17 Apr CHRONICLE GP OF THE AMERICAS SAG TEAM
This weekend the Moto GP championship arrived in the United States. The Circuit of the Americas once again hosted the American test held in Texas. This circuit is known for its slopes in the asphalt that forces the pilots not to make mistakes if they want to finish the “rodeo”. The ambassador team of ISB Sport, the Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team, lived a weekend that they can hardly forget.
In practice on Friday we saw how the riders of the Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team could not lower their records of 2’10. Even so, the team’s reference driver, Bo Bendsneyder placed in the top 15 in the three practice sessions. Both Bendsneyder and Lorenzo Dalla Porta were looking for sensations and their rhythm during these sessions. Once Saturday arrived, Bendsneyder beat all the drivers in Q1 to advance to the next round as the best driver. This pass was paid dearly, Bendsneyder, Chantra and Aldeguer had a difference of 0’012 seconds in their times. Once in Q2, the ISB Sport ambassador rode at the pace of the best and managed to lower his record for the first time to 2’09.589 with which he got the fourth position for the starting grid on Sunday.
Sunday arrived and the nerves were noticeable, Bendsneyder looked with possibilities to fight for something more than the Top 10. On the other hand, Dalla Porta started in position 19, he had to come back. Once the lights went out, Bendsneyder made a good start and was in the first positions after the first corner. Then he decided to take a conservative attitude and went to position 14. Dalla Porta began his particular comeback until at turn 18 he suffered a fall that took away his chances of fighting for the points. There was only one Mandalika Pertamina SAG Team rider left on the circuit and he looked with options. He climbed back to lead the second group that would dispute the third box of the podium. On the last lap there was tension between the riders of this group, Salac and Aldeguer had a touch that allowed the Dutch driver to climb two positions in a corner. At that time the podium was decided between Alcoba and Bendsneyder. Acosta and Arbolino crossed the finish line dominating the race and behind, in the last corner we could see Bendsneyder make his last overtake of the race and crossing the finish line in third place. The Dutchman did the entire lap of honor under the dome of his Kalex, excited to have achieved his first podium in the Moto 2 category.
Although far away, we live with great emotion to see the ambassador of ISB Sport stand on the podium of the GP of the Americas to celebrate his triumph. After the celebration it’s time to focus on the next grand prix, the Jerez GP.
