19/02 2015
RED BULL KTM AJO RIDERS COMPLETE SECOND IRTA TESTS IN JEREZ
Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 riders were on the track this week for a three-day session of IRTA official tests at the Spanish circuit of Jerez ahead to prepare for the 2015 Moto3 World Championship.
Karel Hanika the Czech rider who is starting his second year with the team was the fastest of the three factory riders to be seventh on the combined timesheets for the three days and nine sessions. He clocked 1:46.427 in the final session on Thursday to be 0.847 off the fastest time set by Fabio Quartararo of France.
Hanika: “The three-day test here at Jerez has been quite positive. Today we made big improvements. When the conditions improved these last two days I felt very comfortable on the bike. We have a setup that is well suited to what I need, but we have to find another for when the weather or track conditions are not favourable. For the next test we have to improve the suspension and my riding style a little. If we can do that, then I am sure we will lower our times. I’m still satisfied with the time we set and the consistency that I have shown lap-after-lap.”
Hanika’s two teammates, South African Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira of Portugal were eleventh and fifteenth on the combined timesheets with best lap times of 1:46.607 and 1:46.774 respectively.
While the opening day of tests on Tuesday was hampered by gusty winds, conditions did improve for the other two days as teams and riders worked on setups and adjustments of the competition bikes. The team leaves Jerez quite satisfied with the tests but they believe there is still more to be refined and to be achieved to be ready for the 2015 Championship.
The third and final round of IRTA official pre-season tests is on the Jerez circuit from March 17-19, just prior to the teams shipping bikes and equipment to Qatar for the opening round of the 2015 World Championship on the Losail Circuit.
Results (combined times over three days – nine sessions)
1, Fabio Quartararo, FRA, Honda 1:45.580
2, Jorge Martin, ESP, Mahindra 1:45.593
3, Danny Kent, GBR, Honda, 1:45.964
4, Nicolo Antonelli, ITA, Honda, 1:46.043
5, John McPhee, GBR, Honda, 1:46.306
7, Karel Hanika, CZE, KTM 1:46.427 (Day 3, Session 3)
11, Brad Binder, RSA, KTM 1:46.607 (Day 3, Session 2)
14, Romano Fenati, ITA, KTM 1:46.742
15, Miguel Oliveira, KTM 1:46.774 (Day 3, Session 2)
18, Niklas Ajo, FIN, KTM 1:46.887
21, Philipp Oettl, GER, KTM 1:47.142
24, Ana Carrasco, ESP, KTM 1:47.292
27, Andrea Migno, ITA, KTM, 1:47.430
28, Gabriel Rodrigo, ARG, KTM, 1:47.483