Repsol rider sets fastest ever Moto3 time at Silverstone and claims pole position. Fabio Quartararo takes eleventh on the grid and Maria Herrera completes a good session with fourteenth position.
Jorge Navarro today took his first Grand Prix pole position, grabbing the qualifying top spot for the British GP. The Repsol rider, who has been very competitive since arriving at Silverstone, put in a superb last lap in the qualifying session that earned him the place at the head of the grid.
This morning in the third free practice session, Navarro again showed his speed at the British track, achieving the third fastest time and going just 0.057s off the top spot. In the afternoon, the Repsol rider was always amongst the Top 5 before making his definitive push; on his final lap, Navarro found the opportunity to set a perfect lap, with no mistakes and unfazed by heavy traffic, to break the track record with a 2:12.440 time. He was some 0.539s quicker than his nearest rival.
Quartararo, who is not especially comfortable at this weekend’s venue, set the eleventh fastest time in the qualifying session and will start from the fourth row of the grid. Just behind the Frenchman -on row 5- will be Maria Herrera, who is enjoying a good performance at Silverstone and in the qualifying session went fourteenth. She was 1.640s off Navarro’s pole time.
Tomorrow’s Moto3 race will be held at 2:30pm local time.
Fabio Quartararo, 11th, 2:13.850 sec, 28 laps, 165 km.
“The qualifying session was a bit difficult for us, because I rode alone for most of the time and here you need to catch a slipstream. I couldn’t find another rider to latch onto, and would have had to brake too hard to let those behind me get past -which is not allowed. Despite starting from low down on the grid, I know I have a good pace for tomorrow and will be able to fight at the front. We have seen several times that riders starting far back have been able to fight for victory or the podium, so tomorrow I will try to do the same.”
Jorge Navarro, 1st, 2:12.440 sec, 29 laps, 171 km.
“I am very happy, because I set a great lap time. We have been working hard since the beginning of the season, doing a good job and improving race by race. It’s my first pole in the World Championship and I am very satisfied. We have done a great job with the bike throughout the weekend, trying different setups and finding a good base. Even so, I did not expect to break the record in the manner that I did. For tomorrow, we know we have a good pace and if it is dry we will be up there fighting. If it is wet we will also have to push. The points are awarded tomorrow and we must try to give everything we have.”
Maria Herrera, 14th, 2:14.080 sec, 29 laps, 171 km.
“I am very happy with the work we have done as a team throughout the weekend. Silverstone is a track that seemed easy, as it is very fast, but you still need to find a good setup because it is very bumpy. We have worked hard and tried to push from the first lap of the qualifying session. It went well and I’m satisfied. Tomorrow I hope to make a good start and fight in a group for points, which will be a large group because you can slipstream a lot here. I’m ready to do my best for the whole race.”
