Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 riders are unable to find a fast lap in qualifying and will start from the sixth and seventh rows.

The Moto2 qualifying session for the Dutch GP was a tough one for the Red Bull KTM Ajo riders, as both Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder were unable to find a spot high up on the starting grid. The Portuguese repeated his seventeenth place from two weeks ago in Barcelona, while the South African will start from twenty-first after a penalty was given to another rider.

The final Free Practice session saw Oliveira and Binder follow different strategies. The former clocked a 1:38.770 best time, undertaking his first stint with fresh tyres and two further runs with used rubber. The latter, with a 1:39.013, was two positions behind in twenty-first. Binder ran used tyres exclusively in order to look for his race pace. Neither rider was able to lower their times from yesterday.

Qualifying repeated the dynamics of the last Grand Prix, where both struggled to clock a great fast lap. Although Oliveira put in his best time of the entire weekend -1:38.228- on his first stint, this was only enough for seventeenth. Binder practically equalled his best time from FP on his final attempt, for twenty-second. He would move up a place after the penalties were awarded.

The 24-lap Dutch GP, the eighth round of the season, takes place tomorrow at 12:20pm. The pair will try to make a comeback for a third consecutive podium for the Red Bull KTM Ajo, after the victory and podium from Oliveira at Mugello and Barcelona.

Results (Qualifying session)
1. Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) 1:37.608
2. Marcel Schrotter (Kalex) 1:37.681 +0.073
3. Luca Marini (Kalex) 1:37.689 +0.081
4. Alex Marquez (Kalex) 1:37.717 +0.109
5. Xavi Vierge (Kalex) 1:37.786 +0.160
17. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:38.228 +0.620
22. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:38.605 +0.997

44 MIGUEL OLIVEIRA
“It was a qualifying session similar to that of the last few GPs. In Free Practice we are very close to the fastest times and top positions, whilst in QP others improve and we stay in exactly the same place as in practice, either with new or used tyres. However, as always our race pace is good and we know that in normal conditions we are up there. Tomorrow I will have to win back many positions and try not to get into trouble on the first few laps, in order to be able to progress. It’s a shame about the results of recent QPs, because the team are trying everything and we are working very hard, but it is not easy to find a solution. We’ll see how the race goes tomorrow, because here at Assen it’s hard to overtake. If a group forms then I hope I can be up there.”

41 BRAD BINDER
“I don’t know what’s happening to us this weekend, as regardless of what we try to do, I still don’t feel comfortable on the bike. I feel unstable and it is very difficult to get an advantage. It doesn’t matter if I try to force things a little or if I try to ride very smoothly, I still get the same lap time; it’s very strange. We have to continue working to find a solution. If we can make the bike more stable tomorrow we can have a good race, and I fully trust in my team. I need to have a very good warmup tomorrow and fight back in the race as we have done on other occasions.”