DISAPPOINTMENT AT MUGELLO: RODRIGO OUT EARLY ON, ROSSI FAR AWAY FROM TOP
It has been a Sunday to forget – and soon – forTeam Kömmerling Gresini Moto3 who leave the Tuscan hills with no points. The disappointment is big as Gabriel Rodrigo was among the protagonists in this first of two Italian events in the season: always fast in free practice, he was second in qualifying and then great at the start of the Moto3 encounter.
Rodrigo’s race did not last too long, however: after five laps, the Argentine rider lost the front while entering turn 4; he escaped uninjured, but the #19 still lost a great opportunity to get closer to the top of the standings as he is now tenth with 37 points – 46 points away from the leader.
It was an important weekend for Ricardo Rossi: his 21stposition at the chequered flag does not give justice to the Italian’s performance, as the young rookie was battling for what would have been his first championship point within a group of six riders. One slightly-too-aggressive overtaking manoeuvre forced him wide at turn one and that took him out of contention for the top-15.
DNF – GABRIEL RODRIGO #19
“I don’t know what happened with the crash. During warm up we were in the right place so the strategy was to attack straight from the get-go. I started off well, but then many opponents got in the mix and slowed me down. This allowed for more aggressive riders to get back near the front so I thought more about saving my tyres. Unfortunately when I picked up the throttle I lost the front and there was nothing I could do.”
21st – RICCARDO ROSSI #54
“I tried the harder tyre during warm up and I liked it. We decided to use it in the race but the temperatures were higher, so at the beginning I struggled a bit because the bike wasn’t very stable. As the race progressed I felt more and more confident and that allowed me to make up some places. Too bad for the mistake at the end: I tried to pass all five at turn one and it didn’t go well. We had the pace for the top-15 today, but we still continue to make experience and the results will come.”
