KTM's Oliveira takes second Moto3 win at Assen

[totalmotorcycle]

@KTM's Oliveira takes second #Moto3 win at #Assen



Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Miguel Oliveira picked up his second career Moto3 victory, and his second win in three races at the traditional Dutch TT on Saturday in what was one of the most tightly fought races of the season. Assen was Round 8 of the Moto3 World Championship.


Miguel Oliveira, a Red Bull athlete came out on top of a group of seven riders who broke away from the following pack and won the race by a mere 0.066 sec from French teenager Fabio Quartararo. Britain’s Danny Kent took the third podium spot.

The top seven, which included Oliveira’s teammate Brad Binder in seventh, all crossed the line within half a second of each other. The third team member Czech rider Karel Hanika led in the next group in eighth position.

Oliveira: “I tried for many laps to lead and I was always overtaken. So I thought maybe to come second was the ideal plan. Finally I positioned myself to overtake him (Quartararo) although I was lucky not to crash trying to defend my line in the last chicane. This was an awesome win and I am super happy for me and my team.”

Oliveira started from the second row of the grid and led going into the first corner of the race. He stayed in podium contention throughout the race and held the lead in many laps. He had some brief minutes at fourth position going into lap nine of the 22 lap race but it was clear from the outset that any of the seven riders at the front could take the victory. Going into the final laps it was still anyone’s race as the leaders jockeyed for position and rehearsed overtaking moves, but Oliveira held his nerve, and his line and emerged the winner.

The Assen race weekend, being held for the last time on Saturday, was also good for Karel Hanika. The Czech rider has had his share of bad luck this season but this weekend he qualified on the front row for the first time in his career and his eighth place finish was his second best result for 2015. Earlier in the season Hanika finished seventh in Argentina.

Teammate Brad Binder started from the third row of the grid and did well to maintain contact with the front breakaway group. He stuck with them throughout the race, which was at breakneck speed and an unbelievably tight contest.

Oliveira’s win brings him within six points of second placed Italian Enea Bastianini in the title fight. Danny Kent of Britain continues to lead the standings.

Assen was also a good race for KTM rider Romano Fenati of Italy, who was often a race leader in the second half of the action and only lost out in the final stages. The Red Bull KTM Ajoriders compete on the KTM RC 250 GP racing bike.

Next Round: July 12, 2015 – Sachsenring (GER)

Results Moto3 Assen
1. Miguel Oliveira (POR), KTM, 37:54.427 min (22 laps)
2. Fabio Quartararo (FRA), Honda, +0.066 sec
3. Danny Kent (GBR), Honda, +0.117
4. Jorge Navarro (ESP), Honda, +0.179
5. Romano Fenati (ITA), KTM, +0.252
Other KTM
7. Brad Binder (RSA), KTM, +0.540
8. Karel Hanika (CZE), KTM, +21.406
12. Andrea Migno (ITA), KTM, +21.723
15. Philipp Öttl (GER), KTM, +22.596
17. Niklas Ajo (FIN), KTM, +25.494
20. Jakub Kornfeil (CZE), KTM, +33.963
23. Ana Carrasco (ESP), KTM, +51.803
25. Gabriel Rodrigo (ARG), KTM, +53.616
DNF, Zulfahmi Khairuddin (MAL), KTM, +17 laps

Standings Moto3 after 8 of 18 rounds
1. Kent, 165 points
2. Enea Bastianini (ITA), Honda, 108
3. Oliveira, 102
4. Fenati, 86
5. Efren Vazquez (ESP), Honda, 76
Other KTM
7. Binder, 66
14. Hanika, 26
16. Öttl, 18
17. Kornfeil, 17
18. Migno, 16
19. Ajo, 15
25. Khairuddin, 2

Manufacturers Standings Moto3 after 8 of 18 rounds
1. Honda, 185 points
2. KTM, 136
3. Husqvarna, 64