It was a very unusual Saturday of qualifying at Austin. The rain fell in the night and the temperature that dropped by more than fifteen degrees compared to Friday made the conditions of the Circuit of the Americas even more tricky. As a result only five riders, including Scott Redding, have been able to improve in FP3 their lap-time set on Friday.
Scott confirmed his excellent shape and lapped fast in the FP3 (5th time) gaining direct qualification for Q2, already mortgaged with the 9th place won on Friday. However, in all-important Q2 session the English rider failed to make that small step that would have allowed him to gain a better position. Scott ended up with a time of 2’04.673 only 12 millisecond from the third row and 50 millisecond from 8th place.
Petrux managed to improve after the difficulties faced on Friday but he has still encountered some problems in finding the best feeling with his Ducati Desmoedici GP 2017.
However, the rider from Terni was able to get the best in Q1, finishing in third with a time of 2’05.221 which would have given him 11th place in Q2.
13th – Danilo Petrucci – 2’05.221
“It was not one of my best days. I never found the right confidence to go faster. I miss the feeling on the front and this does not allow me to push as I would like. Now we have to relax, look at the data, see where we lose and where we can improve. Luckily the race is tomorrow and we will try to make the most of it”.
10th – Scott Redding – 2’04.673
“I had so many problems with the front in Q2. I tried to push hard but every time I was on the middle of the corner I felt the front closing. I tried to did the best I could in the situation we had even though I felt I had more feeling this morning. But I’m still confident for the race. I’m getting faster and faster in each session and the race pace is good”.