Xavi Vierge qualifies 23rd, Isaac Viñales 27th for Argentine GP

Tech3 Racing Team rider Xavi Vierge will contest his first race appearance at the Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo from the 8th row of the grid after fighting against the challenging circuit today in qualifying. The young Spaniard leapt into action when the session began and gathered pace before speeding to a personal best on his 12th lap that left him half a second from the top fifteen. Tomorrow, he intends to finish strongly in the 2nd round of the 2016 Moto2 World Championship whilst continuing to gain experience in the highly competitive intermediate series.

Meanwhile, Isaac Viñales will launch forward from the rear of the 9th row after producing a tireless effort in the qualifying shootout today. The Spaniard worked tirelessly with the Tech3 Racing Team as they battled the gruelling track and as he pushed onwards, with the clock counting down, he set his fastest time on his 5th lap out of 17. Viñales will seek to undertake a confident start, then set into his race rhythm before meeting the chequered flag whilst learning as much as possible in the 23 lap sprint.

Xavi Vierge
“We made another good step today, but I must admit that I am not thrilled with the qualifying position because the team and I worked very hard and we deserved more. We need to be higher up the field, but I believe in my bike as well as the crew so we must carry on pushing. Tomorrow’s race is going to be challenging, mainly as it’s very hot here in Argentina, but my rhythm is the most important thing for me to focus on. I think my pace is strong enough to fight for the top 15, so I have to make a good start and then I’ll battle from there. The most vital aspect for me is to finish the GP and gain some more experience. I like this track and I enjoy every lap that I complete, yet it is also tough due to this class being so competitive. Anyway, the gap to the front is closing all the time which is a big positive for the future.”

Isaac Viñales
“It goes without saying that it was a complicated day for me and there were a few issues. We struggled to find a good rhythm and also to get a comfortable feeling with the bike. As a result, unfortunately, we will begin from further back than where we were aiming for, and for sure, it will be a challenging race due to the high temperature as well as the level of competition in Moto2. Having said that, I will do nothing but my absolute best in trying to get a decent start and improving my position but the important thing for me is to learn and finish the Grand Prix.”

Source: Tech3