With the seventh fastest time in the combined standings, Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Miguel Oliveira stepped up to Q2 directly today in order to fight for the best spots at the second consecutive round at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. The Portuguese showed a great speed during Qualifying to end up only 0.217 seconds behind the pole setter of the ultra-competitive field and will launch off from the line in P7 tomorrow.
On the other side of the Red Bull KTM Tech3 garage, MotoGP rookie Iker Lecuona missed out on a direct Q2 entry narrowly but displayed a stunning Qualifying. The Spanish youngster did a 1:23.928 and concluded Q1 in P3, just 0.319 seconds behind the top. Lecuona will line up in row four for the fifth Grand Prix of 2020 on Sunday at 14:00 local time, after both Lecuona and Oliveira move up one position in the starting grid due to a penalty of another rider.
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Miguel Oliveira
Position: 8th
Time: 1:23.797
Laps: 9
"Overall it was a positive day. We did a very good FP3 session and also a super good FP4 with a very strong race pace. I went into the Qualifying feeling ready and I did my best. It was not enough to arrive in the first two rows, which was our goal. But anyway, it is good to start from the third row, better than last weekend and I think we are ready for the race tomorrow."
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Iker Lecuona
Position: 13th
Time: 1:23.928
Laps: 9
"I’m really happy about today. This morning, I tried to go to Q2 directly, but I missed it by less than one tenth of a second, as everybody is incredibly close on this track. Later in FP4, I was working towards the race, I struggled a bit more, but it was ok anyway and I know I have a decent pace for the race tomorrow. In Qualifying I pushed very hard on my last lap, finished it in P1, but later Zarco and Petrucci went a bit faster than me, so I couldn’t make it to Q2. But honestly, I’m really delighted. It’s my best position on the grid so far and I want to say thanks to the team. We are working very good, I’m very comfortable on the bike, I can ride smooth and have my style. So, we will see what we can do tomorrow in the race."
