M2: Czech GP: Tech 3 qualifying report

Yuki Takahashi aims for podium in Brno

Yuki Takahashi continued his impressive return to action after a long and deserved summer break in Brno today, the Tech 3 Team rider narrowly missing out on a front row start for tomorrow's Czech Republic Grand Prix.

The Japanese rider will start tomorrow's 20-lap race from fifth spot on the grid after another accomplished performance on the French-built Tech 3 machine.

Takahashi, who won the Catalunya race in early July, posted a best time of 2.04.145 to miss recording his fourth front row start by just 0.351s. That time left him just over 0.6s away from pole position, which was claimed by compatriot Shoya Tomizawa.

Raffaele de Rosa has a great opportunity to score his first Moto2 world championship points having qualified in 17th place on the grid.

The Italian looked destined to break into the top 15 and improve on his best time of 2.04.929 when he suffered a late crash, his second of the session after he'd earlier been involved in an incident with home favourite Karel Abraham.

He eventually finished less than half-a-second away from the top eight and is looking forward to mounting a challenge to score his first points of the campaign tomorrow in the ninth round of the inaugural Moto2 series.

Yuki Takahashi 5th 2.04.145 -- 19 laps
"I'm really satisfied with my performance even if I would have been much happier had I been able to go a little bit quicker and put myself on the front row of the grid. The base setting we had from the last race is working quite well and throughout the weekend so far I've been fast but more importantly I've been able to set a consistent rhythm too. We have hardly changed the bike and that is credit to my guys at Tech 3 and I think we have a package that is definitely going to be competitive enough to get me in the fight for the podium. We could make some changes to the bike but I'd prefer to leave as it is now because I have a good feeling with it. After the disappointment of the last race I'm determined to get my season back on track and push for a top five place in the championship in the second part of the season."

Raffaele de Rosa 17th 2.04.929 -- 14 laps
"Unfortunately being down in 17th position is the not the result we wanted and we had big hopes for qualifying after a positive feeling with the bike in this morning's practice. Unfortunately I had two crashes this afternoon and I can only apologise to the team because this doesn't help our quest to qualify higher up the grid. It makes it hard to improve and find some solution to make the bike better and all I can do is try and make up for it with a positive result in tomorrow's race."

-source: tech 3