Rookies, Silverstone Qualifying: Techer Grabs Pole
Alan Techer, the 16 year old Frenchman seized pole position for the weekend’s Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup races at Silverstone. As rain called an early halt to the second session Techer stood over 6 tenths quicker than 14 year old Italian Lorenzo Baldassarri with Xavi Pinsach, the 15 year old Spaniard, another 2 tenths further back.
“I am thrilled to be on pole, it’s a great track, fast and I was having a lot of fun,” said Techer. “It is a difficult track though and we had difficult conditions. I felt that the second split section of the track was the most difficult with not so much rear grip and the back was sliding a lot under power. But the bike is working well and I am looking forward to the race.”
Baldassarri’s 2nd left him happy. “That’s great for me. We made changes to the suspension both front and back after the first session and I think it was a big improvement even though we didn’t get many laps to try it. It will be a good race and I think I can go faster than practice and race for the win. It is a really great track, fast but quite difficult because the corners are so big an open that it is hard to make the best use of all the road.”
Equally Pinsach was well pleased with 3rd. “It is great to be starting on the front row and I am very happy with the way that the bike is working and the track is some much fun, fast and open. I am certainly planning to finish on the podium if I can.”
In 6th place on the grid Cup leader Arthur Sissis is unsure what to expect for the race. “They made some changes for the bike between the sessions and I didn’t have the chance to find out if it’s better because it rained. So I don’t know how the bike will work. For me I think it would be better if it rained for the race, yes I want it to rain,” concluded the 15 year old Australian who has already won 2 races this year.
He wasn’t the only one frustrated by the rain cutting short the 2nd session. Czech 17 year old Tomas Vavrous spoke typically. “I like the track, the bike is working well, I am just frustrated at only being 7th fastest, I was really aiming to be on top in that session. Such a shame about the weather.”
Not happy at all was Brad Binder. The 15 year old South African has already won a race this year but if he is going to get another this weekend he knows he will have to work for it. “17th on the grid has left me a lot to do. I was just too slow through that one damp section in the first qualifying session. We made some changes to the bike for the second and on my first lap I was a second faster but then it rained.”
Binder will have to put in a great performance to catch pole man Techer who is already thinking about how his race might go. “I hope that I can make a good start and then I am sure it will be a close race, I will have to watch what the other guys are doing and then wait until the last few laps to try and win it if I can.”
Saturday’s race will start at 17:30 CET and can be seen live on TV around the world and also is webcast on www.redbull.tv.
Combined Qualifying Classification
1. Alan Techer (FRA) 2 minutes 23.776 seconds
2. Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA) +0.634
3. Lukas Trautmann (AUT) +1.276
5. Stefano Valtulini (ITA) +1.442
6.Arthur Sissis (AUS) +1.798
7.Tomas Vavrous (CZE) +1.976
8. Aaron Espana (ESP) +2.085
9. Kevin Argino (ITA) +2.191
10. Hafiq Azmi (MAS) +2.224
