Progress provides positive outlook for Binder & Tulovic in Spielberg
The Moto2 Qualifying at the Austrian Grand Prix secured LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Moto2 riders Darryn Binder and Lukas Tulovic the 15th and 18th places on the grid for the tenth race of the season at the Red Bull Ring after progressing through Q1.
For Lukas Tulovic and his crew, the hard set-up work gradually paid off with noticeable progress, as the German constantly improved since the first practice session at the Red Bull Ring, a challenging track in the midst of the Styrian mountains. The 23-year-old managed to get through a successful first qualifying session on the hot Saturday afternoon. In the following Q2, it was not enough to improve the lap times further, but the 18th starting position gives the disciplined Tulovic hope for a long-awaited points result.
Darryn Binder also improved in the course of the three practice sessions. With each session, the 25-year-old is regaining confidence in his Kalex and working hard to quickly find his pace and rhythm, something that will be essential especially for Sunday's heated 23-lap race starting at 12:15 (CEST), as the gap to the times of the top 10 is marginal. The South African made it through Qualifying 1 just like his teammate and with 15th place on row five, secured the perfect attacking position for the points or even the Top 10. With a positive feeling and his well-known composure, Binder is aiming to return to where he was before his crash misfortune in the first third of the season.
Results
P1
1. Somkiat CHANTRA/ THA/ KALEX – 1'34.160
2. Pedro ACOSTA/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'34.400 (+0.240)
3. Filip SALAC/ CZE/ KALEX – 1'34.567 (+0.407)
18. Darryn BINDER/ RSA/ KALEX – 1'35.561 (+1.401)
25. Lukas TULOVIC/ GER/ KALEX – 1'36.256 (+2.096)
P2
1. Pedro ACOSTA/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'34.050
2. Ai OGURA/ JAP/ KALEX – 1'34.364 (+0.314)
3. Jake DIXON/ GBR/ KALEX – 1'34.374 (+0.324)
19. Darryn BINDER/ RSA/ KALEX – 1'35.554 (+1.504)
26. Lukas TULOVIC/ GER/ KALEX – 1'36.195 (+2.145)
P3
1. Pedro ACOSTA/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'33.523
2. Somkiat CHANTRA/ THA/ KALEX – 1'33.816 (+0.293)
3. Ai OGURA/ JAP/ KALEX – 1'34.095 (+0.572)
15. Darryn BINDER/ RSA/ KALEX – 1'34.821 (+1.298)
22. Lukas TULOVIC/ GER/ KALEX – 1'35.183 (+1.660)
Q1
1. Sergio GARCIA/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'35.079
2. Lukas TULOVIC/ GER/ KALEX – 1'35.150 (+0.071)
3. Dennis FOGGIA/ ITA/ KALEX – 1'35.165 (+0.086)
4. Darryn BINDER/ RSA/ KALEX – 1'35.174 (+0.095)
Q2
1. Pedro ACOSTA/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'34.040
2. Ai OGURA/ JAP/ KALEX – 1'34.311 (+0.271)
3. Celestino VIETTI/ ITA/ KALEX – 1'34.445 (+0.405)
15. Darryn BINDER/ RSA/ KALEX – 1'35.209 (+1.169)
18. Lukas TULOVIC/ GER/ KALEX – 1'35.676 (+1.636)
