The CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team rider finished fourth, whilst his team-mate Máximo Quiles came eleventh
Marco Morelli was just one tenth away from a top-three finish at the start of the Dutch Grand Prix. The CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team rider finished fourth after putting in a great performance despite the high temperatures and secured his place in tomorrow’s Q2, a feat also achieved by his team-mate Máximo Quiles, who finished eleventh on Friday. The fastest time of the day was set by Australian Joel Kelso, who was the only rider to lap in under 1:41. Guido Pini, in second, and Eddie O’Shea, in third, were two tenths of a second behind Kelso.
The Dutch Grand Prix got underway amid unusually high temperatures at the Dutch circuit. These conditions, combined with a lack of grip on the track, made it difficult for the Moto3 riders to handle their bikes. However, the CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team has adapted well at Assen, with Quiles in third and Morelli in fourth this morning. Both riders prepared thoroughly for the afternoon session in order to secure a place in Saturday’s Q2. Marco Morelli has quickly adapted to a circuit that is relatively unfamiliar to him, as this was the first time he has raced at Assen on a Moto3 bike. The Argentine was unable to improve on his morning time due to the high temperatures, but his 1:41.313 was enough to secure fourth place, three tenths of a second off the fastest time. Meanwhile, his team-mate Máximo Quiles faced a challenging session. The championship leader started the day strongly and, in the afternoon, followed the team’s work plan in search of a good bike set-up. Quiles struggled to ride with confidence and was involved in a minor incident, but remained focused on Friday’s main objective. With a time of 1:41.516, he finished in eleventh place and tomorrow he will join Morelli in the battle for the top spots on the starting grid.
4th Marco Morelli 1:41.313 (+0.395): “Today was my first time riding here with the Moto3 bike and it went really well. The morning session was all about adapting to the track because it was very important to qualify for Q2, and we managed it. On the first run I felt a bit uncomfortable because I couldn’t get a good feel for the bike, but on the second run we came up with a good strategy. It was ‘easy’ because with a different tyre I felt better and was able to set a good benchmark. Tomorrow I’ll try to continue in this vein and improve a little more so that, on the one hand, I can prepare well for the race, and on the other, I can set a good time in qualifying.”
11th Máximo Quiles 1:41.516 (+0.598): “Today I tried a few different things on the bike and didn’t feel all that comfortable. I had a few scares and was a bit nervous; the steering locked up on me a couple of times, I had to swerve to avoid another rider… it was a combination of things that stopped me from riding well. Everything happened to me today; I need to learn to be a bit more relaxed. Overall, it didn’t go badly and it’s helped us identify what isn’t working for us. It was very hot this afternoon and if you push a bit harder, things don’t turn out the same. The track conditions aren’t the best, so we have to ride cautiously. Hopefully, it’ll be cooler tomorrow. We’ll keep working on our pace and on riding solo. We struggled a bit more today, but tomorrow is a new day and we’ll fight to be up front.”
