Red Bull KTM Ajo rider sets new milestone for second consecutive day, with a new circuit record at Jerez. Hanika ends test with the fourth fastest time of the three days.

With excellent results in hand, the Red Bull KTM Ajo completed the Moto3 official test in Jerez on Thursday. Jack Miller and Karel Hanika concluded three days of work in which they were in fine form. With a new circuit record –1:46.046–, Miller featured at the head of the timesheets for the third consecutive day. Meanwhile, rookie Hanika was fifth in today’s session, concluding the test with the fourth best time overall.

Foggy conditions forced a stay in the box for the Red Bull KTM Ajo riders in the first session of the day –also the longest run on Thursday. Miller and Hanika waited until the Moto3-only session to get onboard their KTM bikes. With a respectable track temperature of 24ºC, both again showed very good pace. The Australian was the second fastest rider, breaching the 1:47 barrier with a 1:46.434 –whilst Hanika, seventh, set a 1:47.404 before sitting out the final quarter-hour with pain in his right wrist.

In the afternoon, when everything seemed ready to be packed up, Jack Miller pulled a final ace from his sleeve, setting a perfect lap of 1:46.046. With a new circuit record, the Australian ended the third day of testing on a high. Hanika did not want to miss the opportunity to put in more laps and returned to the track. He clocked his fastest time of 1:46.796 to claim fifth on the timesheets.

Jack Miller and Karel Hanika will hope for better weather in three weeks for the next test, held between 11th and 13th March, for the last three days of official testing in the 2014 preseason. Until then, the Red Bull KTM Ajo riders will have two weeks to hone their fitness.

Combined Standings – Day 3
1. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:46.046
2. Jakub Kornfeil (KTM) 1:46.256 +0.210
3. Niccolo Antonelli (KTM) 1:46.452 +0.406
4. Niklas Ajo (Husqvarna) 1:46.658 +0.612
5. Karel Hanika (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:46.796 +0.750

Combined Standings – Day 1/2/3
1. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:46.046
2. Jakub Kornfeil (KTM) 1:46.256 +0.210
3. Niccolo Antonelli (KTM) 1:46.452 +0.406
4. Karel Hanika (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:46.645 +0.599
5. Danny Kent (Red Bull Husqvarna Ajo) 1:46.646 +0.600

Jack Miller >> Audio
“It was definitely a good three days of testing; it was very productive, we made a lot of improvements and also found a lot of negatives as well, which helps us in the long run. We were able to put in laps consistently, which was our main goal. I felt very comfortable on the bike, KTM brought us plenty of stuff to try out and I enjoyed myself on the bike, which is the main thing. You can’t just test, test, test –you have to have some fun on the bike as well. I can still improve my lap times and there are some small things that need further improvement in order to go faster. I didn’t expect this lap time as such, but I had hoped to be close. To go round under the circuit record, though, is really good.”

Karel Hanika >> Audio
“Today with the team we decided that it would be better to do a few consistent laps rather than one quick lap, and I think over these three days we did both. It’s important for the races, I’m happy with the results and I think that together with the team, we did awesome job. It’s amazing to be in the Top 5. Of course I can still improve, I still have some things to improve personally, and also the bike will be different at the next test with some different setups. We’ll work more on the suspension, but I just want to do as many laps as possible and then I think we will be well prepared for Qatar.”

*Audio solely for radio use