OLIVEIRA FIFTH IN CLOSE FINISH AT MOTO3 CATALUNYA

[totalmotorcycle]

@OLIVEIRA FIFTH IN CLOSE FINISH AT #MOTO3 #CATALUNYA


@RedBull @KTM Ajo rider Miguel Oliveira was right in the mix of a six-rider battle for victory at the Moto3 GP in Catalunya and finished fifth in a race that saw all top six cross the line within one second.

Oliveira, who won the last round at Mugello, Italy, has now moved up to third in the championship point standings after seven rounds of the competition.

The Portuguese rider started from the second row and immediately launched his bid to stay with the front group at the start of the race. He frequently led the pack throughout the 22-lap race on the Barcelona circuit and was a major player in the closing action.

Meanwhile, a second battle ensued in the following group with Isaac Vinales, KTM rider Romano Fenati of Italy, Oliveira’s teammate Brad Binder and German KTM rider Philipp Oettl fighting it out for spots in the top ten.

Miguel Oliveira: It was a very difficult race. We started well and we carried out our initial strategy, which was to be up at the front on the opening laps and try to form a group of four or five riders. But from there it was a very hard fought Grand Prix and I had to really ride at the limit to keep up with those at the front. I wasn't very happy with the last lap. Nobody wanted to start it in the lead, and I had to brake hard on the last corner in order to avoid another rider. That was where the race was decided and I was not able to do anything more. I'm very confident heading to Assen, because it is a circuit which, unlike this one, is perfectly suited to the KTM.”

Brad Binder: I made an incredible start, I think the best in my life, and I'm very happy about that. But on the fast corners I could not keep up the same speed as my rivals and open the throttle, because I had to lean over more and it was very difficult. The positive is that we took a step forward on a weekend where things didn’t go so well.

Karel Hanika, the factory team’s third rider put in some good laps but went down with three laps to go when another rider clipped his bike in Turn 10. “The positives are the good laps from the first half of the Grand Prix, and now we have to think about Holland and Germany, two of my favorite tracks on the calendar. I hope to achieve good results there,” Hanika said.

Team Manager Aki Ajo: “Miguel [Oliveira] once again had a very good race, although he lacked a little luck at the end. On the last corner of the penultimate lap, the front guys slowed down and he had to cut the throttle, which lost him the slipstream on the straight. That was the main thing that prevented him from fighting for the victory on the final lap. We are confident, because we knew this circuit would be difficult for us and the next few tracks are well suited to him, so we hope to win again. Brad [Binder] was in the leading group at the start of the race, but couldn't keep the pace up because he did not feel the same confidence on the fast corners, and lost some positions as a result. He finished the race and scored points, and that's a positive. As for Karel [Hanika], unfortunately he crashed again, like he did at Mugello. I hope he does not give up, because his speed and pace are very good at the moment.
Next Round: Assen NL, June 27, 2015.
More at www.motogp.com
MotoGP of Catalunya at the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit - Round 7
Moto3 Results
1, Danny Kent, GBR, Honda, 40:59.419
2, Enea Bastianini, ITA, Honda, 40:59.454
3, Efren Vazquez, ESP, Yamaha, 41:00.019
4, Niccolo Antonelli, ITA, Honda, 41:00.106
5, Miguel Oliveira, POR, KTM, 41:00.246
6, Jorge Navarro, ESP, Honda, 41:00.332
7, Isaac Viñales, ESP, Husqvarna, 41:08.290
8, Romano Fenati, ITA, KTM, 41:08.336
9, Brad Binder, RSA, KTM, 41:10.487
10, Philipp Oettl, GER, KTM, 41:14.387
Other KTM
13, Niklas Ajo, FIN, KTM, 41:18.505
23, Ana Carrasco, ESP, KTM, 41:37.507
24, Zulfahmi Khairuddin, MAL, KTM, 41:52.765
28, Andrea Migno ITA, KTM, 41:24.959
DNF, Karel Hanika, CZE, KTM, 35:40.055
DNF, Gabriel Rodrigo, ARG, KTM
DNF, Jakub Kornfeil, CZE, KTM
Moto3 Standings after Round 7
1, Kent, 149
2, Bastianini, 98
3, Oliveira, 77
4, Vazquez, 76
5, Fenati, 75
6, Viñales, 64
7, B. Binder, 57
8, Fabio Quartararo, FRA, Honda, 54
9, Francesco Bagnaia, ITA, Honda, 50
10, Antonelli, 42
Other KTM
15, Hanika, 18
16, Kornfeil, 17
17, Oettl, 17
18, Ajo, 15
20, Migno, 12
25, Khairuddin, 2

Moto3 Manufacturers Standings after Round 7