Red Bull KTM Ajo Factory Racing Team starts tough summer period from Assen

26/06/2012

Red Bull KTM Ajo Factory Racing Team is in front of midsummer´s tough and tight work period in MotoGP series. The Moto3 riders will fight for the world championship points at three following weekends in row, generic in Netherlands, prostate in Germany and in Italy.
The first GP of the tight period will be held at the circuit of TT Assen, where the race day is traditionally already on Saturday.
“It´s always nice to come to Assen”, says team leader Aki Ajo, “There is always a lot of crowd and its own feeling. The circuit, which includes nice slow and fast parts is neat and our riders like it a lot.”
Out of the KTM´s factory riders German Sandro Cortese has the best situation to start the practices of GP of Netherlands on Thursday. He is second in championship standing only two points from Spanish Maverick Vinales.
“I like all the three coming tracks, Assen, Sachsenring and Mugello”, says Cortese, “Of course they are pretty important and meaningful places what comes to the whole series. I go to Assen and the following races with a really good fighting spirit”, confirms the German who has Italian roots.
Ajo highlights the importance of stability also in the future and Cortese is the one who has given a perfect example of that with his strong and sensible performances.
“We go a moment and a race at a time, but we keep the overall situation in our minds.”

Sissis and Kent
get new frames

Cortese´s teammates Australian Arthur Sissis and Briton Danny Kent who both finished in top ten in Silverstonessa will get new and more rigid frames for their bikes in Assen. It´s similar with the frame, which with Cortese competed more than a week ago in British GP.
Kent returned his own level by finishing sixth in front of his home crowd in Silverstone. That gave a nice boost to his self-confidence for Assen.
“I managed to race in Silverstone just behind the front group in every weather”, Kent rejoices, “All in all that was an important weekend for me. I now look forward how the new frame that improves the turning will work.”
Sissis, who has done a strong work during his rookie year, hasn´t been able to get ready for the Dutch GP in best possible way.
“I have had stomach aches since Friday. Now I feel a bit better but I will need a doctor´s help still in Assen”, says Sissis.
Sissis finished eight in Silverstone. Along the season he has been fifth at his best in Le Mans.
“The speed has been good. I just need to improve my position at qualifying in order to get better start for the race”, plans Sissis who is gaining more experience all the time.

Timetable of Iveco TT Assen Grand Prix (local time (GMT +2)):
Thursday 28th of June
09.15-09.55, 1st free practice
13.15-13.55, 2nd free practice
Friday 29th of June
09.15-09.55, 3rd free practice
13.00-13.40, qualifying
Saturday 30th of June
08.40-09.00, warm up
11.00, race

Circuit info
Length: 4.542 m. / 2,822 miles
Width: 14m
Left corners: 6
Right corners: 12
Longest straight: 487 m. / 0,303 miles
Constructed: 1955
Modified: 2010

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