Red Bull KTM Ajo team aims for podium in Portugal
03/05/2012Red Bull KTM Ajo Factory Racing Team has started the GP-season strongly at the new Moto3-class. Team with three fast riders has made its way to the podium in two first GPs of the season in Qatar, vialis 40mg Losail and in Spain, Jerez.
German rider Sandro Cortese has become a true ace of the team lead by Finnish Aki Ajo. He has been third in both of the races. In Estoril, Portugal, where the next GP is held Cortese qualified and finished last year in 125 cc class second.
– I am really pleased with these two podium places, says Cortese, – Qatar is always a special race and in Jerez the weather was difficult due to rain. I wish we will have dry and stable circumstances in Estoril so that I could really find right riding rhythm and perhaps take some risks as well. I feel really good when heading to the technical track of Estoril.
Also team leader Ajo has high hopes that the weather will be good in Estoril.
– According to the latest forecasts the weather should be really good on race day on Sunday but on Saturday and on Friday there is possibility of rain. But we should remember that in Estoril, which is located near Atlantic Ocean, the weather can change very quickly. It would be great to have good weather conditions so that we could work onwards with our project, to analyse our work and to see where we stand at the moment.
Like Cortese, also Ajo is happy with the situation the team is in before the GP in Estoril.
– I can´t really complain. The results have been good but quite unsteady due to the circumstances. In technical sense the season has started really well. Co-operation with KTM has been great and we are going forward all the time with this project.
Kent and Sissis recovering
well after their crashes
The Red Bull KTM Ajo Factory Racing Team´s other two riders Briton Danny Kent and Australian Arthur Sissis crashed at extremely difficult conditions in Jerez last Sunday.
– My foot hurts but it won´t be a problem here in Portugal. I have already forgotten the GP in Jerez and my mind is now at the circuit of Estoril, Kent confirms.
Sissis has started strongly his first GP-season. He finished seventh in Qatar and qualified eight in Jerez.
– I had a good start for the race in Jerez but I perhaps rode a bit too risky and, like many others, crashed when hitting a wet spot on the track. Pain in my neck still reminds me of that crash but it´s getting better day after day thanks to doctor Costa´s (Claudio) good treatments, Sissis says.
* Grande Prémio de Portugal Circuito Estoril 4.-6th of May. Timetable for Moto3 class (CET-time):
Friday 4th of May
10.15-10.55, 1st free practice
14.15-14.55, 2nd free practice
Saturday 5th of May
10.15-10.55, 3rd free practice
14.00-14.40, qualifying
Sunday 6th of May
11.00-11.20, warm up
15.30, race 3/17
* Circuit info
Length: 4.182 m. / 2,599 miles
Width: 14m
Left corners: 4
Right corners: 9
Longest straight: 986 m. / 0,613 miles
Constructed: 1972
Modified: 2006