Martin "confident" of podium in both wet and dry
Aspar Mahindra's Jorge Martin believes podium is possible for the factory team in the Moto3 race on Sunday, in both conditions, whether dry or wet.
Jorge Martin, Aspar Team Mahindra
Aspar Team
Having qualified fourth, Martin riding high on confidence says he is gunning for his maiden podium, having shown strong pace so far at Brno.
"Really happy with the weekend in general. I expected a little bit more because I wanted the first row and was close," said the Spanish rider.
"It’s a good position and I have really good pace. Happy for this and ready to race. The bike is feeling really good because it closes sometimes but it’s good to ride overall.
"It seems that it will rain tomorrow, I think I can fight for the podium in both conditions," Martin added, having finished twice second and seventh in three practice sessions.
Teammate Francesco Bagnaia endured a difficult session, after the Italian crashed at Turn 11 on his fast lap, thus ending only 17th (to start 16th).
"In the first two sessions we used a defective front tyre, which chattered and did not allow me to be strong," the VR46 academy rider said.
"When we put that right, I found the perfect moment to push and was shaving three tenths of my quickest time, before I lost the front.
"It's a shame because I could have finished first or second, and I had a good slipstream for the climb. I will start from sixteenth but we know we can fight for the podium -although the first few laps will be tough," he added.
McPhee's strong show
Peugeot's John McPhee impressed with 11th quickest time in qualifying, becoming the second best Indian manufacturer's rider, finishing within a second of polesitter Brad Binder's time.
After Bagnaia, it was Platinum Bay's Darryn Binder at 23rd, with CIP's Tatsuki Suzuki at 26th, leading the other Peugeot of Albert Arenas.
The second Platinum Bay of Marcos Ramirez at 30th and CIP's Fabio Spiranelli in 33rd, sandwiched the two Team Italia riders Stefano Valtulini and Lorenzo Petrarca.
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