Red Bull KTM Ajo welcomed new rider Niccolo Antonelli to the team at the Jerez Circuit on Wednesday. The Italian joined up with both his new crew and teammate Bo Bendsneyder -preparing for a second year with the team- for the first of two days of testing. Both riders had a good feeling with the new KTM bike designed for the 2017 season. Good weather at the southern Spanish track helped the two riders to put in many laps, with Bendsneyder completing 71 and being one of the fastest riders of the day -continuing on from his excellent end to the 2016 season. Antonelli got the measure of the KTM on his opening encounter with the bike, making steady progress over the course of his 70 laps. Romano Fenati (Ongetta-Rivacold) went fastest on day one of the Jerez Moto3™ test, setting a 1:46.930 to head the timesheets from Estrella Galicia 0,0 rider and compatriot Enea Bastianini. Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Bo Bendsneyder completed the top three. Fenati has not raced in the Moto3™ World Championship since mid-way through the 2016 season after parting ways with former team Sky Racing Team VR46 – and came back with a bang first time back on track, after also closing out 2016 in the top ten of the Championship standings despite missing the latter half of the season. Compatriot and key rival Enea Bastianini also settled into his new team well, as he switches to the Estrella Galicia 0,0 team. Jorge Martin (Gresini Racing Moto3) and teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio completed the top five, with the second Red Bull KTM Ajo bike of Niccolo Antonelli in P6. Albert Arenas (Aspar Team Moto3), Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0), Andrea Migno (Sky Racing Team VR46) and Marcos Ramirez (Platinum Bay Real Estate) completed the top ten.
#64 Bo Bendsneyder:
“Today was a good day in Jerez. We rode the new bike and improved a lot, in particular taking a step forward on slow corners. Now I am riding much more confidently compared to the last test and the GP we had here in 2016. I am very happy with the lap times, as the majority of them I set completely by myself. The good feeling is there, and now we just have to keep improving. I can’t wait for the second day of testing tomorrow.”
Results day 1 Jerez test:
source: motogp.com, ajo.fi
