Bastianini Snatches Last-Gasp Pole In Germany. Bad Luck For Di Giannantonio
Gresini Racing Team Moto3 racer Enea Bastianini claimed the pole position at the end of this afternoon’s Qualifying for the German Grand Prix at Sachsenring: already on pole at Assen, the 18-year-old rider from Rimini has centered his second consecutive pole position start with a stunning last lap in the final seconds of an intense Qualifying session, setting 1’27”129.
Already fastest yesterday at the end of the first day of practice and also this morning in the third and final Free Practice session, Bastianini therefore confirmed himself at the top today: this bodes well ahead of a race that promises to be hard fought, as usual.
It was rather an unfortunate Qualifying for Fabio Di Giannantonio: like other riders, the 17-year-old rookie from Rome crashed in the early stages of the session passing due to an oil leak left by another bike at Turn 4. The Qualifying has also been red flagged to allow the marshals to clear the track. Back on track, in his last attempt ‘Diggia’ was unlucky again, forced to slow down for a rider crashed in front of him just in the last sector of the track when he was about to complete a very good lap. Therefore Fabio had to settle for the 1’28”424 obtained earlier in the session, a lap time that will allow him to start tomorrow from the eighth row of the grid.
ENEA BASTIANINI (1st – 1’27”129)
“I’m happy for this pole position! We worked well throughout the whole weekend, showing a good competitiveness, always in the top three in all the practice sessions, so we expected to be able to do well in Qualifying. This afternoon the track temperature has risen and some issues emerged on the bike, but working we solved them and on my last attempt I could complete a very good lap, which allowed me to get the pole. The last lap with traffic was not easy, as always, but basically the other rider didn’t give me a big hassle, indeed they helped me, representing a reference in front of me, which is always helpful”.
FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO (22nd – 1’28”424)
“It was a very eventful Qualifying! In the early stages I was going well, then unfortunately I didn’t notice the oil on the track and I crashed. I was a little sore, but I managed to bring the bike back into the pits and the guys were very good in repairing it in just a few minutes, enabling me to get back on track. When the session restarted there was a lot of traffic, then on my last lap Rodrigo fell right in front of me, preventing me to complete a good lap. It went like this, so we look at the positives: we found a good base set-up and physically I’m recovering from yesterday’s crash, so we look forward to the race tomorrow”.
FAUSTO GRESINI
“Two consecutive pole positions are a good sign! I’m very happy for both Bastianini and the team: starting in front of everyone is always very positive and means that we are competitive. Moreover Enea, despite the track conditions constantly changing, has always been fast proving to be there from the beginning of the weekend. Yesterday unfortunately Di Giannantonio hit his head in the crash and as a result is not one hundred percent physically, and today he now also crashed on the oil left by another rider. Finally, on the last lap, just when he was doing very well, another rider crashed in front of him, denying him the chance to improve. So far, the Grand Prix has been really unlucky for him, but we must look forward to the race with confidence because Fabio has nevertheless proved to be fast”.
