders continued to improve in qualifying, and Bendsneyder headed the order when he clocked a 1:36.793 lap shortly before returning to the garage for a second time. He held the top spot until the final minute and a half, but was unable to lower his time further and placed sixth. Antonelli was inside the Top 10 early on, and his last attempt at a hot lap was his best of the weekend so far. The 1:37.196 lap puts him 17th, but is not a true reflection of his potential for Sunday.
Results (Qualifying session)
1. Gabriel Rodrigo (KTM) 1:36.503
2. Juanfran Guevara (KTM) 1:36.615 +0.112
3. Aron Canet (Honda) 1:36.690 +0.187
4. Enea Bastianini (Honda) 1:36.716 +0.213
5. John McPhee (Honda) 1:36.790 +0.287
6. Bo Bendsneyder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:36.793 +0.290
17. Niccolo Antonelli (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:37.196 +0.693
64 BO BENDSNEYDER
“Today has been a very good day. I was in pole position for a long time, but I knew I had to complete a better fast lap. On the last stint I encountered a lot of traffic and I made a mistake that prevented me from improving, but I’m very satisfied. We were always between the Top 3 and Top 5, and our pace is good. I can’t wait to race tomorrow. I will give more than 100% to do well in front of our partners and be competitive, and in addition this circuitis one that I like very much.”
Source: ajo.fi