Red Bull KTM Ajo look for third Mugello win
18/05/2016Moto3 World Championship leader Brad Binder and rookie teammate Bo Bendsneyder will look to take team’s third Italian GP win in four years.
Red Bull KTM Ajo have provided the winning rider in two of the last three Moto3 Italian GPs, courtesy of Luis Salom in 2013 and Miguel Oliveira in 2015. Looking to follow in their footsteps this weekend are the team’s current lineup of Brad Binder and Bo Bendsneyder, as the 2016 season reaches Round 6. The South African, first in the overall standings, will try to take a third consecutive win and keep up his podium run, whilst his teammate is targeting further points for his tally.
Brad Binder set a new lap record in the race at Mugello last year, in which he crossed the finish line in tenth position. On a perfect run of podiums so far this season, and heading to one of his favourite tracks, the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider has emerged victorious at the last two rounds and holds a 24-point lead in the overall standings.
Bo Bendsneyder has a weekend of hard work ahead of him, as he rides at the world-famous Italian circuit for only the second time. His previous experience at Mugello came in the 2014 Red Bull Rookies Cup, but this will be his first outing there in Grand Prix racing. Top of his agenda is making improvements in qualifying -where he has struggled so far in 2016- and finishing in the Top 15 on Sunday.
A podium for the Red Bull KTM Ajo team would take them to 12 in a row, a streak that has extended from late 2015 through the beginning of 2016. The Moto3 Italian Grand Prix will start at 11am local time on Sunday.
Circuit information – Mugello
Length: 5.245 m / 3.259 miles
Width: 15 metres
Left corners: 6
Right corners: 9
Longest straight: 1.141 m / 0.709 miles
Constructed: 1974
41 BRAD BINDER
“Mugello is my favourite track on the calendar. It is a spectacular place, but I think it is also a favourite for many other riders. After the last few races I feel very good on the KTM; we have found an incredible setup after some great work from my team, so we will try to go for another victory. We are strong and the overall standings are looking good for us at the moment, but we are only five races into the season and so the important thing is not so much getting victories as always placing on the podium.”64 BO BENDSNEYDER
“I can’t wait to get to Mugello -one of the most beautiful circuits on the calendar. It will be almost like facing a new circuit for me, because I’ve only raced once there with the Red Bull Rookies Cup -and that was two seasons ago. It is a very fast track that I think is well suited to my riding style. We will work hard from Friday through to the race, in order to achieve a good result.”