NO FINISH LINE FOR BOTH ROSSI AND RODRIGO AT PHILLIP ISLAND
Two hard collisions decided the fate of Team Kömmerling Gresini Moto3, who came out empty handed also a Phillip Island – adding to a negative streak of results that has been lasting for a few Grand Prix now.
The first to leave the race was Riccardo Rossi, whose encounter only lasted a couple of corners: it was Darren Binder the one hitting the Italian, who was forced to an early retirement after escaping uninjured from the crash. Gabri Rodrigo’s performance lasted a few more laps as the Argentine was among the protagonists of the Moto3 race early on. With eight laps left, Fernandez collided with Rodrigo, who found himself in the gravel without really knowing why.
No points and a lot of regrets for both standard bearers of Gresini, who will need to bounce back from this disappointing result as Malaysia awaits from next Friday.
DNF GABRI RODRIGO #19
“We opted for the hard tyre, which could have given us a bit more at the end of the race. Despite the choice, I was feeling good at the start of the race and I also took the lead at some point. I was constantly in the top-five, until somebody hit me: I made the save, but dropped down near the end of the top-15. I made it back to sixth place but then again I was pushed back by a collision. Then Fernandez literally rammed into me so I was out of the race… Bad luck doesn’t want to leave us yet and it’s not an easy time at all for the team and I.”
DNF RICCARDO ROSSI #54
“Not much to say, really… We got a good start and we could have surely had a good race. A turn two, however, Binder hit me and I finished in the gravel trap without any chance to re-join the race. We had the pace to be in the top-ten and now we need to think about Malaysia.”
