Moto3 championship leader Sandro Cortese starts for the season´s ninth GP held in Italy from second place of the Mugello grid.
Red Bull KTM Ajo Factory Racing Team´s German rider has been really strong also in qualifying sessions of the hectic summer period. He claimed the pole positions from two previous GPs in Netherlands and in Germany.
Also in Mugello it seemed that Cortese will take the pole position until Spanish Viñales put in a impressive lap in the final seconds to set a best time of 1.57,980. Cortese, who leads the championship by 18 points over Vinales, was 0,421 seconds from the pole.
“The pole position was once again so close but I am not worried about this seconds position at all”, says Cortese, “I managed to make several good lap times”, Cortese highlights.
“I had a really good feeling for riding and I was able to improve my performance all the time. The race will for sure be so tough but I am confident and calm. Everything is ready for the race”, Cortese confirms.
Team leader Aki Ajo had once again good reason to be pleased with Cortese´s performance.
“Good and steady work. Cortese made his fastest laps alone without using any slipstream. There will be a tight competition. I believe that the front riders will race in a group on Sunday.”

Kent to second row

Cortese´s team mate Briton Danny Kent, who has ridden next to the front group since the practices, qualified fifth 1,109 seconds from the pole.
“I have had a good pace and been in a front group during the whole weekend. Although I had a bit of bad luck in the qualifying due to a heavy traffic.”
KTM factory racing team´s third rider Arthur Sissis had to settle for 29th place this time.
“We have to remember that Mugello is demanding track and Sissis is only having his first GP season”, highlights Ajo, “The first season is the one when one learns from the mistakes.”

GRAN PREMIO D’ITALIA TIM
 Moto3 Qualifying Practice Classification:
1. Maverick Vinales Spain, Blusens Avintia, FTR Honda 1.57,980
2. Sandro Cortese Germany, Red Bull KTM Ajo, KTM + 0,421
3. Alex Rins Spain, Estrella Galicia 0,0, Suter Honda + 0,841
4. Efren Vazquez Spain, JHK Laglisse, FTR Honda + 0,860
5. Danny Kent Great Britain, Red Bull KTM Ajo, KTM + 1,109
6. Niccolo Antonelli Italy, San Carlo Gresini Moto3, FTR Honda + 1,381
7. Zulfahmi Khairuddin Malaysia, AirAsia-Sic-Ajo, KTM + 1,411
8. Romano Fenati Italy, Team Italia FMI, FTR Honda 1,485
9. Luis Salom Spain, RW Racing GP, Kalex KTM + 1,493
10. Hector Faubel Spain, Mapfre Aspar Team Moto3, Kalex KTM + 1,593
11. Louis Rossi France, Racing Team Germany, FTR Honda + 1,700
12. Alberto Moncayo Spain, Mapfre Aspar Team Moto3, Kalex KTM + 1,718
13. Jakub Kornfeil Czech, Redox-Ongetta-Centro Seta, FTR Honda + 1,797
14. Alan Techer France, Technomag-CIP-TSR, TSR Honda + 1,898
15. Kevin Calia Italy, Elle 2 Ciatti, Honda + 1,975
28. Niklas Ajo Finland, TT Motion Events Racing, KTM + 3,330
29. Arthur Sissis Australia, Red Bull KTM Ajo KTM + 3,337