Maverick Viñales takes Le Mans Moto3 pole

Despite the weather forecast predicting rain for qualifying in the afternoon, in the end both today’s sessions were held in the dry.

Team Calvo rider Maverick Viñales came out on top on his KTM and achieved his first pole position of this season. This is also the first pole position for this young team who started their adventures in the world championship in the 2012 season. For tomorrow’s race the weather forecast again doesn’t look too promising, but as Maverick says, one has to wait and see what conditions are like just before the start.

Maverick’s teammate Ana Carrasco finished the day in 24th position, but with a pace superior to many riders in front of her. Hopefully she’ll be able to get a good start tomorrow and fight for a position in the points, something which was already within reach in Jerez. If it rains, the main aim will be to safely finish the race.

#25 Maverick Viñales – 1.43.696 – Pole position / @maverickmack25
I’m very happy because we’ve been working very hard this weekend, especially on things we’d already improved in last week’s tests in Almería. I’m just hoping that tomorrow the weather will hold out and that we can just concentrate on our race because we’ve got a great pace and I feel very good on the bike. The team has done a fantastic job. Tomorrow’s forecast says rain, but that’s what it said about today as well. I prefer to wait until just before the race and then see what the conditions are like.

#22 Ana Carrasco – 1.45.658 – 24th position / @AnaCarrasco_22
I’m not very happy because we’ve been going well, this morning as well as this afternoon, but when I could have put a good lap in I caught traffic and couldn’t improve. I feel bad because I know that I can go quicker than many of the riders I’ve got in front of me but passing them will not be easy. If it rains, it’ll just be very important to stay on the bike. Normally a lot of people crash here and if we hold on we can get a good result.

Pablo Nieto (Team Director) / @pablonieto22
We’re very happy because as a team this is our first pole position in the championship. The most important thing is Maverick’s pace. He’s been working very well this weekend at this track where he’d celebrated his first ever victory, and tomorrow’s objective will be to fight for at least a podium finish. Ana has made a big step forward although her position is the same as in previous races. But she is a lot closer and I believe tomorrow she can do well. Should it rain and she can stay on the bike, she’ll achieve a good result.

Source: Team Calvo