Under the lights of the Lusail International Circuit, the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team shines bright with both riders. Franco Morbidelli is third and he gets the podium in the Sprint for the first time in this season and with the team. Fabio Di Giannantonio is sixth after he showed determination in the great battles. Following this Sprint result in the Qatar GP, the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team keeps the lead of the Independent Team World Standing with 110 points.
Great result for Morbidelli, who started from the fourth place on the grid, and he got in the Top3 battle right away. Franco showed a very good race pace, and he secured the first podium in the Sprint with the team, the second in his career. With the third place, the #21 rider keep the fourth position in the World Standing with 62 points.
Di Giannantonio was a real fighter in the Sprint, he started from the fifth place on the grid, and he battled with so much tenacity he could get close to the podium places. Fabio, who proved to have a good rhythm, was sixth at the end of the Sprint, and he keeps the fifth position in the World Standing with 48 points.
The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team is back on track on Sunday. In the last day of the Qatar GP, the race will start at 8 p.m. (local time, +1 CET).
FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO
“It was a pity for the final position in qualifying, because we lost some time with a mistake in Turn 15 which cost us the front row. Unfortunately, in the Sprint, we had really strange feeling with the rear of the bike, and it was very difficult to manage. The situation was quite critical at the start, even dangerous, but the good thing is that we know exactly what happened, and tomorrow the issue will be fixed. On Sunday we can be there for the podium fight. I’ve always been a good racer in long distance, with today’s improvements, I can be one of the guys at the front.
”FRANCO MORBIDELLI
“This podium is a really good result, at the start of the Sprint I was feeling very good with new tyres and I thought I had the chance to stay with the top guys, but then I had some issues, and I couldn’t express fully my pace. Anyway, great P3 and fantastic podium with Valentino here, I’m very happy. We started with a great Friday, we had a really good Saturday, with a P4 in qualifying, and the Sprint was consistent, let’s see what happens tomorrow.”