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SALOM AND CORTESE SHINE AT BRITISH MOTO3 GRAND PRIX

published at 17.06.2012 / created by Marcia Hill

Luis Salom and Sandro Cortese emerged from a hard fought Moto3 Grand Prix race on Britain’s Silverstone circuit on Sunday with a podium two–three after a dramatic three-way battle with eventual winner Maverick Vinales of Spain in the last six laps.

It was clear from to opening laps that Luis Salom knew his podium chances were good as he moved up from sixth to lead in the opening lap. The race then became more fluid as a group of nine riders steadily jockeyed for position as the race progressed.

But it was Maverick Vinales, Salom and Sandro Cortese who shook themselves free and settled down to fight it out. All three riders exchanged the lead in the closing laps but in the end it was the Spanish rider who edged them out for the top podium spot. Salom was riding the Moto3 KALEX-KTM bike of the RW racing team and Cortese was on the Moto3 KTM factory bike of the Red Bull KTM Ajo factory team.

The race underlined that the new Moto3 class is one of the most hard fought and exciting in MotoGP and Salom looked confident in the lead going into the final lap. Cortese knocked him down to third before Salom fought back and took second at the flag. Cortese, who now trails the championship leader Vinales by two points has been a model of consistency and a regular on the podium right through the season.

It was also a good weekend for British KTM factory rider Danny Kent who finished sixth while his teammate Arthur Sissis of Australia and fellow KTM rider Zulfahmi Khairuddin duked it out to finish 8-9 for more championship points.

Luis Salom: "I knew before it was possible to win, but I also know how difficult it is to beat Maverick. I already had in my head what to do in the last lap but Sandro messed it up a bit. I feel I am really close to my first victory. It is just there, within reach. Hopefully I can do it next race in Assen, the home race of my team.’’

 Results Moto3 Silverstone
1. Maverick Viñales (E), FTR Honda, 38:55.210 min
2. Luis Salom (E), KALEX-KTM, +0.933 sec
3. Sandro Cortese (D), KTM, +1.023
4. Alexis Masbou (F), Honda, +8.100
5. Efren Vazquez (E), FTR Honda, +8.414
6. Danny Kent (GB), KTM, +8.637
7. Romano Fenati (I), FTR Honda, +8.940
8. Arthur Sissis (AUS), KTM +9.046
9. Zulfahmi Khairuddin (MA), KTM, +9.208
10. Miguel Oliveira (P), Suter Honda, +15.613
Other KTM
12. Hector Faubel (E), KALEX-KTM, +20.559
14. Niklas Ajo (FIN), KTM, +27.526
15. Alberto Moncayo (E), KALEX-KTM, +27.708
17. Brad Binder (RSA), KALEX-KTM, +35.001

Standings Moto3 after 6 of 16 rounds
1. Viñales, 105 points
2. Cortese, 103
3. Salom, 75
4. Fenati, 61
5. Rossi, 45
Other KTM
7. Khairuddin, 44
10. Moncayo, 36
12. Sissis, 31
13. Faubel, 28
14. Kent, 26
23. Ajo, 6
25. Binder, 5