Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 team head to Misano, aiming to get back amongst the frontrunners at the San Marino GP.

Few riders have the opportunity to contest a race as close to home as Niccolo Antonelli, who lives just 5km away from the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. The track is the venue for Round 13 of the Moto3 World Championship season, and both Antonelli and Red Bull KTM Ajo teammate Bo Bendsneyder will seek to bounce back from the last two races, where results have not turned out the way they had wanted.

Two crashes at the Red Bull Ring and at Silverstone have tarnished the good work that Bendsneyder and the team have been doing over the past few weeks, having showed podium pace and the ability to fight at the front. The Dutchman also has some unfinished business at Misano, where last year he suffered a crash on the opening lap. A fonder memory of the circuit is that of 2015, when he was proclaimed champion of the Red Bull Rookies Cup.

Physical problems prevented Niccolo Antonelli from keeping in the top positions throughout the race at Silverstone. The Italian has focused these past two weeks on getting as fit as possible for the most special event of the year for him. He already knows what it is like to enjoy success at home, since in 2015 he achieved a third position at Misano.

The Moto3 schedule will return to normal this weekend, with the race beginning at 11.00am local time on Sunday. 

Circuit information – Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
Length: 4.226m / 2.626 milesWidth: 14m
Left corners: 6Right corners: 10
Longest straight: 565m / 0.351 miles
Constructed: 1969
Modified: 2008 

  23 NICCOLO ANTONELLI 
“A home Grand Prix always gives added motivation, and I’m very happy to be able to ride so close to where I live. The Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli is a track that I love, and I have trained a lot there. I hope to go fast and have fun on the bike throughout the weekend, to get a good result in front of my friends, family and fans. After the final result of the British GP, I really want to get back on my KTM.Over these past two weeks I have been rehabilitating and receiving acupuncture on my right arm so that the tiredness that happened in the last race doesn’t reoccur. I am not one hundred percent fit, but little by little it is improving and we are hurrying to get in as good shape as possible. We will work hard to get the result we deserve at the most special round for me.”

 

 64 BO BENDSNEYDER
“The Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli is a track I really like, even if last year’s result was a disaster. After the British GP we are going to a circuit with very different characteristics. We have learned a lot compared to last year, and have been working very hard as always to be competitive. After the last two rounds, we need to finish the race with a result that gives us confidence. We’ll see what happens.”