Red Bull Husqvarna Ajo rider places in Top 5 after fighting in front group. Gabriel Rodrigo finishes race in 22nd despite a crash.

Danny Kent had a magnificent performance in the ninth Grand Prix of the season, held this Sunday at the Sachsenring. The Red Bull Husqvarna Ajo rider battled for 27 laps in the group competing for the podium, eventually finishing fifth. Gabriel Rodrigo managed to cross the finish line in 22nd position, despite a crash on the opening corner of the race.

The Red Bull Husqvarna Ajo rider took his best result of the season so far, after sticking with a group high up the order and fighting for the podium with four other riders. He rode in third for several laps, during a phase of continuous overtaking with Alexis Masbou and Alex Marquez. On the last lap of the race and with highly degraded tyres, Kent crossed the finish line in fifth place –just 1 tenth off third.

Standing in for Niklas Ajo in the Avant Tecno Husqvarna Ajo team this weekend, Gabriel Rodrigo started from 26th on the grid on race day. After a small crash on the first corner of the opening lap, he fought back to finish 22nd –his joint best Grand Prix result.

After the German Grand Prix, Danny Kent begins the three-week summer break in 12th position with 46 points. Gabriel Rodrigo, will hand the Avant Tecno Husqvarna Ajo bike back to Niklas Ajo (35 points, 15th place overall), when the Finn recovers from his right ankle injury in time for the August 10th Indianapolis GP.

Results – Race
1. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 39.26.927
2. Brad Binder (Mahindra) +0.180
3. Alexis Masbou (Honda) +1.119
4. Alex Marquez (Honda) +1.180
5. Danny Kent (Red Bull Husqvarna Ajo) +1.290
22. Gabriel Rodrigo (Avant Tecno Husqvarna Ajo) +1 lap

Moto3 World Championship Standing 2014
1. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 142 points
2. Alex Marquez (Honda) 123 points
3. Efren Vazquez (Honda) 112 points
4. Romano Fenati (KTM) 110 points
5. Alex Rins (Honda) 107 points
12. Danny Kent (Red Bull Husqvarna Ajo) 46 points
15. Niklas Ajo (Avant Tecno Husqvarna Ajo) 35 points

Danny Kent >> Audio (solely for radio use)

“It definitely has been our best weekend of the season and our best race. At Assen we took a step forward and here we have started from where we left off there, taking another step forward. I’m very happy with how the weekend has gone, and we were much closer to the winning rider at only 1 second behind. It’s good for my confidence, because it shows that I can be up at the front. We now have three weeks off, so I will go home and work hard on my fitness to be even stronger in Indianapolis. I will try to get that podium that we were so close to today. We have to continue working in this way and step by step we are getting closer.”

Gabriel Rodrigo >> Audio (solely for radio use)

“I’m a little disappointed at having crashed on the first corner of the first lap, because I think that the pace we had was enough to be in a much better position than I got in practice. But that’s racing. At least we were able to finish and continue to gain experience, which is important. The truth is that I am very happy with the team, with the way they work and with the bike, and I am grateful for this opportunity –so I want to apologise for my mistake. Now we have to think about the next race and continue to learn.”