Just one week before the start of the long-awaited 2023 championship, the Red Bull KTM Tech3 crew headed to Portimao this week for a three-day test at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve. Following a private test in Jerez last week, it was the first official appearance of our 2023 line up composed by Spaniard Daniel Holgado, off to his second season in the Moto3™ World Championship, alongside rookie Filippo Farioli from Italy.
For this final pre-season test, the lightweight class was sharing the track with the Moto2™ category, meaning that the day was split into three sessions for the Red Bull KTM Tech3 boys – the first two sessions lasted 1 hour and 10 minutes, and the third and final one, 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Having rained overnight, the track was still in the process of drying this morning at 9:30 local time (GMT+0) when the alarm signaled the start of the Portimao Test. Both riders waited a while before going on track as a precaution. Eventually, Filippo Farioli set off for one lap, but quickly came back to the pit box. Towards the last half hour, both riders went on track to get their first laps of the day, with Holgado being second fastest in 1’50.302 (+0.002 secs), and Farioli positioning himself fifteenth with a best lap in 1’51.410.
During the second session, track conditions were much better following the first session of the intermediate category, leaving more space for Tech3 boys to get on with their testing programme. Both focused on their bike’s settings to face the Portuguese rollercoaster in the best way possible, and both managed to improve the lap times on the dry. Holgado finished the FP2 in fifth (1’49.374), and Farioli in eighteenth (1’50.466).
The final session offered the best track conditions of the day, meaning that all riders improved their lap times. It was no exception for Holgado and Farioli. The number ninety-six focused on riding on his own with used tyres, and registered his fastest lap of the day in 1’48.808, placing him in P5 in the combined standings, and first of the KTM Academy boys. His teammate Farioli, who seemed to gain in confidence on his new bike lap after lap, rode in 1’49.389, closing the first day in P15. The work will continue on Saturday, for another day of testing in the South of Portugal.
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Daniel Holgado
Position: 5th
Time: 1'48.808
Laps: 57
"The feeling with the bike was really good and we found a setting that suits me well. I had a good pace all day long, so it was a very positive day overall. I am very happy about day 1, and working with this team is great. I look forward to tomorrow so we can continue the preparation for the season."
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Filippo Farioli
Position: 15th
Time: 1'49.389
Laps: 62
"We had a positive first day overall. We tried many different things on the bike, and we already have an idea of the settings that will suit me here in Portimao. We have improved all day because the final session was my best. Tomorrow, we have more things and settings to try, and I am already eager to return on track on Saturday. I am happy with my performance today, with my team and all the work done."
