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2018/04/22 - GP of The Americas / Race Report

#AmericasGP: STRONG P9 AFTER GREAT COMEBACK

STRONG P9 AFTER GREAT COMEBACK

After an incident in the first corner after the start, Dominique Aegerter started a great recovery to storm through the field to finish again in the top ten.

Just in time for race day, wonderful summer weather returned to the Lonestar state of Texas. Temperatures got also pleasantly warm until the season’s third race got underway at lunch time. Perfect conditions for the hunt for world championship point at the demanding Circuit of The Americas.

As soon the lights went off for the race start, Dominique Aegerter left the line optimally from eleventh spot on the starting grid. In turn one, however, it came to the usual scramble for positions. The 27-year-old from Switzerland was touched by Spaniard Joan Mir and pushed far to the outside. Aegerter then hat to line up in the far back. But after a few laps, he found his speedy rhythm with which he already impressed during free practice sessions and qualifying. However, this incident cost him and his Kiefer Racing team a possible top result after a difficult start into the season.

The championship moves now back to Europe for the highly popular Gran Premio de Espana in Jerez de la Frontera in two weeks.

#77 Dominique AEGERTER (Kiefer Racing), 9th (Championship position 10th, 16 points):

"That was bad luck in the first corner. I had a great start, but I had to line up outside and then Joan Mir hit my bike. Therefore, I dropped down many positions. During the first laps, there was the hell ongoing in the field. There were many hard battles and it also happened several contacts. So, I was forced to ride very aggressively to catch lost ground. In this category, you always have to ride at the limit but today it was necessary to go over the limit sometimes as well as to defend your line with the knife between your teeth. To finish for the second time in a row in the top ten is certainly ok. But for today, there was definitely more on the table. After the incident in the first corner, Joan Mir passed me very quickly. On the straights, we still suffer a small disadvantage in overtaking compared to our competitors. Joan, on the other hand, was able to start his attack every time immediately and then he passed the riders effortlessly every time."

"On the other hand, I’m convinced that I could have go with his speed easily. But overall, Texas was another positive weekend for us because we have come closer one step again. Nevertheless, we still have some work ahead of us even if we finished just ten second off the race winners time today, which was three seconds faster than two weeks ago in Argentina. But it takes a little bit more time until we are able to go testing after the Jerez Grand Prix. In such a test, we can calmly try and test many different things for which no time during a race weekend is. Nevertheless, I would like to thank everyone who helps me so such this season. We are a small team with a small budget, but each of us is giving full throttle at any time."

Moto2™ GP Americas - Race Classification after 18 Laps:
1 Francesco BAGNAIA / ITA / SKY Racing Team VR46 / KALEX / 39´30.016
2 Alex MARQUEZ / SPA / Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS / KALEX / +2.464
3 Miguel OLIVEIRA / POR / Red Bull KTM Ajo / KTM / +3.704
9 #77 Dominique AEGERTER / SWI / Kiefer Racing / KTM / +10.595

Moto2™ World Standing:
1 Francesco BAGNAIA / ITA / KALEX / 57
2 Mattia PASINI / ITA / KALEX / 47
3 Alex MARQUEZ / SPA / KALEX / 47
10 #77 Dominique AEGERTER / SWI / KTM / 16