Bagnaia hopes to catch Binder and Mir, aims for podium at Spielberg
Aspar Mahindra's Francesco Bagnaia admitted to the bike lacking pace to leaders, but is hoping to bridge the gap and claim podium in the Moto3 race at Red Bull Ring.
Francesco Bagnaia, Aspar Team Mahindra Moto3
Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
The Italian qualified seventh, but was promoted to sixth after Nicolo Bulega's quickest lap was disallowed due to track limits.
"We really struggled to set a time initially, it was difficult to find slipstream but on my last lap, I managed to get over the other rider in the first left corner to set a good laptime," Bagania said.
"I am happy with the result. I hope to be close to the front two [Brad Binder and Joan Mir], who have the quickest pace and will probably open up a gap.
"[But] I am confident, the bike is working well. My goal is to finish on the podium, and I'm sure that it is a goal that can be achieved," the VR46 academy rider added.
Teammate Jorge Martin broke into the top 10, only to be bumped out and was unable to improve after catching traffic on his quickest lap, thus lines up 14th, but will start 13th after Romano Fenati's suspension.
"I'm happy with my pace and we have done a great job during the weekend for the race. I think we can fight to be up at the front," the Spanish rider said.
"I make good starts, but I wanted to be a little further forward on the grid; we have to deal with this as best as possible."
Binder leads rest of the pack
Platinum Bay's Darryn Binder enjoyed better qualifying to finish 17th, just over a second behind polesitter Mir, and will start 16th, hoping for more points for the Indian manufacturer.
Wildcard entrant Marco Bezzecchi riding under Mahindra Racing impressed with 20th (to start 19th) place with fellow entrant Stefano Manzi 23rd (to start 22nd).
Just behind Manzi was Peugeot's newest Albert Arenas, while teammate John McPhee was disappointed with 29th (to start 28th), especially after his top 10 finish in the last round in Germany.
Team Italia's Stefano Valtulini qualified 30th, as Platinum Bay's new signing Marcos Ramirez 32nd ahead of CIP's Tatsuki Suzuki and Fabio Spiranelli, with Lorenzo Petrarca rounding off at 35th - all moving one place up due to Fenati's non-start.
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