03 Oct THAILAND GP CHRONICLE SAG TEAM
A rain-heavy Thai GP has seen ISB Sports Ambassador Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team Moto2 have to do their best to adapt to the changing situations on the track throughout the weekend.
The most experienced rider of the team Bo Bendsneyder had problems finding a good feeling with his bike during FP3 which forced him to go through Q1 where he overcame the cut without major difficulties. Finally he obtained the thirteenth position in Q2 improving the sensations obtained throughout the weekend. Taiga Hada, the substitute of the Spanish-Argentine pilot Gabriel Rodrigo continues in his process of adaptation to the category and started from the penultimate position on the grid.
During the Sunday of racing came torrential rain at the circuit of Thailand. The weather conditions caused several crashes and the insecurity of the pilots in terms of grip was evident. Bendsneyder did not feel comfortable and preferred not to take risks and finish the race safely, this meant losing some positions to eighteenth position. The rain caused the red flag to be waved at 16 laps. The restart of the race would take place at 15 minutes but a few minutes before it rained again in the circuit of Thailand causing the distribution of half of points for the pilots.
Bo Bendsneyder #64
“Today we were very unlucky with the weather. First of all I want to congratulate my team, because on the grid they were very quick to adapt the bike to the conditions of the track. It was very difficult to shoot in these conditions, with the constant threat of aquaplaning. I can’t say much about the race because we didn’t finish in the position we would have liked. We look forward to the next race.”
For what the Japanese pilot does, he made a splendid race where he knew how to take advantage of the insecurities and weaknesses of the other pilots to advance to the thirteenth position achieving 1.5 points for the championship. Races with these characteristics are ideal for less experienced drivers to take a step forward helped by the weather conditions. It’s the first points for Taiga Hada that can give her a morale boost for the lasts grands prix of the season.
With the end of this exciting weekend, Bo Bendsneyder is fourteenth in the drivers’ standings with 74 points, on the other hand, Hada is placed in the 30th position being this his fifth race in the championship. In terms of brand classification, ISB Sports ambassador Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team is in tenth place.
Drivers and fans are already setting their eyes on the next race that will take place at the legendary Philip Island circuit in Australia.
