Red Bull KTM Ajo Factory Racing Team heads into its final weekend of the triple-header held at magnificent and fast circuit of Mugello in Italy. The team lead by Aki Ajo gets ready to the seasons ninth Moto3 GP weekend from great situation. German rider Sandro Cortese returned championship lead last weekend when he won his home race in Sachsenring. Cortese, who has Italian roots and temper leads now the series by 18 points over Spanish Maverick Vinales. The point difference between the leading riders is now biggest what it has been during the season. From the victory riders get 25 points.
“I thank Aki (Ajo) that I have gained some Finnish cool attitude from him”, says Cortese.
22-year-old Cortese competed in Finnish team last time in 2009 and 2010 seasons. Many things have changed since.
“Sandro has become more mature and more experienced”, says Ajo, “The same goes also for me and we have learnt to know each others better. There is a good and warm relationship between Sandro and the team, which also reflects to the results.”

One can´t lose
concentration for a second

Cortese is the only rider in Moto3 class who has reached points in every eight GPs of the season. Beside Germany he also won in Portugal and has been out from the podium only once when he was sixth in France. He has reached podium now four times in a row.
Cortese has also started from the pole in two previous GPs. He has been mentally really strong and that was shown especially in German GP where he handled the pressure of competing in front of his home crowd in best possible way in extremely challenging weather conditions.
“I am naturally really happy that I won my home race and that the situation in championship standing changed so much during just one race”, says Cortese, “However, the season is just reaching its half way and there is still long way to go until we know who will be the champion.”
“We continue to work same way as we have done so far. We concentrate to one race at a time and ride sensibly”, Cortese confirms.

Kent and Sissis head to
Mugello full of energy

Cortese´s team mates Briton Danny Kent is ninth in championship standing and Australian Arthur Sissis, who is having a strong rookie season, is 13th.
18-year-old Kent, who qualified second behind Cortese in Netherlands and in Germany and 17-year-old Sissis travelled directly from Sachsenring to hot Mugello. Both are feeling good and expecting a lot from the race.
“Mugello is the world´s best and most beautiful race” says Sissis.
Also Kent is full of energy despite the hectic race period.
“Weather has been really great here in Mugello during the whole week. We have been able to rest and relax a bit before the race weekend.”
Everybody seems to have a clear opinion of the 5 245 meters long circuit of Mugello that situates in the beautiful Toscana.
“Just because of the view this is so magnificent and mountainous place. The circuit with lot of altitude differences is fast, challenging and without a doubt one of the best ones of the series”, Ajo convinces.

Timetable of Gran Premio d’Italia TIM (Local Time GMT +2)
Friday 13th of July
09.15-09.55, 1st free practice
13.15-13.55, 2nd free practice

Saturday 14th of July
09.15-09.55, 3rd free practice
13.00-13.40, qualifying

Sunday 15th of July
08.40-09.00 warm up
11.00, race

Circuit info
Length: 5.245 m. / 3,259 miles
Width: 14m
Left corners: 6
Right corners: 9
Longest straight: 1.141 m. / 0,709 miles
Constructed: 1974