Máximo Quiles and Marco Morelli have secured their places in Q2 this Saturday after setting the seventh and twelfth fastest times respectively
The Moto3 World Championship is back after a three-week break, and the CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team riders have kicked off the British Grand Prix determined to maintain the form they’ve shown in recent races. Máximo Quiles and Marco Morelli will compete in Q2 at Silverstone after setting the seventh and twelfth fastest times of the day today. The gaps in the timesheets were minimal, with the Argentine rider just half a second off the top spot despite missing out on the top 10. His compatriot Valentín Perrone was the fastest, but was separated by just a few thousandths from Scott Ogden and Veda Pratama, who finished second and third respectively.
The British circuit was a completely new experience for Morelli, as it is one of the tracks on which he had not yet competed. The CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team rider adapted easily and finished in the top five in the very first session. His team-mate Máximo Quiles also made the most of the morning session to test new set-ups designed to maximise his riding performance. In the afternoon, both riders focused on securing a place in tomorrow’s Q2. Both Quiles and Morelli significantly improved their times, particularly the Spaniard, who lapped almost a second and a half faster than in free practice after feeling much more comfortable on his bike. The CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team rider closed the gap on the fastest riders, but in the final minutes he was unable to improve on his best time of 2:09.838, which saw him finish in seventh place. Meanwhile, Marco Morelli has also taken a big step forward at Silverstone and, despite encountering some difficulties early in the session, he went from strength to strength to set his fastest time on the final lap. Thanks to his 2:10.183, he finished the day in twelfth place and has also secured a place in Q2 for tomorrow.
7th Máximo Quiles 2:09.838 (+0.270): “I found it a bit difficult to settle in today because I felt the bike wasn’t the same as the one I’d left before the summer break. We tried a few things that didn’t work out in the end, but it was still a positive experience because we were able to gather a lot of information. This morning I thought, ‘I’ve just come back from the beach, I’m really happy to be back, but I don’t have that good feeling’. Even so, we sorted it out quickly. In the afternoon I felt much better: we went back to the previous set-up, so I knew the bike and was really motivated. I wanted to ride on my own and focus on myself; I’m sticking to the same approach as always because it’s working. On this circuit, slipstreaming makes a big difference; it’ll be a tough race, but if there are two or three strong riders, I think we’ll be able to break away. We’re here to make a difference, but I’m sure the other riders who are also in the title hunt with me will be tough rivals on Sunday.”
12th Marco Morelli 2:10.133 (+0.565): “Today was a bit of a long day, but I felt comfortable on a circuit that’s new to me. I was able to ride fast and took the opportunity to follow other riders to get a good look at the racing lines. In the afternoon I rode on my own and then tried to set a good time to qualify within the top fourteen. I managed it; I’m half a second off the fastest time, but it’s not a disaster or anything like that. We’re doing a good job and every time I’ve gone out on track we’ve taken a step forward. I’m happy; tomorrow I’ll push a bit harder to keep making steady progress in every session.”
