Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 rider Sandro Cortese was fastest on the Valencia circuit for the third consecutive day in the first round of official tests for the new MotoGP class...
Cortese also managed to improve his lap times each day as teams running KTM and KTM-driven bikes continue to work hard on their pre-season preparations.
“I had a very good feeling right from the first day to the end of tests," said Sandro. "And we're improving a lot as we get the bike ready for the season. With KTM as the factory team, we have a lot of support and I think I am in a better position than in previous years."
While there is still much work to be done before the opening MotoGP in Qatar, it was nevertheless a positive outing for all five riders of the new KTM factory bike and the four riders on the KALEX-KTM-driven machine. They dominated fast lap times in the top ten and were all up among the top third of the field of 33 riders.
After last week’s preliminary tests and three days at Valencia, Red Bull KTM team manager, Aki Ajo, nevertheless took the cautious approach saying he was “quite happy”.
“Now we have had five full days of tests and we have had no technical problems. That is the most important," said Aki. "But we must remember we are in the early states of our preparation. All the teams are just beginning and we will really have a better idea of where we stand after a month.”
The next Moto3 testing will take place from Thurday to Saturday in Jerez, Spain.
Unofficial Moto3 lap times Friday (recorded by teams):
1, Sandro Cortese, Germany Red Bull KTM Ajo, 1’40.9 (41 laps)
2. Maverick Vinales, Avintia Racing, 1’41.0 (66 laps)
3, Albert Moncayo, Spain, Aspar Team KALEX-KTM, 1’41.2 (56 laps)
4, Danny Kent, Britain, Red Bull KTM Ajo, 1’41.2 (56 laps)
5. Luis Salom, Spain, RW Racing GP KALEX-KTM, 1’41.2 (28 laps)
6. Niklas Ajo, Finland, TT Motion Event Racing, KTM, 1’41.4 (32 laps)
7. Hector Faubel, Spain, Aspar Team, KALEX-KTM, 1’41.6 (54 laps)
Other KTM
9. Zulfahmi Khairuddin, Malaysia, Airasia SIC-AJO, KTM 1’42.0 (44 laps)
10. Brad Binder, South Africa, RW RACING GP, KALEX-KTM, 1’42.0 (50 laps)
13. Arthur Sissis, Australia, Red Bull KTM AJO, 1’43.1 (50 laps)
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