Impressive Salom just misses out on front row start

RW Racing GP toprider Luis Salom just missed out a front row start for the Qatar GP. With seven minutes remaining in qualifying the Spanish rider put his Kalex KTM on provisional pole position. In the final few minutes of the session Frenchman Louis Rossi and German Sandro Cortese came under Saloms lap time.

An intense fight saw the three of them changing positions several times, until Maverick Viñales – in his final lap – pushed Salom aside to the second row. In the very last second Cortese managed to take pole, with Viñales in second, Rossi in third and Salom in fourth.

Luis Salom: “It was a strange qualifying session with many changes in positions. I was very happy with provisional pole and I knew I could go faster. I had a go for it when an incident occurred on the main straight. I was held up by another rider and could not find my rhythm anymore for the final attempt. That was a pity, but fourth is a good position to start here.”

Team manager Johan Stigefelt: “So far we are happy with how things are going this weekend. Both riders and the team have shown they adapt quickly to the new Moto3 bikes and to changing circumstances. It’s going to be a tough race, with many riders close to each other with similar lap times. The first couple of bikes are quite equal on the straight. Anything can happen.”

Source: RW Racing GP