Brad Binder, Karel Hanika and Miguel Oliveira complete positive second day at Brno and take spots on second, third and fourth rows, respectively.

Binder, Moto3, Czech MotoGP 2015

This afternoon at the Automotodrom Brno, the starting grid for the eleventh race of the year was decided. The Red Bull KTM Ajo riders, who throughout the free practice sessions have found a good pace, all took places on the front four rows. Brad Binder took sixth place, just ahead of teammate Karel Hanika. Twelfth was Miguel Oliveira, who was not able to ride as fast as he had in FP3.

The third free practice session of the weekend was used by Oliveira and Hanika to lower their times from the first day. The first to do so was Hanika, who set a time of  2:09.331 and then focused on working with used tyres . He was twenty-fourth in the session.  Oliveira, in third with a 2:08.076,  improved his previous best lap by almost a second and had a better pace when  riding alone. Binder –setting a 2:08.803 lap, was unable to improve his best for a third consecutive session and was fourteenth.

The Red Bull KTM Ajo emerged on track together to help one another set the fastest lap in qualifying. The result was positive, as they occupied the top three spots momentarily. In the last five final minutes of the session, Binder and Hanika found improvement for sixth –2:08.115– and seventh –2:08.116–, respectively. Oliveira had to settle for twelfth place –2:08.495.

The weather forecast for the race tomorrow appears unfavourable for the Moto3 riders, as the chance of rain is high for the 11am start.

Results (Qualifying practice)
1. Niccolo Antonelli (Honda) 2:07.667
2. Danny Kent (Honda) 2:07.669 +0.002
3. Jorge Navarro (Honda) 2:07.700 +0.033
4. Fabio Quartararo (Honda) 2:07.815 +0.148
5. Alexis Masbou (Honda) 2:07.886 +0.219
6. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 2:08.115 +0.448
7. Karel Hanika (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 2:08.116 +0.449
12. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 2:08.495 +0.828

Miguel Oliveira,
“The free practice this morning went very well and we showed a great pace that is sure to be important for tomorrow. However, in the afternoon it was more windy and the wind had changed direction. That affected us all a bit. I wasn’t lucky enough to catch a good slipstream that would have helped us in these conditions, so it was not a perfect qualifying session. Anyway, we know that this isn’t the best lap we are capable of setting. Tomorrow in the race we will have to work hard, but I think we can be in the front group and fight for the win; as always, it is our main goal.”

Brad Binder,
“The qualifying session went very well. From the first lap I set good times, and on the second run I rode alone and it went well. On the final run I had a good pace once again. I was able to catch a small slipstream, and it was enough to shave a few more tenths off my times and put myself on the second row. I think my pace is really good and I did my laps with a race tyre, so that’s an advantage for tomorrow.

Sixth place is a good place to start the race, so I will give the maximum from the beginning and see what happens. If the forecasts are right and the race is in the rain, then no problem, because I love that. I have great confidence in the wet, so whatever the conditions may be, I feel strong for tomorrow.”

Karel Hanika,
“Yesterday was a difficult day for us and I found it very hard to find the right setup and riding style. Today the whole team worked hard to giveus the best possible solutions and in practice this morning we improved a lot, setting steady times. In the qualifying session we took another small step ahead: The team did a very good job, I felt comfortable and I ended up quite satisfied.

We still have work to do on some corners, and we will study that this afternoon and tomorrow we will make some changes for the warmup. I think in the race there will be a large group at the front –and I hope to be part of it. After the step forward we have taken today, we have more confidence in the bike, I feel more comfortable and hopefully I can be in the fight.”