Isaac Viñales and Xavi Vierge looking for positive race to close Austrian weekend

Tech3 Racing Team rider Isaac Viñales will commence the 10th round of the 2016 Moto2 World Championship from the ninth row of the grid after a demanding session today despite his best efforts. The young Spaniard kicked off his second day in Austria by lapping the undulating circuit 22 times as he continued to adjust the setup of the Mistral 610 whilst he geared up for the qualifying challenge.

Here, he got straight to work and after consistently building up his pace, he posted a best time on his last lap, which saw him finish just under a second back from the head of the fourth row. Tomorrow, Viñales will aim to climb up the field and follow up his strong finish at the previous round in Germany with another positive result.

Meanwhile, Xavi Vierge will begin the Austrian Grand prix from two places behind his teammate after a tireless effort today in what was a tricky qualifying campaign. The 19-year-old Spaniard began with an encouraging performance in FP3 as he improved on his best time from yesterday by four tenths of a second whilst he continued to gain experience and adjust the setup of his Mistral 610.

The promising outcome left the 2015 CEV runner-up confident for the qualifying shootout, however he struggled to regain the positive feeling and despite giving his all, he will start from the ninth row of the grid. Nevertheless, Vierge optimistically looks on to tomorrow, where he aims to close the weekend with a solid finish.

Isaac Viñales
“It was a tricky qualifying session today for me, but I still feel that we can do a good job tomorrow in the GP. Starting from the ninth row will make it harder, so it is vital that I undertake a good start, but I have confidence in my race pace and it could be possible to climb up the field. Now the Tech3 Racing Team and I will sit down and find out how we can improve so that we can make another step and tomorrow I aim to give it everything I’ve got so that we can close this weekend with a good result before we head to the Czech Republic.”

Xavi Vierge
“Even though we qualified in a position that is further back than where we wanted to be, we have to remember the positives and I am still ready for the fight tomorrow. This morning I had a very good start at the Austrian circuit. I improved my lap time from yesterday and we enhanced the bike so I felt confident about my chances in the afternoon. However, the qualifying session was challenging and I didn’t have the same feeling as in FP3. The Tech3 Racing Team and I did our best, and I must say thanks to them, but I will do my very best in the race and hopefully we can close the weekend positively.”

Source: Tech3