Red Bull KTM Ajo riders to start  2017 season finale from fourth and fifth, respectively, with the target of the podium.

Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder placed fourth and fifth, respectively, in qualifying for the Valencia Grand Prix, continuing their excellent run of form in the final stages of the season. The Red Bull KTM Ajo riders will look to take a third consecutive win on Sunday, having been in the Top 5 continuously in every session thus far.

Moto2 FP3 saw the two riders start by trying out a new top fairing, similar to that used by the KTM MotoGP bikes, for the first time, with both drawing positive conclusions. In the remainder of the session, they  continued with the same  dynamic as on Saturday, lowering their times for the third successive session. Oliveira and Binder were second and fourth, respectively, with  times of 1:35.637 and 1:35.826.

In qualifying, the Red Bull KTM Ajo riders were inside the Top 10 early on. Binder made the first stop in the garage  when in fourth place, and his time of 1:35.323 gave him an eventual fifth place. Oliveira was one of the few top riders to lower his times in the final minutes, setting a 1:35.182 lap that put him fourth. Binder ended the session with a light crash, although he was able to bring the bike back to the pits.

After consecutive 1-2 finishes, Oliveira and Binder will attempt to repeat the feat at the season finale, which gets underway at 12:20pm. Both have previously won at Valencia in Moto3: In 2015 and 2016. 

Results (Qualifying Session)
1. Alex Marquez (Kalex) 1:35.050
2. Franco Morbidelli (Kalex) 1:35.115 +0.065
3. Mattia Pasini (Kalex) 1:35.155 +0.105
4. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:35.182 +0.132
5. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:35.323 +0.273 

  41 BRAD BINDER 
“I’m very happy. My pace is the best I’ve ever had in Moto2. I have the feeling that I can set the exact  same time on every lap. The  KTM is working incredibly well, but we can’t afford to relax, because if so we might have  scares like the small crash we had at the end of qualifying. I also know that we have room for improvement on several corners.I will give 110% tomorrow. I feel comfortable, I’ve never been so fast and I have nothing to lose, so I want to fight for the win.”

 

 44 MIGUEL OLIVEIRA
“The difference between our time and the pole lap was very small today. The positive thing is that we have a very good pace and I was the only one to lower my times at the end of qualifying. On my first run I didn’t make the most of all the grip that the tyres offered, and that made things a little tough for me. The bike is performing well ahead of the race and I think I’m ready to fight. It will be important to not lose too much time at the start, and take risks when necessary, in order to fight for a third consecutive win.”