After three weeks without racing, Red Bull KTM Tech3 travelled to Tuscany this week, eager for the action to start again at the Gran Premio d’Italia, held in one of the most beautiful sceneries of the season, at the iconic Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello. Spaniard Daniel Holgado returned from the mini-break with the Moto3™ championship lead in his hands, while Italian Filippo Farioli was all set and motivated for his home Grand Prix.

Filippo Farioli wanted to do well in his home country, in front of friends and family. The young rookie, who finished on the podium here in Mugello last season in the Red Bull MotoGP™ Rookies Cup after getting the pole position, was for sure eager to do well and continue his progression in the Moto3™ World Championship. In Practice 1, he rode his fastest lap in 1’58.939 as he was hitting the track for the first time with his KTM. In the afternoon, the young italian did a solid practice 2 session, with a great lap in 1’57.489 towards the end which powered him to P7 in the combined standings. Filippo has a provisional Q2 place to defend tomorrow, before he aims to qualify in the best way possible for his home Grand Prix.

Three weeks have gone since Holgado’s incredible victory in Le Mans, which marked the first win of French team Tech3 Racing on their home turf. However, with Mugello calling, it was time to move on and focus on this week’s round, the first of an exciting June triple-header. This morning, Daniel Holgado was amongst the fastest riders on track and finished fifth of Practice 1, with a fastest lap in 1’57.869. In the afternoon session, Dani continued to work hard with the aim to qualify directly for Q2. Unfortunately, he suffered a small highside halfway through the session, without any gravity, but that left him out of the rest of the session, meaning that he did not improve his time and was left at the doors of the provisional Q2 places, in P15. Having shown great pace and confidence so far at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, he will look to rectify things tomorrow in the final practice if he wants to qualify in the front rows for Sunday. The Moto3™ action will resume on Saturday at 8:40 (GMT+2).

“I am very happy with the job that we did today. I worked a lot alone and focused on my own rhythm. Towards the end of the P2, I saw a group arriving and decided to wait for the riders because it was an opportunity for me to do a good lap. The last lap got me in P7, which I am very happy about, especially here in Mugello. The feelings are good and we have done a great job. We have small things to improve for tomorrow, but overall, it was a good day in the office.”

“Today was a good day overall because my bike was very fast and I felt confident on track. In Practice 2, I suffered a crash which is leaving me out of the provisional Q2 places for now. In the middle of the corner, I put the gas and somehow did a small highside. It was not a big one luckily, so the most important thing is that I am completely ok, and the feeling with the bike is great anyway. We have a good pace, so we will look to do a good job tomorrow in qualifying.”