SIXTH AND NINTH ROW QUALIFICTAION FOR SIC RACING TEAM AT AUSTIN

2017-04-22 13:46
Taking to the track in cooler conditions, SIC Racing Team riders Adam Norrodin and Ayumu Sasaki qualified for tomorrow’s Americas Grand Prix in 25th and 17th place respectively.

Immediately launching himself up the timesheets, Moto3 rookie Ayumu Sasaki continued to impress with his rapid adaptability to the technically challenging circuit. Showing strong form the 16-year-old remained within the top twelve for the majority of the session, before concluding his first ever qualifying at the American circuit in a respectable 17th place.

Despite his eagerness to improve, Adam Norrodin continued his internal battle today, struggling to find his rhythm around the 5.5km circuit and consequently deterring his confidence to push. Off the pace the Malaysian rider was unable to qualify higher than 25th position and will have to make a solid start off the line to battle for the points in tomorrow’s 18 lap race.


Johan Stigefelt – Team Manager

“Ayumu qualified well for his first time at this circuit but he could also have done better. He didn’t improve in his last outing but we know he had the pace to do so, so from that perspective it’s a shame. Nevertheless the bike is working well for him, so I think we can have a good race with him tomorrow.
For Adam this weekend has just been an uphill battle. He has a big problem with the track in his head and is fighting a lot within himself. He really needs to try to focus more and do the best he can in the race tomorrow, which will not be easy from P25 on the grid. I hope that he can make a strong start and push forward from there.”


#7 ADAM NORRODIN

“I’m very disappointed with my qualifying result today and in myself; I’m sorry to the team. I’ve really struggled from the start here. I don’t feel comfortable on the bike and my confidence isn’t there. At the beginning of qualifying I found myself alone on track and unable to push myself. When I came back into the pits everybody else had put in good lap times. I went back out and was able to improve my lap time but it wasn’t enough; I should have done better. We are quite far back so I must push really hard from the start of tomorrow’s race. I will go back and study everything with my crew chief tonight, but overall I don’t want to change much on the bike. I think now it is more important for me to make up the difference myself.”
#71 AYUMU SASAKI

“In the first outing of qualifying I was able to make a good lap time and this immediately placed us in the top ten. Towards the end of the session we put in the new tyre but I couldn’t find a good place to ride on track. Unfortunately trying to do this meant that I wasted some laps and so in the end I couldn’t improve my time anymore; this is where experience in this Championship is good to have. Nevertheless I have learned from today. I’m disappointed because we all expect more but I won’t let this defeat me. Tomorrow we come back stronger for the race.”

Source: SIC Racing Team

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