TOP-5 QUALIFYING RESULT FOR RODRIGO AT LE MANS
After the unusual, mid-spring and mild weather encountered on day one, Team Kömmerling Gresini Moto3 faced the most traditional #FrenchGP Saturday with temperatures dropping, mixed conditions and intermittent rain. With such conditions it was not easy to get in the right frame of mind, but Gabriel Rodrigo did well in both FP3 – he was fourth – and Q2 by qualifying in fifth place; the Argentine rider will therefore line up in the middle of the second row tomorrow.
Rodrigo began Q2 with used tyres in order to find the pace on dry track, but the session was decided in the last two quick-lap attempts: these were enough for the #19 to log a 1’42.743secs, which placed him half a second away from pole position.
Riccardo Rossi had more of a difficult time dealing with the mixed track conditions of the French asphalt, but he did well in staying focused and finishing with a 1’45.116 (26thposition). The young Italian rider will be promoted to 24thplace on the grid due to penalties assigned to two opponents who preceded him in the qualifying timesheets.
5th– GABRIEL RODRIGO #19
“We’ve worked well until now, both on the dry yesterday and in every condition encountered today. We’re quick! As tomorrow’s weather is still uncertain, it’s better to be ready for everything. It wasn’t easy in qualifying because I had to change into dry mode with four laps left, but second row is a good result and a good position from where to start the race tomorrow – we want to do well. If it rains, things will be very different, but with the dry it will be a big fight as usual and we can be up there challenging for the win.”
26th– RICCARDO ROSSI #54
“Today’s conditions have affected me a little. The half way between dry and wet, which is obviously the same for everybody, made me struggle – and that’s another point to work on. I really like this track, but I must admit I still lack some front-end feeling. I must decide which tyre to choose, so the warm up will be decisive.”
