More MotoGP™ speed potential from Acosta in Thai Grand Prix Sprint

MotoGP 2024 - Round 18 of 20, Buriram – Quali and Sprint


Acosta defies discomfort from his damaged left shoulder ligament to ace Quali with a strong 7th
Fernandez takes 16th places on the start grid; 0.4 from making Q2 and then pushes to the same position in the Sprint
Daniel Holgado continues his charge for 2024 Moto3™ championship runner-up status with the 7th fastest lap and the third row of the start grid. Jacob Roulstone was 19th quickest

 
MotoGP swapped a flowing layout and unstable weather at Phillip Island for the ‘stop-start’ nature and the oppressive heat of Buriram: quite a contrast in less than a week. Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 moved onto round eighteen with Pedro Acosta back in the saddle of his GASGAS RC16. The Spaniard had undergone intense physiotherapy on his left shoulder since his crash during the Sprint in Australia and was able to complete the practice and quali program in Thailand. The 20-year-old, who finished on the Moto2 podium in Buriram in 2023, had to learn yet another circuit according to the demands of the MotoGP machine while Augusto Fernandez circulated to try and refine his race setup.
 
The pair ended Friday’s Practice with Pedro in P7 and Augusto in P20 and therefore in both Q2 and Q1 for a schedule that took place in cloudier but more humid conditions. Acosta was 7th and 0.7 from Pole Position and Fernandez ranked 6th in Q1 to confirm 16th and the top of the sixth row.


 
In the 13-lap Sprint Pedro was immediately in the chase for the podium and showed strong braking ability in the formative laps but then fell at slow speed and at the apex of Turn 3. He was able to remount and rejoin but retired with two laps to go. Augusto was in the fight for the top fifteen and eventually crossed the line in 16th.
 
The 26-lap MotoGP contest will begin at 09.00 CET on Sunday
 
Augusto Fernandez, 16th in qualifying, 16th in the Sprint: “Better than yesterday. I improved the lap-times and my start was good in the race but then I got pushed out of a few positions. My pace is OK and I felt better. If we can put things together tomorrow and with this base then we can make something happen even if it will be a long, hard race and with a lot of points to control.”
 
Pedro Acosta, 7th in qualifying, DNF in the Sprint: “Removing the crash from the picture it was a good day overall. We need to keep looking at the small details to give ourselves more of a margin. Tomorrow we will have another opportunity.”
 
Nicolas Goyon, GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 Team Manager: “We were happy to come here knowing this has been a good track for us and Pedro’s shoulder was not such a big issue after treatment this week. He didn’t get a clear lap in Q2 which meant P7 but the confidence was still high. It was a shame we had another crash in the Sprint and we have to learn from this and improve tomorrow. Augusto had quite a good race and passed a few riders to get up to 16th. A small reward but still not what he is targeting. More tomorrow!”
 
Results Qualifying MotoGP Thai Grand Prix
 
1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati 1:28.700
2. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Ducati +0.232
3. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati +0.430
7. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 +0.719
13. Brad Binder (RSA) KTM +1.29.535 (Q1)
15. Jack Miller (AUS) KTM 1:29.773 (Q1)
16. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 1:29.828 (Q1)
 
Results MotoGP Sprint Thai Grand Prix
 
1. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Ducati 19:31.131
2. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati +1.357
3. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati +2.372
9. Brad Binder (RSA) KTM +13.692
11. Jack Miller (AUS) KTM +18.397
16. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 +21.298
DNF. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3
 
Moto3 
 
Daniel Holgado meant business from the first laps and sessions of the Thai Grand Prix. The Spaniard ramped-up his speed through Friday to rest 4th quickest and fractions of a second from Provisional Pole. Holgado further refined his set-up for the 19-lap GP race on Saturday morning and then concentrated on a flying lap during Q2. He finally put together the sectors for the 7th best effort (half a second from P1) and will set-off from the third row on Sunday morning. Jacob Roulstone was discovering the braking zones of Buriram for the first time and with renewed confidence after his home Grand Prix. The Australian was P21 on Friday but focused on improvement during Saturday and managed 19th.


 
Thai Grand Prix MotoGP photographs can be found HERE
 
Results Qualifying Moto3 Thai Grand Prix
 
1. Joel Kelso (AUS), KTM 1:40.603
2. Collin Veijer (NED) Husqvarna +0.073
3. Angel Piqueras (ESP) Honda +0.124
5. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO +0.356
7. Daniel Holgado (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 +0.514
16. Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP), KTM +1.110
18. Joel Esteban (ESP) CFMOTO +2.066
19. Jacob Roulstone (AUS) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 1:41.494 (Q1)
20. Tatsuki Suzuki (JPN) Husqvarna 1:41.562 (Q1)
21. Xabi Zurutuza (ESP) KTM 1:41.622 (Q1)
 
PRESS CONTACT
 
EVANGELIA SISSIS
GASGAS BRAND & PR MANAGER ROAD RACING
 M: +43 676 6652 742
 E: Evangelia.sissis@gasgas.com