Pini claims debut pole at Brno World Championship comeback
The LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP Team put in a strong performance in the twelfth round of the season at the eagerly awaited World Championship comeback at the legendary Automotodrom Brno: Guido Pini sensationally secured his first Moto3 World Championship pole position as a rookie. Team-mate David Muñoz finished third in qualifying, but was relegated to the back of the grid due to a penalty.
The first practice session on Friday took place on a wet track, but youngster Guido Pini immediately found a good rhythm on the previously unfamiliar track and was already in the top 10 in FP1. The 17-year-old impressed in practice with a fabulous lap of 2'06.211, which put him in fourth place and took him straight into Q2 on Saturday. There, the Italian improved further in a sunny FP2 and finally crowned his performance in the last lap of Q2 with a best time of the day of 2'05.019 - and thus his first pole position in the Moto3 World Championship.
On the 5.4-kilometer long circuit, which enjoys cult status in riders and fans, David Muñoz laid a solid foundation with ninth place in the wet FP1 and finished the dry practice session on Friday afternoon in sixth place, which also took him directly into Q2. Despite a passionate effort and a strong third qualifying position, the 19-year-old Spaniard has to start the race from last place on the grid due to slow riding on the racing line in practice on Friday.
Before the upcoming summer break starts, the focus will be on the 16-lap race on Sunday at 11:00 am, in which both Intact GP riders want to get the most out of their Brno comeback.
Results
FP1
1. David ALMANSA/ SPA/ HONDA – 2'13.933
2. Adrian FERNANDEZ/ SPA/ HONDA – 2'14.048 (+0.115)
3. Cormac BUCHANAN/ NZE/ KTM – 2'14.511 (+0.578)
9. David MUÑOZ/ SPA/ KTM – 2'15.250 (+1.317)
10. Guido PINI/ ITA/ KTM – 2'15.273 (+1.340)
Practice
1. Alvaro CARPE/ SPA/ KTM – 2'05.840
2. Jose Antonio RUEDA/ SPA/ KTM – 2'05.997 (+0.157)
3. Maximo QUILES/ SPA/ KTM – 2'06.174 (+0.334)
4. Guido PINI/ ITA/ KTM – 2'06.211 (+0.371)
6. David MUÑOZ/ SPA/ KTM – 2'06.330 (+0.490)
FP2
1. Jose Antonio RUEDA/ SPA/ KTM – 2'05.421
2. Adrian FERNANDEZ/ SPA/ HONDA – 2'05.654 (+0.233)
3. Maximo QUILES/ SPA/ KTM – 2'05.705 (+ 0.284)
8. Guido PINI/ ITA/ KTM – 2'06.155 (+0.734)
16. David MUÑOZ/ SPA/ KTM – 2'06.495 (+1.074)
Q2
1. Guido PINI/ ITA/ KTM – 2'05.019
2. Jose Antonio RUEDA / SPA/ KTM – 2'05.045 (+0.026)
3. David MUÑOZ/ SPA/ KTM – 2'05.057 (+0.038)
